The
Achaean League (
GreekAncient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic , Classical , and Hellenistic periods of ancient Greece and the ancient world. It is predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
: ) was a Hellenistic era
confederationA confederation is an association of sovereign member states, that by treaty have delegated certain of their competences to common institutions, in order to coordinate their policies in a number of areas, without however constituting a new state on top of the member states...
of
GreekGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula....
city stateA polis -- plural: poleis --is a city, a city-state and also citizenship and body of citizens...
s , on the northern and central
PeloponneseThe Peloponnese or Peloponnesus is a large peninsula and region in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, named after the Homeric
AchaeansThe Achaeans is one of the collective names used for the Greeks in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. The other names are the Danaans and the Argives...
or rather the league that existed with the same name in the NW region of
AchaeaAchaea is an ancient province and a present prefecture of Greece, on the northern coast of the Peloponnese, stretching from the mountain ranges of Erymanthus and Cyllene on the south to a narrow strip of fertile land on the north, bordering the Gulf of Corinth, into which the mountain Panachaicus...
of unknown time of foundation.
The regional Achaean League was reformed early in the
3rd century BCThe 3rd century BC started the first day of 300 BC and ended the last day of 201 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period.-Overview:...
, and soon expanded beyond its
AchaeaAchaea is an ancient province and a present prefecture of Greece, on the northern coast of the Peloponnese, stretching from the mountain ranges of Erymanthus and Cyllene on the south to a narrow strip of fertile land on the north, bordering the Gulf of Corinth, into which the mountain Panachaicus...
n heartland. It was first joined by the city of
SicyonSikyon was an ancient Greek city situated in the northern Peloponnesus between Corinth and Achaea on the territory of the present-day prefecture of Corinthia...
, which provided it with its first great leader,
Aratus of SicyonAratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
.
The
Achaean League (
GreekAncient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic , Classical , and Hellenistic periods of ancient Greece and the ancient world. It is predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
: ) was a Hellenistic era
confederationA confederation is an association of sovereign member states, that by treaty have delegated certain of their competences to common institutions, in order to coordinate their policies in a number of areas, without however constituting a new state on top of the member states...
of
GreekGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula....
city stateA polis -- plural: poleis --is a city, a city-state and also citizenship and body of citizens...
s , on the northern and central
PeloponneseThe Peloponnese or Peloponnesus is a large peninsula and region in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, named after the Homeric
AchaeansThe Achaeans is one of the collective names used for the Greeks in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. The other names are the Danaans and the Argives...
or rather the league that existed with the same name in the NW region of
AchaeaAchaea is an ancient province and a present prefecture of Greece, on the northern coast of the Peloponnese, stretching from the mountain ranges of Erymanthus and Cyllene on the south to a narrow strip of fertile land on the north, bordering the Gulf of Corinth, into which the mountain Panachaicus...
of unknown time of foundation.
The regional Achaean League was reformed early in the
3rd century BCThe 3rd century BC started the first day of 300 BC and ended the last day of 201 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period.-Overview:...
, and soon expanded beyond its
AchaeaAchaea is an ancient province and a present prefecture of Greece, on the northern coast of the Peloponnese, stretching from the mountain ranges of Erymanthus and Cyllene on the south to a narrow strip of fertile land on the north, bordering the Gulf of Corinth, into which the mountain Panachaicus...
n heartland. It was first joined by the city of
SicyonSikyon was an ancient Greek city situated in the northern Peloponnesus between Corinth and Achaea on the territory of the present-day prefecture of Corinthia...
, which provided it with its first great leader,
Aratus of SicyonAratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
. The League soon grew to control much of the Peloponnesus, considerably weakening the
MacedonMacedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paionia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south...
ian hold on the area, but soon it ran into difficulties with the revived
SpartaSparta was a city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the River Eurotas in the southern part of the Peloponnese. From c. 650 BC it rose to become the dominant military power in the region and as such was recognized as the overall leader of the combined Greek forces during the Greco-Persian Wars...
of
Cleomenes IIICleomenes III was the King of Sparta from 235-222 BC. He succeeded to the Agiad throne of Sparta after his father, Leonidas II in 235 BC.From 229 BC to 222 BC, Cleomenes waged war against the Achaean League under Aratus of Sicyon. Domestically, he is known for his attempt to reform the Spartan state...
. Aratus was forced to call in the aid of the Macedonian King, Antigonus Doson, to defeat Cleomenes in Sellasia. Antigonus re-established Macedonian control over much of the region.
In 220 BC, the Achaean League entered into a war against the
Aetolian LeagueThe Aetolian League was a confederation of tribal communities and cities in ancient Greece centered on Aetolia in central Greece. Alternatively termed the Aitolian League, it was established probably during the early Hellenistic era in opposition to Macedon and the Achaean League. Two annual...
