Koinon of Free Laconians
Encyclopedia
The 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.
's defeat in the Roman-Spartan War. The Roman
general Titus Quinctius Flaminius placed several coastal cities of the Mani Peninsula
under the protection of the Achean League, freeing them from Spartan hegemony
. The most important of its cities was Gythium
. A few years later, in 192 BC, Gythium was recaptured by Nabis
of Sparta
, but the Achean League immediately liberated the city. The city of Las
was attacked and captured by the Spartans. The Achean League retaliated and freed Las and captured Sparta.
who was assisted by the treasurer. At its height the koinon consisted of 24 cities; however, the number decreased to 18. The koinon continued to exist into the second half of the 3rd century AD, as is demonstrated by the coins and inscriptions of its member states. It continued until 297 AD when the Emperor Diocletian
reformed the provincial administration.
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
, giving formal structure to a group of cities that had been associated for almost two centuries.
History
The Eleutherolakones (Ἐλευθερολάκωνες, free Laconians) are first mentioned in 195 BC, after SpartaSparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
's defeat in the Roman-Spartan War. The Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
general Titus Quinctius Flaminius placed several coastal cities of the Mani Peninsula
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
under the protection of the Achean League, freeing them from Spartan hegemony
Spartan hegemony
The city-state of Sparta was the greatest military land power of classical Greek antiquity. During the classical period, Sparta owned, dominated or influenced the entire Peloponnese. Additionally, the defeat of the Athenians and the Delian League in the Peloponnesian War in 431-404 BCE resulted in...
. The most important of its cities was Gythium
Gytheio
Gytheio , the ancient Gythium or Gytheion , is a town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. It was the seaport of Sparta, some 40 km north...
. A few years later, in 192 BC, Gythium was recaptured by Nabis
Nabis
Nabis was ruler of Sparta from 207 BC to 192 BC, during the years of the First and Second Macedonian Wars and the War against Nabis. After taking the throne by executing two claimants, he began rebuilding Sparta's power. During the Second Macedonian War, he sided with King Philip V of Macedon and...
of Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
, but the Achean League immediately liberated the city. The city of Las
Passavas
Passavas or Las is situated on the Mani Peninsula. In ancient times Las was a Spartan possession and in 218 BC the citizens of the city fought and routed and group of Philip V of Macedon's army. Las became part of the Union of Free Laconians in 195 BC when it separated from Sparta. The Spartans...
was attacked and captured by the Spartans. The Achean League retaliated and freed Las and captured Sparta.
Constitution
The highest officer in the Union was the generalStrategos
Strategos, 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...
who was assisted by the treasurer. At its height the koinon consisted of 24 cities; however, the number decreased to 18. The koinon continued to exist into the second half of the 3rd century AD, as is demonstrated by the coins and inscriptions of its member states. It continued until 297 AD when the Emperor Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
reformed the provincial administration.
Member cities
According to Pausanias, the members of the koinon were:
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Oitylo Oitylo is a village and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. It is one of the oldest towns in the Mani Peninsula. It was mentioned in the Iliad by Homer as Oetylοs ,... Leuctra Leuctra was a village in ancient Greece, in Boeotia, seven miles southwest of Thebes. It is primarily known today as the site of the important 371 BC Battle of Leuctra in which the Thebans, under Epaminondas, defeated the Spartans... |
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Asopus Asopus or Asôpos is the name of four different rivers in Greece and one in Turkey. In Greek mythology, it was the name of the gods of those rivers.-The rivers in Greece:... |
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Brasiae Brasiae or Brasies or Prasies is an Ancient Greek city in South-East Peloponnese. It is located four kilometers SE of Leonidio, next to Plaka. Brasiae was part of Menelaus' kingdom and is mentioned by Homer in the Catalogue of Ships. Brasiae was an important harbour and a naval base of Sparta... Marius Marius may refer to:* Marius , a male given name, a Roman family name, and a modern surname** Gaius Marius, Roman general and statesman.* Marius , on the Moon* Marius Hills, on the Moon* Marius , written by Marcel Pagnol... |
Primary Sources
- PausaniasPausanias (geographer)Pausanias was a Greek traveler and geographer of the 2nd century AD, who lived in the times of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. He is famous for his Description of Greece , a lengthy work that describes ancient Greece from firsthand observations, and is a crucial link between classical...
, translated by W.H.S Jones, (1918). Pausanias Description of Greece. London: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-14-044362-2.
Secondary Sources
- Peter Greenhalgh and Edward Eliopoulos, (1985). Deep into Mani: Journey to the southern tip of Greece. London: Trinity Press ISBN 0-571-13524-2