on this occasion that Demosthenes delivered his three Olynthaic orations； in which he warmly advocated an alliance with Olynthus。
Demosthenes was opposed by a strong party； with which Phocion commonly acted。 Phocion is one of the most singular and original characters in Grecian history。 He viewed the multitude and their affairs with a scorn which he was at no pains to disguise； receiving their anger with indifference； and their praises with contempt。 His known probity also gave him weight with the assembly。 He was the only statesman of whom Demosthenes stood in awe； who was accustomed to say； when Phocion rose； 〃Here comes the pruner of my periods。〃 But Phocion's desponding views； and his mistrust of the Athenian people； made him an ill statesman at a period which demanded the most active patriotism。 He doubtless injured his country by contributing to check the more enlarged and patriotic views of Demosthenes； and though his own conduct was pure and disinterested； he unintentionally threw his weight on the side of those who； like Demades and others； were actuated by the basest motives。 This division of opinion rendered the operations of the Athenians for the aid of the Olynthians languid and desultory。 Town after town of the confederacy fell before Philip； and in 347 Olynthus itself was taken。 The whole of the Chalcidian peninsula thus became a Macedonian province。
The prospects of Athens now became alarming； her possessions in the Chersonese were threatened； as well as the freedom of the Greek towns upon the Hellespont。 The Athenians had supported the Phocians in the Sacred War； and were thus at war with Thebes。 In order to resist Philip the attention of the Athenians was now directed towards a reconciliation with Thebes； especially since the treasures of Delphi were nearly exhausted； and on the other hand the war was becoming every year more and more burthensome to the Thebans。 Nor did it seem improbable that a peace might be concluded not only between those two cities； but among the Grecian states generally。 It seems to have been this aspect of affairs that induced Philip to make several indirect overtures to the Athenians in the summer of B。C。 347。 In spite of subsidies from Delphi the war had been very onerous to them； and they received these advances with joy； and eventually agreed to the terms of a peace。 Having thus gained over the Athenians； Philip marched through Thermopylae； and entered Phocis； which surrendered unconditionally at his approach。 He then occupied Delphi； where he assembled the Amphictyons to pronounce sentence upon those who bad been concerned in the sacrilege committed there。 The council decreed that all the cities of Phocia； except Abae； should be destroyed； and their inhabitants scattered into villages containing not more than fifty houses each。 Sparta was deprived of her share in the Amphictyonic privileges； the two votes in the council possessed by the Phocians were transferred to the kings of Macedonia； and Philip was to share with the Thebans and Thessalians the honour of presiding at the Pythian games （B。C。 346）。
The result of the Sacred War rendered Macedon the leading state in Greece。 Philip at once acquired by it military glory； a reputation for piety； and an accession of power。 His ambitious designs were now too plain to be mistaken。 The eyes of the blindest among the Athenians were at last opened； the promoters of the peace which had been concluded with Philip incurred the hatred and suspicion of the people； whilst on the other hand Demosthenes rose higher than ever in public favour。
Philip was now busy with preparations for the vast projects which he contemplated； and which embraced an attack upon the Athenian colonies； as well as upon the Persian empire。 For this purpose he had organized a considerable naval force as well as an army； and in the spring of 342 B。C。 he set out on an expedition against Thrace。 His progress soon appeared to menace the Chersonese and the Athenian possessions in that quarter； and at length the Athenian troops under Diopithes came into actual collision with the Macedonians。 In the following year Philip began to attack the Greek cities north of the Hellespont。 He first besieged and captured Selymbria on the Propontis； and then turned his arms against Perinthus and Byzantium。 This roused the Athenians to more vigorous action。 War was formally declared against Philip； and a fleet equipped for the immediate relief of Byzantium。 Philip was forced to raise the siege not only of that town but of Perinthus also； and finally to evacuate the Chersonesus altogether。 For these acceptable services the grateful Byzantians erected a colossal statue in honour of Athens。
After this check Philip undertook an expedition against the Thracians； but meantime his partisans procured for him an opportunity of marching again into the very heart of Greece。
Amphissa； a Locrian town； having been declared by the Amphictyonic council guilty of sacrilege； Philip was appointed by the council as their general to inflict punishment on the inhabitants of the guilty town。 Accordingly he marched southwards early in B。C。 338； but instead of proceeding in the direction of Amphissa； he suddenly seized Elatea； the chief town in the eastern part of Phocis； thus showing clearly enough that his real design was against Boeotia and Attica。 Intelligence of this event reached Athens at night； and caused extraordinary alarm； In the following morning Demosthenes pressed upon the assembly the necessity for making the most vigorous preparations for defence； and especially recommended them to send an embassy to Thebes； in order to persuade the Thebans to unite with them against the common enemy。
The details of the war that followed are exceedingly obscure。 Philip appears to have again opened negotiations with the Thebans； which failed； and we then find the combined Theban and Athenian armies marching out to meet the Macedonians。 The decisive battle was fought on the 7th of August； in the plain of Chaeronea in Boeotia； near the frontier of Phocis （B。C。 338）。 In the Macedonian army was Philip's son； the youthful Alexander； who was intrusted with the command of one of the wings； and it was a charge made by him on the Theban sacred band that decided the fortune of the day。 The sacred band was cut to pieces； without flinching from the ground which it occupied； and the remainder of the combined army was completely routed。 Demosthenes； who was serving as a foot…soldier in the Athenian ranks； has been absurdly reproached with cowardice because he participated in the general flight。
The battle of Chaeronea crushed the liberties of Greece； and made it in reality a province of the Macedonian monarchy。 To Athens herself the blow was almost as fatal as that of AEgospotami。 But the manner in which Philip used his victory excited universal surprise。 He dismissed the Athenian prisoners without ransom； and voluntarily offered a peace on terms more advantageous than the Athenians themselves would have ventured to propose。 Philip； indeed； seems to have regarded Athens with a sort of love and respect； as the centre of art and refinement； for his treatment of the Thebans was very different； and marked by great harshness and severity。 They were compelled to recall their exiles； in whose hands the government was placed； whilst a Macedonian garrison was established in the Cadmea。
A congress of the Grecian states was now summoned at Corinth； in which war was declared against Persia； and Philip was appointed generalissimo of the expedition。
In the spring of B。C。 336 Philip sent some forces into Asia； under the command of Attalus； Parmenio； and Amyntas； which were designed to engage the Greek cities of Asia in the expedition。 But before quitting Macedonia； Philip determined to provide for the safety of his dominions by celebrating the marriage of his daughter with Alexander of Epirus。 It was solemnized at AEgae； the ancient capital of Macedonia； with much pomp； including banquets； and musical and theatrical entertainments。 The day after the nuptials was dedicated to theatrical entertainments。 The festival was opened with a procession of the images of the twelve Olympian deities； with which was associated that of Philip himself。 The monarch took part in the procession； dressed in white robes； and crowned with a chaplet。 Whilst thus proceeding through the city； a youth suddenly rushed out of the crowd； and； drawing a long sword which he had concealed under his clothes； plunged it into Philip's side； who fell dead upon the spot。 The assassin was pursued by some of the royal guards； and； having stumbled in his flight； was despatched before he could reach the place where horses had been provided for his escape。 His name was Pausanias。 He was a youth of noble birth； and we are told that his motive for taking Philip's life was that the king had refused to punish an outrage which Attalus had committed against him。
Thus fell Philip of Macedon in the twenty…fourth year of his reign and forty…seventh of his age （B。C。 336）。 When we reflect upon his achievements； and how； partly by policy and partly by arms； he converted his originally poor and distracted kingdom into the mistress of G