About Alcetas I of Macedon
Alcetas I of Macedon was a monarch.
Alcetas (; ) was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He was a member of the Argead dynasty and son of Aeropus I. By allowing thirty years for the span of an average generation from the beginning of Archelaus' reign in 413 BC, British historian Nicholas Hammond estimated that Alcetas ruled around 533 BC.
According to Herodotus and Thucydides, Alcetas was the fifth king of Macedonia. However, a much later tradition records Caranus as the founder of Macedonia and therefore Alcetas as the eighth king. This unhistorical assertion is almost universally rejected by moderns scholarship as propaganda invented at the Argead court during the reign of Philip II.
By all accounts, Alcetas was a calm and stable ruler, who sought to preserve his kingdom through peaceful means. Unlike his predecessors, he apparently did not engage in unnecessary warfare in order to extend the boundaries of his kingdom. His wife is unknown, but he was the father of Amyntas I.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Alcetas I of Macedon?
King of Macedon
When did Alcetas I of Macedon die?
Alcetas I of Macedon died in Macedonia.
What was Alcetas I of Macedon's occupation?
Alcetas I of Macedon was a monarch.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Alcetas I of Macedon
· DBpedia: Alcetas of Macedon
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alcetas I of Macedon. https://biography.guide/alcetas-i-of-macedon/
MLA: "Alcetas I of Macedon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alcetas-i-of-macedon/.
Chicago: "Alcetas I of Macedon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alcetas-i-of-macedon/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:08 UTC