Audata
Encyclopedia
Audata was an Illyria
n princess and later a Macedonian queen when she married Philip II of Macedon
in 359 BC
. She was the daughter or niece daughter of Bardyllis
, the Illyrian king of the Dardanian State. In order to concentrate on the internal struggle necessary to secure his crown, Philip reaffirmed the treaty the Dardanians had imposed on Macedonia by force of arms and sealed the alliance with Bardyllis by his marriage of Audata. This action undoubtedly deterred a full-scale Dardanian invasion of Macedonia at a time when the country was most vulnerable. Philip immediately consolidated his power as a result, so much that he defeated Bardylis in a decisive battle in 358 BC
.
Audata was the first or second wife of Philip and took the name Eurydice
, the name of Philip's Illyrian mother, after the wedding. This name change was probably due to dynastic reasons, because she was briefly the official queen of Philip. Calling her Eurydice could easily be a mistake of either Arrian
of Photius, but it could also signify that Philip chose to change Audata's Illyrian name to something more Greek
, or it could speak to his filial piety or simply to indicate that her status had changed. Soon after, Olympias
became the main wife of Philip.
Audata not only maintained an Illyrian identity in a Macedonian context but also passed that identity to her daughter and granddaughter. Illyrian women led armies in battle, a skill that Audata taught her only child, her daughter Cynane
. She trained her daughter in riding, hunting, and fighting also. Cynane herself trained her daughter Eurydice II of Macedon
after the manner of her own education, in martial exercises. Her granddaughter was also named Eurydice. Audata probably lived into her daughter's teens and may still have been alive at the time of her daughter's marriage to Philip's nephew Amyntas
. The assignment of the name Eurydice to Cleopatra
, the niece of Attalus
in 337/336 BC may suggest that Audata was no longer alive or at the court at that time, but Alexander the Great would certainty have encountered her in Pella
as a child.
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
n princess and later a Macedonian queen when she married Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
in 359 BC
359 BC
Year 359 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Laenas and Imperiosus...
. She was the daughter or niece daughter of Bardyllis
Bardyllis
Bardyllis was a king of the Dardanian Kingdom and probably its founder.Bardyllis created one of the most powerful Illyrian states, that of the Dardanians...
, the Illyrian king of the Dardanian State. In order to concentrate on the internal struggle necessary to secure his crown, Philip reaffirmed the treaty the Dardanians had imposed on Macedonia by force of arms and sealed the alliance with Bardyllis by his marriage of Audata. This action undoubtedly deterred a full-scale Dardanian invasion of Macedonia at a time when the country was most vulnerable. Philip immediately consolidated his power as a result, so much that he defeated Bardylis in a decisive battle in 358 BC
358 BC
Year 358 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ambustus and Proculus...
.
Audata was the first or second wife of Philip and took the name Eurydice
Eurydice
Eurydice in Greek mythology, was an oak nymph or one of the daughters of Apollo . She was the wife of Orpheus, who loved her dearly; on their wedding day, he played joyful songs as his bride danced through the meadow. One day, a satyr saw and pursued Eurydice, who stepped on a venomous snake,...
, the name of Philip's Illyrian mother, after the wedding. This name change was probably due to dynastic reasons, because she was briefly the official queen of Philip. Calling her Eurydice could easily be a mistake of either Arrian
Arrian
Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon , known in English as Arrian , and Arrian of Nicomedia, was a Roman historian, public servant, a military commander and a philosopher of the 2nd-century Roman period...
of Photius, but it could also signify that Philip chose to change Audata's Illyrian name to something more Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, or it could speak to his filial piety or simply to indicate that her status had changed. Soon after, Olympias
Olympias
Olympias was a Greek princess of Epirus, daughter of king Neoptolemus I of Epirus, the fourth wife of the king of Macedonia, Philip II, and mother of Alexander the Great...
became the main wife of Philip.
Audata not only maintained an Illyrian identity in a Macedonian context but also passed that identity to her daughter and granddaughter. Illyrian women led armies in battle, a skill that Audata taught her only child, her daughter Cynane
Cynane
Cynane was half-sister to Alexander the Great, and daughter of Philip II by Audata, an Illyrian princess....
. She trained her daughter in riding, hunting, and fighting also. Cynane herself trained her daughter Eurydice II of Macedon
Eurydice II of Macedon
Eurydice was an ancient Macedonian queen, wife of king Amyntas III of Macedon.She was the daughter of Sirras, an Illyrian noble based in Lyncestis, Upper Macedonia...
after the manner of her own education, in martial exercises. Her granddaughter was also named Eurydice. Audata probably lived into her daughter's teens and may still have been alive at the time of her daughter's marriage to Philip's nephew Amyntas
Amyntas
-External links:*...
. The assignment of the name Eurydice to Cleopatra
Cleopatra Eurydice of Macedon
Eurydice , born Cleopatra was a mid. 4th century BCE Macedonian noblewoman, niece of Attalus, and 5th wife of Philip II of Macedon.- Biography :...
, the niece of Attalus
Attalus
Attalus may refer to:*Several members of the Attalid dynasty of Pergamon**Attalus I, ruled 241 BC–197 BC**Attalus II Philadelphus, ruled 160 BC–138 BC**Attalus III, ruled 138 BC–133 BC...
in 337/336 BC may suggest that Audata was no longer alive or at the court at that time, but Alexander the Great would certainty have encountered her in Pella
Pella
Pella , an ancient Greek city located in Pella Prefecture of Macedonia in Greece, was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia.-Etymology:...
as a child.