Why wasn't Macedonia attacked by other Greek states during the Alexander times?

by mrLordDavid

When Alexander the Great took over Macedonia, his entire life agenda was conquest. He took his army very far, which I assume, left Macedonia relatively weaker. Also, weren't his war initiatives burdensome for the Macedonian economy? So with Macedonian army far away, and economy in focus of war, wouldn't Macedonian homeland be easy to conquer? Especially from the side of Greece; completely the opposite side of the war front. I would think Greek states would capitalize on the opportunity and at least attempt to conquer Macedonia.

TyrannosaurusRekt238

The Greek States did attempt to capitalise following the death of Alexander's father Philip II of Macedon. However, one state persisted before Alexander embarked on his asian campaign and that was Thebes. Alexander put down this rebellion ruthlessly as he razed the city and as stated by Arrian described Book 1.9.10 the women, children and any remaining survivors were enslaved. This act shook the rest of the Greeks' who understood the consequences of revolting against Macedonian Hegemony.

However, this didn't put a complete halt as Memnon of Rhodes a Greek and general of Darius III organised a navy to retake the Aegean Islands and was in kahoots with the Spartan King Agis III. However, Memnon died during the Siege of Mytilene. While he did manage to recapture some islands his death put a halt to his endevaours (Schuster, 2016). Granted Memnon's death and failed Persian support did not stop King Agis III. However, due to the military might of Macedon and the example of Thebes the major states like Athens weren't willing to assit Sparta. (Diodorus, Book XVII, Chapter 62). He attempted and received some aid by Persians in regards to funding and invested in merceranies along with some aid from the Acheans, Eleans, and Tegeans. However, Antipater the regent of Alexander also still had a sizable force and at the Battle of Megalopolis crushed the rebellion of King Agis III and Sparta and its allies paid compensation.

I'd recommend also Alexander the Great by Robin Lane Fox. Not only does it focus on Alexander but it explains what is occuring in Greece, the significance it has to Alexander, etc.

References

https://livingpoets.dur.ac.uk/w/Arrian,_Anabasis_1.9.9-10#menu

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Diod.+17.62&fromdoc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0084

https://books.google.com.au/books?id=npNUDAAAQBAJ&q=Memnon+of+Rhodes+born&pg=PA367&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=Memnon%20of%20Rhodes%20born&f=false

https://www.livius.org/articles/person/memnon-of-rhodes/