, which was called "
the second Allied WarThe Social War or the War of the Allies, was fought from 220 BC to 217 BC between the Hellenic League and the Aetolian League, Sparta and Elis. It was ended with the Peace of Naupactus.-See also:*Agelaus of Naupactus*Philip V of Macedon...
". The young king of Macedon Philip V sided with the Achaeans and called for a Panhellenic conference in Corinth, where the Aetolian aggression was condemned.
After Aratus's death, however, the League was able to reap much of the benefits of Macedon's defeat by Rome in
197 BC-Greece:* The Spartan ruler, Nabis, acquires the important city of Argos from Philip V of Macedon, as the price of his alliance with the Macedonians. Nabis then defects to the Romans in the expectation of being able to hold on to his conquest....
. Under the leadership of
PhilopoemenPhilopoemen , was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean Strategos on eight occasions....
, the League was able to finally defeat a heavily weakened Sparta and take control of the entire Peloponnesus.
The League's dominance was not to last long, however. During the
Third Macedonian WarThe Third Macedonian War was a war fought between Rome and King Perseus of Macedon. In 179 BC King Philip V of Macedon died and his talented and ambitious son, Perseus, took his throne. Perseus married Laodike, daughter of King Seleucus IV Keraunos of Asia, and increased the size of his army...
(
171-Greece:* Epirus joins Macedonia in the latter's fight against Rome. However, the Greek leagues remain neutral.* Thanks to the efforts of Eumenes II of Pergamum while in Rome, the Romans declare war on Macedonia and send troops to Thessaly, thus beginning the Third Macedonian War...
-
168 BC-Greece:* The king of Illyria, Gentius, is defeated at Scodra by a Roman force under Lucius Anicius Gallus and then brought to Rome as a captive to be interned in Iguvium...
), the League flirted with the idea of an alliance with
PerseusPerseus was the last king of the Antigonid dynasty, who ruled the successor state in Macedon created upon the death of Alexander the Great...
, and the Romans punished it by taking several hostages to ensure good behavior, including
PolybiusPolybius was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his book called The Histories covering in detail the period of 220–146 BC...
, the Hellenistic historian who wrote about the rise of the Roman Empire. In
146 BC-Rome:*With Carthage and Greece conquered, Rome becomes the sole superpower in the Mediterranean world, a distinction it will continue to hold for approximately the next 700 years.-Africa:...
, the league erupted into open revolt against Roman domination. The
RomansThe Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a republican form of government. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, c...
under
Lucius MummiusLucius Mummius , was a Roman statesman and general, also known as Leucius Mommius. He later received the agnomen Achaicus.-Corinth:...
defeated the Achaeans, razed
CorinthCorinth, or Korinth Corinth, or Korinth Corinth, or Korinth (Greek Κόρινθος, Kórinthos is a city in Greece. In antiquity it was a city-state, on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. To the west of the isthmus lies the Gulf of...
and dissolved the league. Lucius Mummius received the
cognomenThe cognomen was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary...
Achaicus ("conqueror of Achaea") for his role.
Army
The Achaian army was an army of the traditional hoplite type. From the 270’s onwards however, much like the rest of Greece, the emergence of the Gallic shield known as the
ThureosA thureos was a large oval shield which was commonly used in Hellenistic armies from the 3rd BC on. It was adopted from the Galatians probably first by the Ilyrians, then by the Thracians before becoming common in Greece. Troops who carried it were known as thureophoroi. It was made of wood...
was incorporated into Greek warfare and a new type of troop was developed. Reforming their troops into
ThureophoroiThe Thureophoroi was a type of infantry soldier, common in the 3rd to 1st Century BCE, who carried a large oval shield called a thureos which had a type of metal strip boss and a central spine. They were armed with a long thrusting spear, javelins and a sword. They also usually wore an iron or...
, the Achaian army was now composed of light troops. The Thureophoroi were a mixture of evolved peltasts and light hoplites, carrying the thureos shield, a thrusting spear and javelins. Plutarch tells us of how they could be effective at a distance, but in close combat the narrow Thureos shield disadvantaged them. He also describes how they would form a formation of sorts, but it would be ineffective, as it would not have inter-locked shields or a ‘leveled line of spears’ (Plut. Philo. 9). Aratus, one of the major Achaian strategoi and statesmen was known for his use of light forces for irregular operations, a type of warfare suited to the Thureophoroi but not suited to operations in the open field.
The League in 217 decided to maintain a standing force of 8,000 mercenary foot and 500 cavalry, added to a picked citizen force of 3,000 infantry and 300 cavalry. The citizen infantry would have been armed as Thureophoroi, apart from the citizen light troops who would have been archers and slingers etc. This picked citizen force may well have existed before these so-called reforms, at least on an official basis, as we know of a similar elite force of the same size Sellasia in 222.
