Makedonia

The banner of Makedonia

Makedonia (English: Macedonia) is a region in Northern Greece that, following the succession of its king Alexander III, unified Greece and conquered the Achaemenid Empire of Persia, becoming known as the Macedonian Empire.

Economy

Like in nearby Thessaly, horse breeding was important in Makedonia, and the animals were greatly valued.

During the 5th century BCE, the economy of the sparsely populated region was dominated by silver mining.

Heraldry

Due to the importance of horses in the region, the emblem of Makedonia features the stylized head of a horse. It is based on a coin from the city known in antiquity as Pharsalos, in Thessaly.

History

Peloponnesian War

At the time of the Peloponnesian War, the seminal Makedonia was notable only for the small village of Potidaia and the polis of Amphipolis, which played vital roles at the beginning and end of the Peloponnesian War, respectively.

Around 429 BCE, Darius, the Persian assassin of Xerxes I, sought refuge in Makedonia with his son Natakas, having left their home behind due to the threat of the Order of the Ancients. The Order of Hunters, a branch of the Ancients led by their Magus Pactyas, later arrived in the region to eliminate Kassandra, a Spartan misthios, due to her nature as a "Tainted One". The Order allied with both the Spartan army and a number of Persian Immortals, but despite their efforts, they were eventually eliminated by the combined efforts of Kassandra, Darius, and Natakas.

In 422 BCE, the decisive Battle of Amphipolis was fought in Makedonia, which resulted in a Spartan victory and heralded the end of the first half of the Peloponnesian War. During the battle, the Spartan general Brasidas was killed by Deimos, a Sage of the Cult of Kosmos, while the Athenian leader and Cultist Kleon was slain by Kassandra.

Phillip II's reign

During the rule of King Phillip II, whose heir was Alexander the Great, Makedonians prospered, and their military grew to include a cavalry, which is considered to have been one of the best in antiquity.

Alexander's reign

During the reign of Alexander III, the Kingdom of Macedon rose to dominate Greece and became a powerful empire that spanned the ancient world. Backed by the Order of the Ancients, who entrusted Alexander with a Staff and Trident of Eden, the young king became a legendary, undefeated general.

Following Alexander's assassination by the proto-Assassin Iltani in 323 BCE, the Trident was split into three prongs. Two of the prongs were taken by Alexander's generals, Seleucus and Ptolemy, while the final one was sent to Makedonia.

Roman Macedonia

In 42 BCE, armies under the command of Marcus Antonius and Octavian clashed with those of the Hidden Ones Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi. Cassius was killed during the battle and Brutus, faced with inevitable defeat, fled and committed suicide shortly thereafter.

Following Brutus' death, his fellow Hidden Ones gathered in Philippi and attempted to resurrect him with the Shroud of Eden, to no avail.

Regions

In the 5th century BCE, Makedonia was made up of four regions:

• Roots of an Empire
• Swamps of Thermes
• Triple Peninsula of Chalkidike
• Unexplored Mount Pangeon

Influence and legacy

During the 16th century, the Italian Assassin Ezio Auditore owned a dagger of Macedonian origin.

Behind the scenes

In Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Makedonia uses a horse head as its heraldry. Historically, Makedonia used the Vergina Sun which was connected to the Argead dynasty. The horse head might be a reference to Bucephalus, Alexander's famed horse.

Gallery

• 
  Concept art of Kleon's death in Makedonia

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Initiates (first mentioned)
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
  • Legacy of the First Blade: Hunted
• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – The Hunter's Hounds