An Athenian dream
An Athenian Dream
In 338, Athens and Thebes met the armies of Macedon, at Chaeronea, and were defeated. Furious with the realization that Macedon has effectively subjugated Athens, an ambitious young Athenian merchant, named Straton, began secretly plotting against the Macedonians.
Wasting little time, he headed a trade mission to Epirus, where he became close to the Molossian King, Alexander I. Straton had impressed the king, whom wished him to stay on in Epirus, and become a financial adviser to the court. Agreeing, he quickly caught the eye of Olympias, Philip's relatively neglected and estranged wife, whom had gone into exile in Epirus, to get away from Philip and his newer, younger wife. While in Epirus, Straton befriended Philip's son, Alexander, who also left Macedon. The two became close friends.
Straton and Olympias became lovers, and he used her for his plot to kill Philip. She viewed it as mutually beneficial. A short while after, they accompanied King Alexander of Epirus to Macedon, for the king's marriage to Philip's daughter.
Royal Palace
Aegae, Macedon
August, 336 BC
Upon an immense bed swathed in silken linens, Olympias, was atop Straton, in a session that had gone on at great length, she rolled off, exhausted, catching her breath, as she laid beside the physically impressive and stunningly handsome young Athenian, unable to take her eyes off him.
"By Aphrodite's divine authority, you must be her forbidden love child with Eros," Olympias said, playfully complimenting her lover.
Straton laid there, his head resting atop his arm. Fool of a woman, if you only knew. "I'm expressing my artistic ability on an immaculate canvas, my love," he said, imploring her fragile emotions.
She turned on her side, and rubbed her hand on his bare chest. "Will we return to Epirus, as planned?"
He was gazing upon the mosaic of a battle scene above. Archers notching, chariots riding, phalanx's marching, in perfect unison. It is never that perfect. He turned to her. "We should focus on the present, my love. Philip still breathes."
"It will all fall into place on the morrow, and Alexander will succeed him," she said, with an assuring, yet naive tone.
Beautiful and conniving, yet blind. Your son is next. "For this to be flawless, we need to focus on fulfilling the assassination without error, my love. Perhaps it's my businessman side taking over, where little can be left to chance," he said, facetiously, cracking a perfect smile, which he knew she could not resist.
They locked lips, and she rolled on top of him.
The next day...
"Join us in celebrating the unification of Alexander Molossus and Cleopatra, daughter of King Philip and Olympias of Epirus," hailed the court representative.
Straton recruited one of Philip's bodyguards, Pausanias. Corrupting the man's mind with fictitious exaggerations that Philip planned to strip him of rights, and sell him into slavery. Pausanias was convinced that murdering Philip was the only way to prevent this course of action, and with little thought for what he would do after the act, he proceeded to assassinate Philip at the wedding ceremony, before an audience, as was Straton's intended scenario, so to prove that the Macedonian King was nothing more than a tyrant, murdered by his own man, for all to see.
Knowing that Pausanias wouldn't escape Macedon, he had arranged for his own men to kill Pausanias, to ensure the impossibility of being linked to the assassination. It was not needed, as Pausanias was killed by Leonnatus, one of Philip's bodyguards.
Straton had successfully orchestrated the assassination of Philip, which was a mighty blow to the strength of the Macedonians.
Alexander III of Macedon, sitting with his commanders, welcomed Straton. "Straton, my friend. Any news of those responsible?"
"My King," said Straton, with a humble bow. I will send you to your death, in Asia, you pompous wretch. "As requested, my Asian contacts inform me that Darius was responsible. Dignitaries in his service had dealings with Pausanias, just weeks before the assassination took place. I have one with me," he continued, as two of his personal guards dragged in a Persian slave in his own service, dressed in fine clothes. "Tell the King what you have told me, filth. Keep in mind it is a grave crime to lie to a king!"
The slave trembled, but said as he was ordered. "Y-your father had become a t-threat to His Excellency," the slave said, terrified, but in convincing character.
Straton punched his slave, forcing him to the ground. "Wretched Persian filth!" You have done your job, and are a small sacrifice to pay for the greater good.
Antipater was the first to stand. "You heard the filth, Persepolis must pay. Darius must pay!"
Unified in response, Alexander's only route was without question. He and his commanders marched the Macedonian army to Persia. Straton lingered in Pella, for a short while, keeping Olympias company, before growing tired of her, and abandoning her in Macedon, to return to Athens, where he returned to managing his trade businesses, figuring the young Macedonian king would get himself killed in Asia, resulting in the collapse of the Macedonian hierarchy, and cause the collapse of its hegemony over Greece. He was mistaken, but not defeated...
In 323, after hearing of Alexander's plans for further conquest, against his trade allies in the west, and fearing for his own enterprise, as well as the future of Athens, he finally orchestrated Alexander's assassination, leading to inevitable division in his high command.
Athens took advantage of the dissension of the Macedonians, rebelling shortly thereafter, and he would become its primary financier, in what became known as the Lamian War...
Following Athens' defeat, in 322, Straton's wealth was depleted on mercenaries, and the Macedonian confiscation of his trade fleets, slave force, and treasuries. He was rendered poor, and ultimately, he was quietly executed under orders from Antipater.