However, it was the Achaian general Philopoemen in 208 who changed the Achaian fighting style and weaponry. According to Plutarch, Philopoemen ‘persuaded them to adopt long pike and heavy shield instead of spear and buckler, to protect their bodies with helmets and breastplates and greaves, and to practice stationary and steadfast fighting instead of the nimble movements of light-armed troops’ (Plut. Philo. 9). These ‘reforms’ were not necessarily new to some of the constituent cities of the League, the city of Megalopolis had been given bronze shields and armed in the Macedonian fashion by Antigonus Doson for the Sellasia campaign many years before.
As well as reforming and re-organizing the infantry, Philopoemen also did this with the citizen cavalry. The cavalry was recruited, much like in other Greek states, from the rich and noble classes. Philopoemen organized the cavalry in ‘lochoi’, which usually in ancient military treatises means ‘files’, most probably of 8 men, grouped into dilochiai, a formation of double-files of 16 and so forth.
Members
The below are the original Peloponesian members, except the ancient regions of Sparta ,Elis and Messenia. Later Hypana in Elis,Corone,
MesseneMessene is a town in the prefecture of Messinia in southern Greece. In antiquity, it was a Doric Greek city-state founded by Epaminondas in 369 BC, after the battle of Leuctra and the first Theban invasion of the Peloponnese...
,Sparta and
PagaePagae was an ancient Greek harbour in Megaris, on the Gulf of Corinth.In 461 BC, Pagae was occupied by Athens because they wanted a naval base of operations on the Gulf of Corinth...
in Attica were joined by conquest. For the reported Elisphasii: possibly this word ought to be Helissonii, for the name Elisphasii occurs no where else in ancient history. In 223 BC Megara in Attica deserted the Achaean League and joined the Boeotian Confederacy.
From Achaea
- Aegira
- Aegium
- Boura
- Cerynea
Keryneia , also with the second a accented is a Greek village located about west of Corinth and Athens, north-northwest of Kalavryta and east of Aigio and Patras. The GR-9 Keryneia (Greek: Κερύνεια Kerynia, Kerineia or Kerinia), also with the second a accented is a Greek village located about west...
- Dyme
- Helike
Helike was an ancient Greek city that sank at night in the winter of 373 BC. The city was located in Achaea, Northern Peloponnesos, two kilometres from the Corinthian Gulf. The related city of Boura was located nearby...
- Patras
The city of Patras has an important history of four thousand years. Patras has been inhabited since the prehistoric age and constituted an important centre of the Mycenean era. In the antiquity it was a leading member of the Achaean League. Patras reached the peak of its power in the Roman era,...
- Pellene
- Pharrae
Farres is a municipality in the central part of the prefecture of Achaea, Greece. Its seat of administration is in the town Chalandritsa . It is on a road connecting Patras and Kalavryta...
- Tritaia
Tritaia or Tritea is a municipality in Achaea, Greece. Population 5,462 . The seat of the municipality is in Stavrodromi. The municipality was first founded in 1835.-Municipal districts:*Agia Varvara...
From Arcadia
From the ancient political geography of Arcadia, not totally compatible with modern Arcadia
- Alipheira
- Asea
ASEA may mean:*African Stock Exchanges Association* ASEA, a former Swedish company, now part of Asea Brown Boveri* Asea, Greece, a village in the prefecture of Arcadia, Greece, part of the municipality Valtetsi-See also:...
- Callista
Callista, also can be spelt as Calista, Callistee, Kallista, Kalista or Kallistee comes from the Greek for "most beautiful " . This name is a lesser known name for girls....
- Caphyae
Caphyae or Kaphyai , was an ancient city of Arcadia situated in a small plain, northwest of the lake of Orchomenus. It was protected against inundations from this lake by a mound or dyke, raised by the inhabitants of Caphyae...
- Cleitor
- Dipaea
- Gortys
- Heraea
- Lusi
Lusi was an ancient city in Arcadia, Greece. It was a member of the Achaean League.Various legends surround the city. In one version of the story of Proetus's daughters, Melampus leads them to Lusi where they were healed of their madness in a sanctuary of Artemis....
- Mantineia
Mantineia was a city in ancient Arcadia in the central Peloponnese that was the site of two significant battles in Classical Greek history. It is also a municipality in modern Arcadia, Greece, with its seat in the village of Nestani . It is located in the northeastern part of the prefecture of...
- Megalopolis
Megalópoli is a town in the western part of the prefecture of Arcadia. It is located in the same site as ancient Megalopolis. "Megalopolis" is a Greek word for Great city. When it was founded, in 371 BC, it was the first urbanization in rustic and primitive Arcadia. In ancient times, the town...
- Methydrium
- Pallantium
Pallantium was an ancient city on the Italian peninsula thought in Roman mythology to be founded by Evander. Pallantium was one of the cities included in the city of Rome. Other cities formed around Rome by different ethnics. Pallantium is said to have been founded by Greeks. The origin of Rome...
