King of Macedonia from 359 BC, he seized the throne from his nephew, for whom he was regent, conquered the Greek city-states and formed them into a league whose force could be united against Persia. He was assassinated just as he was planning this expedition, and was succeeded by his son Alexander the Great.

Philip pursued young lovers tirelessly all his life. At the age of just 46, he was stabbed by his bodyguard, Pausanias, in the public surroundings of a busy theatre. It was a private matter resulting from the fact that Philip had ended a homosexual relationship with Pausanias and taken up with a new lover.

Thus, his very death came at the hand of a vengeful former beloved who had been spurned by the king for a prettier boy.

Philip II's tomb was discovered at Vergina, North Greece, in 1978.