Alexander simultaneously faced an Illyrian invasion from the north-west and an attack from the east by the pretender Pausanias.

Pausanias quickly captured several cities and threatened the queen mother, who was at the palace in Pella with her young sons.

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.

He successfully gained control of Larissa and several other cities but, betraying a promise he had made, put garrisons in them.

[6] Although Alexander's brother Perdiccas III became the next king, he was under age, and Ptolemy became regent and effectively the ruler.