- Pheneus
- Phigaleia
- Tegea
Tegea was a settlement in ancient Greece, and it is also a municipality in modern Arcadia, Greece, with its seat in the village Stadio.Ancient Tegea was an important religious center of ancient Greece, containing the Temple of Athena Alea. The temenos was founded by Aleus, Pausanias was informed...
- Teuthis
Teuthis was an ancient Arcadian city in the location of modern Dimitsana.According to Pausanias in which he visited, it was a seat, an old city of the city-state of Theisoa in which with the location that was part of Parrhasia. The city featured the temple of Athena, Aphrodite and Artemis...
- Theisoa
Theisoa may refer to:*Theisoa, one of the nymphs in Greek mythology*Theisoa, a gelechiid genera*Theisoa, a village in the municipality of Andritsaina in the southeast of the Elis prefecture. In ancient times was an Arcadian city....
- Thelpusa
Thelpusa or Thelpousa was an ancient city-state in Azania in Arcadia....
List of Generals (StrategoiStrategos, plural strategoi is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
)
- Margos
Margos was the first general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served only for a year, 256 - 255 BC....
256-Roman Republic:* Rome aims for a quick end to hostilities in the First Punic War and decides to invade the Carthaginian colonies in Northern Africa to force the enemy to accept terms. A major fleet is built, including transports for the army and its equipment, and warships for their protection...
- 255 BC-Roman Republic:* The Battle of Adis is fought near the city of that name, 40 miles southeast of Carthage, between Carthaginian forces and a Roman army led by Marcus Atilius Regulus. The Romans inflict a crushing defeat upon the Carthaginians, and the latter then sue for peace...
- Aratus of Sicyon
Aratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
245-Egypt:* Babylon and Susa fall to the Egyptian armies of Ptolemy III.* Following a long engagement, Ptolemy III marries Berenice II, the daughter of Magas, king of Cyrene; thereby reuniting Egypt and Cyrenaica.-Greece:...
- 244 BC-Greece:* Agis IV succeeds his father, Eudamidas II, as King of Sparta.* The war in Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea intensifies as the Achaean League allies itself to Ptolemy III of Egypt, while Seleucus II secures two allies in the Black Sea region...
- Dioedas
Dioedas was the third general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served only for a year, 244 - 243 BC....
244-Greece:* Agis IV succeeds his father, Eudamidas II, as King of Sparta.* The war in Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea intensifies as the Achaean League allies itself to Ptolemy III of Egypt, while Seleucus II secures two allies in the Black Sea region...
- 243 BC-Egypt:* Ptolemy III returns from Syria by a revolt in Egypt. As a result, Seleucus II is able to regain control of his kingdom with the Egyptians being pushed out of Mesopotamia and part of Northern Syria....
- Aratus of Sicyon
Aratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
243-Egypt:* Ptolemy III returns from Syria by a revolt in Egypt. As a result, Seleucus II is able to regain control of his kingdom with the Egyptians being pushed out of Mesopotamia and part of Northern Syria....
- 242 BC-Roman Republic:* The Roman consul and commander, Gaius Lutatius Catulus, blockades the Sicilian cities of Lilybaeum and Drepanum with a fleet of 200 ships.-Egypt:...
- Aegialeas
Aegialeas was the fifth Strategos of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served for only a year, 242–241 BC....
242-Roman Republic:* The Roman consul and commander, Gaius Lutatius Catulus, blockades the Sicilian cities of Lilybaeum and Drepanum with a fleet of 200 ships.-Egypt:...
- 241 BC-Greece:* The Eurypontid King of Sparta, Agis IV, is called away from Sparta when Aratus of Sicyon, temporarily Sparta's ally, requests Agis' aid in his war against the Aetolians. Upon his return, Agis finds that his supporters are discontented with the rule of his uncle, Agesilaus, and are...
- Aratus of Sicyon
Aratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
241-Greece:* The Eurypontid King of Sparta, Agis IV, is called away from Sparta when Aratus of Sicyon, temporarily Sparta's ally, requests Agis' aid in his war against the Aetolians. Upon his return, Agis finds that his supporters are discontented with the rule of his uncle, Agesilaus, and are...
- 234 BC-Greece:* The Epirote Alliance is replaced by the Epirote League, which is a federal state with its own parliament .* The city of Pleuron is destroyed by Demetrius II....
- Lydiadas of Megalopolis
Lydiadas of Megalopolis was the seventh, ninth and eleventh general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served three terms from, 234 - 233, 232-231 and 230 to 229 BC....
234-Greece:* The Epirote Alliance is replaced by the Epirote League, which is a federal state with its own parliament .* The city of Pleuron is destroyed by Demetrius II....
- 233 BC-Deaths:* Han Fei, Chinese philosopher who, along with Li Si, has developed Xun Zi's philosophy into the doctrine embodied by the School of Law...
