On his accession Alexander II of Macedon (r.370-368 BC) was simultaneously faced with an Illyrian invasion from the northwest and an attack from the east by the pretender Pausanias. Alexander defeated his enemies with the help of the Athenian general Iphicrates, who had been sailing along the Macedonian coast on the way to recapture Amphipolis.
By 369 BC Alexander of Pherae (r.369-358 BC) was attempting to regain Jason’s position as tagos of Thessaly. The Aleuads appealed to Alexander II of Macedon for help in their struggle with Pherae. He promptly invaded and installed Macedonian garrisons in Larissa and Crannon, promising to restore the cities to Thessalian rule. But he reneged, however, and the Thessalians sought help from Boeotia.
Pelopidas was sent north with an army and drove the Pheraeans out of Thessaly. Moving on to Macedonia he mediated in favour of Alexander against Ptolemy of Aloros (regent; 368-365 BC). He then formed an alliance with Alexander and took a number of elite youths to Thebes as hostages, including Philip II (46; r.359-336 BC), Alexander’s younger brother.
In winter 369/8 BC Alexander of Pherae continued his war with the Thessalian Confederacy; Alexander II had been assassinated and Ptolemy was ruling as regent to Alexander’s younger brother Perdiccas III (r.368-359 BC). On receiving a request for help from both sides, the Thebans sent Pelopidas and Ismenias to try to settle the problems by diplomacy. They secured an alliance with Ptolemy and took fifty of his Companians (elite cavalry) hostage to ensure his loyalty; but in Thessaly they were captured by Alexander of Pherae. Two Theban expeditions were needed to retrieve them, and they were eventually released to Epaminondas in 367 BC.
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