- Paeonia
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Ancient land, in what is now northern Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, and western Bulgaria.Paeonia originally included the whole Vardar River valley. The Paeonians were weakened by the Persian invasion of 490 BC, and the tribes living along the Strymon River fell under Thracian control. The growth of ancient Macedonia forced the remaining tribes north, and they were defeated by Philip II in 358 BC. It became part of the Roman province of Macedonia; by AD 400 the Paeonians had lost their identity and Paeonia was merely a geographic term.
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▪ historical regionthe land of the Paeonians, originally including the whole Axius (Vardar) River valley and the surrounding areas, in what is now northern Greece, Macedonia, and western Bulgaria. The Paeonians, who were probably of mixed Thraco-Illyrian origin, were weakened by the Persian invasion (490 BC), and those tribes living along the Strymon River (in western Bulgaria) fell under Thracian control. The growth of Macedonia forced the remaining Paeonians northward, and in 358 BC they were defeated by Philip II of Macedonia. The native dynasty, however, continued to be highly respected: about 289 BC, King Audoleon received Athenian citizenship, and his daughter married Pyrrhus, king of Epirus. Under the Romans, Paeonia was included in the second and third districts of the province of Macedonia. By AD 400, however, the Paeonians had lost their identity, and Paeonia was merely a geographic term.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