- Aratus of Sicyon
Aratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
233-Deaths:* Han Fei, Chinese philosopher who, along with Li Si, has developed Xun Zi's philosophy into the doctrine embodied by the School of Law...
- 232 BC-Seleucid Empire:* The Seleucid king Seleucus II Callinicus undertakes an expedition into the interior of Iran to try to regain Parthia, but his efforts come to nothing. According to some sources, he is even taken prisoner for several years by the Parthian king, Arsaces I...
- Lydiadas of Megalopolis
Lydiadas of Megalopolis was the seventh, ninth and eleventh general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served three terms from, 234 - 233, 232-231 and 230 to 229 BC....
232-Seleucid Empire:* The Seleucid king Seleucus II Callinicus undertakes an expedition into the interior of Iran to try to regain Parthia, but his efforts come to nothing. According to some sources, he is even taken prisoner for several years by the Parthian king, Arsaces I...
- 231 BC-Greece:* Demetrius II, king of Macedon, seeks military help from Agron, King of Illyria, a loosely organized state on the Adriatic coast north of Epirus, against the advancing Aetolians...
- Aratus of Sicyon
Aratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
231-Greece:* Demetrius II, king of Macedon, seeks military help from Agron, King of Illyria, a loosely organized state on the Adriatic coast north of Epirus, against the advancing Aetolians...
- 230 BC-Anatolia:* The city of Pergamum is attacked by the Galatians because the leader of Pergamum, Attalus I Soter, has refused to pay them the customary tribute. Attalus crushes his enemy in a battle outside the walls of his city and to mark the success he takes the title of king and the name...
- Lydiadas of Megalopolis
Lydiadas of Megalopolis was the seventh, ninth and eleventh general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served three terms from, 234 - 233, 232-231 and 230 to 229 BC....
230-Anatolia:* The city of Pergamum is attacked by the Galatians because the leader of Pergamum, Attalus I Soter, has refused to pay them the customary tribute. Attalus crushes his enemy in a battle outside the walls of his city and to mark the success he takes the title of king and the name...
- 229 BC-Greece:* The First Illyrian War starts when the Roman Senate dispatches an army under the command of the consuls Lucius Postumius Albinus and Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus to Illyria. Rome forces the withdrawal of Illyrian garrisons in the Greek cities of Epidamnus, Apollonia, Corcyra and Pharos and...
- Aristomachos of Argos
Aristomachos of Argos was a general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served only for a year, 228 - 227 BC....
228-Carthage:* The Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca is killed in a battle in Hispania, ending his lengthy campaign to conquer the Iberian Peninsula for Carthage. In eight years, by force of arms and diplomacy, he had secured an extensive territory in the Iberian Peninsula, but his death in battle...
- 227 BC-Greece:* Queen Teuta of Illyria finally surrenders to Roman forces and is forced by the Romans to accept an ignominious peace. The Romans allow her to continue her reign but restrict her to a narrow region around the Illyrian capital, Shkodra, deprive her of all her other territory, and forbid her...
- Aratus of Sicyon
Aratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
227-Greece:* Queen Teuta of Illyria finally surrenders to Roman forces and is forced by the Romans to accept an ignominious peace. The Romans allow her to continue her reign but restrict her to a narrow region around the Illyrian capital, Shkodra, deprive her of all her other territory, and forbid her...
- 226 BC-Greece:* An earthquake destroys the city of Kameiros on the island of Rhodes and the Colossus of Rhodes.* The Spartan King Cleomenes III captures Mantineia and defeats the Achaean League under Aratus of Sicyon at Hecatombaeum, near Dyme in north-eastern Elis....
- Hyperuatas
Hyperuatas was a general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served only for a year, 226 - 225 BC....
226-Greece:* An earthquake destroys the city of Kameiros on the island of Rhodes and the Colossus of Rhodes.* The Spartan King Cleomenes III captures Mantineia and defeats the Achaean League under Aratus of Sicyon at Hecatombaeum, near Dyme in north-eastern Elis....
- 225 BC-Roman Republic:* A coalition of Cisalpine Gallic tribes , reinforced by large numbers of Transalpine adventurers called Gaesatae , invade Italy...
- Timoxenos
Timoxenos was the general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served only for a several months, 226 - 225 BC....
226-Greece:* An earthquake destroys the city of Kameiros on the island of Rhodes and the Colossus of Rhodes.* The Spartan King Cleomenes III captures Mantineia and defeats the Achaean League under Aratus of Sicyon at Hecatombaeum, near Dyme in north-eastern Elis....
- 225 BC-Roman Republic:* A coalition of Cisalpine Gallic tribes , reinforced by large numbers of Transalpine adventurers called Gaesatae , invade Italy...
- Aratus of Sicyon
Aratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
225-Roman Republic:* A coalition of Cisalpine Gallic tribes , reinforced by large numbers of Transalpine adventurers called Gaesatae , invade Italy...
