(anc. geog.), a town of Macedonia, in the territory of the Edones, on the confines of Thrace (Pliny, Ptolemy), situated on the side of a steep eminence; anciently called Datum and Drenides (Appian), though Strabo seems to distinguish them. This town was famous on several accounts; not only as taking its name from the celebrated Philip of Macedon, father to Alexander the Great, who considered it as a fit place for carrying on the war against the Thracians; but also on account of two battles fought in its neighbourhood between Augustus and the republican party. In the first of these battles, Brutus and Cassius had the command of the republican army; while Octavianus, afterwards Augustus, and Mark Antony, had the command of their adversaries. The army of Brutus and Cassius consisted of 19 legions and 20,000 horse; the imperial forces of an equal number of legions, but more complete, and 13,000 horse; so that the numbers on both sides were pretty equal. The troops of Brutus were very richly dressed, most of them having their armour adorned with gold and silver; for Brutus, though very frugal in other respects, was thus extravagant with respect to his men, thinking that the riches that they had about them would make them exert themselves the more, to prevent these from falling into the enemy's hands. Both the republican generals appear to have been inferior in skill to Mark Antony; for as to Octavianus, he is allowed never to have conquered but by the valour of others. A little before the first engagement, Octavianus, who had been indisposed, was carried out of the camp, at the persuasion of Artorius his physician, who had dreamed that he saw a vision directing him to be removed. Brutus's men, who opposed the wing commanded by Octavianus, charged without orders, which caused great confusion. However, they were successful; for part of them, taking a compass about, fell upon the enemy's rear; after which they took and plundered the camp, making a great slaughter of such as were in it, and among the rest putting 2000 Lacedemonians to the sword who were newly come to the assistance of Octavianus. The emperor himself was fought for, but in vain, having been conveyed away for the reason above-mentioned; and as the soldiers pierced the litter in which he was usually carried, it was thence reported, that he had been killed. This threw that whole part of the army into such consternation, that when Brutus attacked them in front, they were most completely routed; three whole legions being cut in pieces, and a prodigious slaughter made among the fugitives. But by the imprudence of the general in pursuing too far, the wing of the republican army commanded by Cassius was left naked and separated from the rest of the army; on which they were attacked at once in front and in flank, and thus they were defeated and their camp taken, while Brutus imagined that he had gained a complete victory. Cassius himself retired to an eminence at a small distance from Philippi; whence he sent one of his greatest intimates to procure intelligence concerning the fate of Brutus. That general was on his way, and already in view, when the messenger set out. He soon met his friends; but they surrounding him to inquire the news, Cassius, who beheld what passed, imagined that he was taken prisoner by the enemy, retired to his tent, and in despair caused one of his freedmen cut off his head. Thus far at least is certain, that he went into the tent with that freedman, and that his head was found separated from his body when Brutus entered. However, the freedman was never afterwards seen.

The second engagement was pretty similar to the first. Brutus again opposed Octavianus, and met with the same success; but in the mean time Antony, to whom he ought undoubtedly to have opposed himself, having to do only with the lieutenants of Cassius, gained a complete victory over them. What was worst, the fugitives, instead of leaving the field of battle altogether, fled for protection to Brutus's army; where, crowding in among the ranks, they carried despair and confusion wherever they went, so that a total defeat ensued, and the republican army was almost entirely cut in pieces. After the battle, Brutus put an end to his own life, as is related more fully under the article Rome.

The city of Philippi is likewise remarkable on account of an epistle written by St Paul to the church in that place. It was a Roman colony (Luke, Pliny, Coin, Inscription). It is also remarkable for being the birth-place of Adrafinus, the Peripatetic philosopher, and disciple of Aristotle.—The town is still in being, and is an archbishop's see; but greatly decayed and badly peopled. However, there is an old amphitheatre, and several other monuments of its ancient grandeur. E. Long. 44° 55' N. Lat. 41° 0'.