Philip II became regent for the child King of Macedon in 359 BC at the age of 24. Philip established one of the first professional armies of the world. His soldiers were paid a salary while training so they did not have to return to the farm to support their families. His soldiers were extensively trained in the tactic of the Phalax a tight disciplined army group that used shields to protect all sides and tops of the group. Each rank of the Phalax was 16 men deep and carried spears up to 16 feet long so that all the spears of every man in the rank reached the front. The Phalax with great discipline marched as a single unit and moved towards the enemy like an unstopable human tank. In 358 BC, with an army of 10,000 men and 600 calvary Philip II fought Illyria and freed Macedonia from their threat. Philip than turned his forces towards Thrace and took the Athenian silver mines of Amphipolis. Philip then returned to crush the Illyrians. In 356 BC, Philip II took the title of King - this was the same year that Alexander (III) was born. Over the next few years through politics, treaties, bullying, and military victory Philip extended his control over most of Greece. In 346 BC, through his control of many Greek cities he had himself voted president of the Olympic games. In 338 BC, Athens encourage an uprising. In August 338 BC, the Greek allies were defeated by Philip II at Chaironeia and they agreed to the favorable surrender terms offered by Philip II. Philip II was now in control of all Greece and in 337 BC he began preparations to invade Persia. Before the invasion, he was assassinated in 336 BC.