- 218 BC-Carthage:* A Carthaginian army under Hannibal attacks Rome's Spanish allies. Roman inactivity encourages Hannibal to embark on a daring campaign: the conquest of Spain as far north as the Pyrenees, a clear violation of the Ebro River treaty of the First Punic War...
- Epiratos 218
-Carthage:* A Carthaginian army under Hannibal attacks Rome's Spanish allies. Roman inactivity encourages Hannibal to embark on a daring campaign: the conquest of Spain as far north as the Pyrenees, a clear violation of the Ebro River treaty of the First Punic War...
- 217 BC-Roman Republic:* Gaius Flaminius Nepos is re-elected consul with Gnaeus Servilius Geminus, in what is considered to be a rebuke of the Senate's prosecution of the war...
- Aratus of Sicyon
Aratus was a statesman of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. He deposed the Sicyon tyrant Nicocles in 251 BC. Aratus was an advocate of Greek unity and brought Sicyon into the Achaean League, which he led to its maximum extent. He was elected strategos numerous times...
217-Roman Republic:* Gaius Flaminius Nepos is re-elected consul with Gnaeus Servilius Geminus, in what is considered to be a rebuke of the Senate's prosecution of the war...
- 213 BC-Seleucid Empire:* In alliance with Attalus I of Pergamum, Antiochus III finally captures the rebel king of Anatolia, Achaeus, in his capital, Sardis, after a siege of two years...
- Cycliadas 210
-Roman Republic:* Following the death of his father, Publius Cornelius Scipio, and his uncle, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, at the hands of the Carthaginians, the young Publius Cornelius Scipio takes over command of the Roman troops in Spain...
- 209 BC-Roman Republic:* The Romans under Fabius Maximus Cunctator capture Tarentum , which the Carthaginian general Hannibal has held for three years....
- Philopoemen of Megalopolis
Philopoemen , was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean Strategos on eight occasions....
209-Roman Republic:* The Romans under Fabius Maximus Cunctator capture Tarentum , which the Carthaginian general Hannibal has held for three years....
- 208 BC-Roman Republic:* The Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio defeat the Carthaginians under their commander Hasdrubal Barca at Baecula in Baetica...
- Cycliadas 200
-Seleucid Empire:* Antiochus III's forces continue their invasion of Coele Syria and Palestine.-Greece:* Philip V of Macedon's fleet defeat the Rhodians at Lade...
- 199 BC-Roman Republic:* The Roman general Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus attacks the Insubres in Gaul, but loses over 6,700 soldiers in the process.* Scipio Africanus becomes censor and princeps Senatus ....
- Aristaenos of Megalopolis
Aristaenos of Megalopolis was a powerful general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served three terms beginning in 199 - 198 BC, 195 BC-194 BC and 186 BC-185 BC....
199-Roman Republic:* The Roman general Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus attacks the Insubres in Gaul, but loses over 6,700 soldiers in the process.* Scipio Africanus becomes censor and princeps Senatus ....
- 198 BC-Roman Republic:* After his election to the consulship, Titus Quinctius Flamininus is chosen to replace Publius Sulpicius Galba Maximus as the leading Roman general in Macedonia. He then crosses into Macedonia with his army. Flamininus realizes that future peace depends on breaking the power of...
- Nicostratos 198
-Roman Republic:* After his election to the consulship, Titus Quinctius Flamininus is chosen to replace Publius Sulpicius Galba Maximus as the leading Roman general in Macedonia. He then crosses into Macedonia with his army. Flamininus realizes that future peace depends on breaking the power of...
- 197 BC-Greece:* The Spartan ruler, Nabis, acquires the important city of Argos from Philip V of Macedon, as the price of his alliance with the Macedonians. Nabis then defects to the Romans in the expectation of being able to hold on to his conquest....
- Aristaenos of Megalopolis
Aristaenos of Megalopolis was a powerful general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served three terms beginning in 199 - 198 BC, 195 BC-194 BC and 186 BC-185 BC....
195-Carthage:* Because of his administrative and constitutional reforms in Carthage, Hannibal becomes unpopular with an important faction of the Carthaginian nobility and he is denounced to the Romans for inciting the Seleucid king Antiochus III to take up arms against the Romans. Rome demands that...
- 194 BC-Greece:* After checking the ambitions of the Spartan tyrant, Nabis, the Roman forces under pro-consul Titus Quinctius Flamininus finally withdraw from Greece.* With the Roman legions under Flaminius returning to Italy, the Greek states are once again on their own...
- Philopoemen of Megalopolis
Philopoemen , was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean Strategos on eight occasions....
193-Greece:* Eumenes II of Pergamum appeals to Rome for help against the Seleucid king Antiochus III who is threatening to conquer Greece. The Roman pro-consul Titus Quinctius Flamininus supports the Roman championship of Greek autonomy in Anatolia....
