The area of Filippiada appears to have been inhabited as early as the 8th and 7th centuries BC. The predecessor of the modern town was the ancient settlement Charadron, whose name refers to the northern valley (ravine) of the Louros River. On the border with the regional unit of Arta, to the east of the municipality, lie the ruins of the ancient settlement of Orraon.

During the First Balkan War in 1912, Filippiada played a significant role. The small town served as a launching point for the attack of the Greek western front towards Ioannina, against the forces of the Ottoman Empire. Greek troops captured Filippiada on October 28, 1912, advancing from Arta. Particularly in the area of Pente Pigadia (Five Wells), due to its strategic location at the southern exit of the Louros valley, there were intense armed clashes. From November 7 to 9, 1912, the Greek army managed to capture the Five Wells.

In 1923, the village of Nea Kerasounta was founded by Greek refugees from Asia Minor, following the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) and the Treaty of Lausanne, which mandated the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923.

During World War II and the Axis occupation of Greece (April 1941 – October 1944), Filippiada initially belonged to the Italian occupation zone. After Italy joined the Allied forces in September 1943, the town came under German control until the withdrawal of German troops in October 1944.