- 192 BC-Greece:* The Achaeans respond to Sparta's renewed interest in recovering lost territory by sending an envoy to Rome with a request for help. In response, the Roman Senate sends the praetor Atilius with a navy, as well as an embassy headed by Titus Quinctius Flamininus.* Not waiting for the Roman...
- Diophanes 192
-Greece:* The Achaeans respond to Sparta's renewed interest in recovering lost territory by sending an envoy to Rome with a request for help. In response, the Roman Senate sends the praetor Atilius with a navy, as well as an embassy headed by Titus Quinctius Flamininus.* Not waiting for the Roman...
- 191 BC-Roman Republic:* The Romans under Manius Acilius Glabrio and Cato the Elder cut the Seleucid king Antiochus III off from his reinforcements in Thrace and outflank his position at the pass of Thermopylae in the Battle of Thermopylae...
- Philopoemen of Megalopolis
Philopoemen , was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean Strategos on eight occasions....
191-Roman Republic:* The Romans under Manius Acilius Glabrio and Cato the Elder cut the Seleucid king Antiochus III off from his reinforcements in Thrace and outflank his position at the pass of Thermopylae in the Battle of Thermopylae...
- 186 BC-Roman Republic:* The rapid spread of the Bacchanalia cult throughout the Roman Republic, which, it is claimed, indulges in all kinds of crimes and political conspiracies at its nocturnal meetings, leads to the Roman Senate issuing a decree, the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus, by which the...
- Aristaenos of Megalopolis
Aristaenos of Megalopolis was a powerful general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served three terms beginning in 199 - 198 BC, 195 BC-194 BC and 186 BC-185 BC....
186-Roman Republic:* The rapid spread of the Bacchanalia cult throughout the Roman Republic, which, it is claimed, indulges in all kinds of crimes and political conspiracies at its nocturnal meetings, leads to the Roman Senate issuing a decree, the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus, by which the...
- 185 BC-Roman Republic:* The Roman general Scipio Africanus and his brother Lucius are accused by Cato the Elder and his supporters of having received bribes from the late Seleucid king Antiochus III. Scipio defies his accusers, reminds the Romans of their debt to him, and retires to his country house at...
- Lycortas of Megalopolis
Lycortas of Megalopolis was a politician of the Achaean League active in the first half of the 2nd century BC. He is now primarily known as the father of the historian Polybius...
185-Roman Republic:* The Roman general Scipio Africanus and his brother Lucius are accused by Cato the Elder and his supporters of having received bribes from the late Seleucid king Antiochus III. Scipio defies his accusers, reminds the Romans of their debt to him, and retires to his country house at...
- 184 BC-Roman Republic:* Cato the Elder, along with his colleague, Lucius Valerius Flaccus, is elected censors in Rome. Already the champion of the ancient, austere Roman way of life, Cato, now inaugurates a puritanical campaign. He aims at preserving the mos majorum and combating all Greek influences,...
- Archon 184
-Roman Republic:* Cato the Elder, along with his colleague, Lucius Valerius Flaccus, is elected censors in Rome. Already the champion of the ancient, austere Roman way of life, Cato, now inaugurates a puritanical campaign. He aims at preserving the mos majorum and combating all Greek influences,...
- 182 BC-Asia Minor:* The king of Bithynia, Prusias I Chlorus dies and is succeeded by his son, who rules as Prusias II.-Births:* Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, king of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt...
- Philopoemen of Megalopolis
Philopoemen , was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean Strategos on eight occasions....
183-Roman Republic:* Roman colonies are established at Mutina , Pisa and Parma in northern and central Italy.* The Roman general Scipio Africanus dies at Liternum in Campania....
- 182 BC-Asia Minor:* The king of Bithynia, Prusias I Chlorus dies and is succeeded by his son, who rules as Prusias II.-Births:* Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, king of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt...
- Lycortas of Megalopolis
Lycortas of Megalopolis was a politician of the Achaean League active in the first half of the 2nd century BC. He is now primarily known as the father of the historian Polybius...
182-Asia Minor:* The king of Bithynia, Prusias I Chlorus dies and is succeeded by his son, who rules as Prusias II.-Births:* Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, king of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt...
- 181 BC-Egypt:* Ptolemy V is poisoned after a reign of 24 years in which the Egyptian kingdom has declined in power and influence and has lost most of its empire outside Egypt other than Cyprus and Cyrenaica...
- Calicrates 180
-Greece:* After three years of intriguing against his younger brother Demetrius, including accusing him of coveting the succession to the Macedonian throne and being allied to Rome, Perseus persuades his father King Philip V of Macedon to have Demetrius executed....
- 179 BC-Roman Republic:* Tiberius Gracchus Major goes to Hispania as Roman governor to deal with uprisings there.* The Pons Aemilius is completed across the Tiber River in Rome...
- Xenarchos
Xenarchos was a Greek general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served only for a year from 175 BC-174 BC....
175-Seleucid Empire:* King Seleucus IV of Syria arranges for the exchange of his brother Antiochus for Demetrius, the son of Seleucus VI, who has been a hostage in Rome following the Treaty of Apamea in 188 BC...
- 174 BC-Deaths:* Titus Quinctius Flamininus, Roman general and statesman whose skillful diplomacy has enabled him to establish a Roman protectorate over Greece * Publius Aelius Paetus, Roman consul and censor...
- Archon 172
-Greece:* Eumenes II of Pergamum travels to Rome to warn the Roman Senate of the danger from Perseus of Macedon. On his return from Rome, Eumenes II is nearly killed at Delphi and Perseus is suspected of being the instigator.-Seleucid Empire:...
- 169 BC-Greece:* Macedonian forces led by Perseus of Macedon trap a Roman army led by consul Quintus Marcius Phillipus near Tempe, but the Macedonians fail to take advantage of their resulting superior tactical position....
- Menalkidas of Sparta 151
-Carthage:* The Carthaginian debt to Rome is fully repaid, meaning that, according to Carthage, the treaty with Rome, which was put in place at the end of the Second Punic War, is no longer in force. The Romans do not agree with this interpretation...
- 150 BC-Carthage:* Scipio Aemilianus is sent by the Roman general, Lucius Licinius Lucullus, to Numidia to obtain some elephants from the Numidian king Masinissa, the friend of his grandfather Scipio Africanus. While there, he witnesses a great but indecisive battle between the Numidians and the...
- Diaeos of Megalopolis 150
-Carthage:* Scipio Aemilianus is sent by the Roman general, Lucius Licinius Lucullus, to Numidia to obtain some elephants from the Numidian king Masinissa, the friend of his grandfather Scipio Africanus. While there, he witnesses a great but indecisive battle between the Numidians and the...
- 149 BC-Rome:* Third Punic War declared; Rome lands an army in Africa to begin the Battle of Carthage.* Servius Sulpicius Galba is prosecuted for corruption while serving in Spain, but is acquitted after he parades his weeping family members before the tribunal....
- Damocritus 149
-Rome:* Third Punic War declared; Rome lands an army in Africa to begin the Battle of Carthage.* Servius Sulpicius Galba is prosecuted for corruption while serving in Spain, but is acquitted after he parades his weeping family members before the tribunal....
- 148 BC148 BC was a year in the second century BC.-Rome:* With the defeat of Andriscus in the Battle of Pydna by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, Macedon is reorganized as a Roman province by 146 BC....
- Diaeos of Megalopolis 148
148 BC was a year in the second century BC.-Rome:* With the defeat of Andriscus in the Battle of Pydna by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, Macedon is reorganized as a Roman province by 146 BC....
- 146 BC-Rome:*With Carthage and Greece conquered, Rome becomes the sole superpower in the Mediterranean world, a distinction it will continue to hold for approximately the next 700 years.-Africa:...
- Critolaos of Megalopolis
Critolaos of Megalopolis was the last general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece who served only for a year, 147 - 146 BC....
147147 BC was a year in the second century BC.-Rome:* Scipio Aemilianus takes command in the Battle of Carthage. He built a mole across the gulf into the harbour, the Carthaginians dug a canal from their inner habour basin to the coast and put to sea with a full fleet, but they are defeated in a naval...
- 146 BC-Rome:*With Carthage and Greece conquered, Rome becomes the sole superpower in the Mediterranean world, a distinction it will continue to hold for approximately the next 700 years.-Africa:...
Roman era
The original name
koinonKoinon , meaning "common" and interpreted as "commonwealth", "league" or "federation" were a number of associations of cities in ancient and early modern Greek history. The various federations termed Koinon were:...
of Achaeans (Achaean League) continues to exist in epigraphy, denoting either the previous Peloponnesian members (see
koinon of Free LaconiansThe Koinon of Free Laconians was established in 21 BC by the Emperor Augustus, giving formal structure to a group of cities that had been associated for almost two centuries.-History:...
) or the whole
Roman AchaeaAchaea was a province of the Roman Empire, consisting of the modern-day Peloponnese in southern Greece and bordered on the north by the provinces of Epirus and Macedonia. The region was annexed to the Roman Republic in 146 BC following the sack of Corinth by the campaign of Roman general Lucius...
. In ca. 120 BC
Achaeans of cities in the Peloponnese dedicated an honorary inscription to Olympian Zeus, after a military expedition with
Gnaeus DomitiusGnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus was consul of Rome in 122 BC. He was the son of the Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus who was consul in 162 BC....
against Galatians in Gallia Transalpina. In Athens, 221-222 AD the koinon of Achaeans,
when strategos was Egnatius Brachyllus, decided to send an embassy to the emperor
CaracallaCaracalla , born Lucius Septimius Bassianus and later called Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus, was the eldest son of Septimius Severus and Roman Emperor from 211 to 217. He was one of the most nefarious of Roman emperors...
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