Machanidas
Encyclopedia
Machanidas was a tyrant of Lacedaemon about the end of the third century BC.
He was originally, perhaps, the leader of a band of Tarentine mercenaries in the pay of the Sparta
n government. The history of Lacedaemon at this period is so obscure that the means by which Machanidas obtained the tyranny are unknown. He was probably at first associated with Pelops, son and successor of Lycurgus on the double throne of Sparta; but he eclipsed or expelled his colleague, and for his crimes and the terror he inspired he is termed emphatically "the tyrant." (tyrannus Lacedaemoniorum, Livy 27.29.9 ) Like his predecessor Lycurgus, Machanidas had no hereditary or plausible title to the crown, but, unlike him, he respected neither the ephors nor the laws, and ruled by the swords of his mercenaries alone. Argos
and the Achaean League
found him a restless and relentless neighbour, whom they could not resist without the aid of Macedon. Rome
at that crisis, the 11th year of the Second Punic War
, was anxious to detain Philip IV
; as usual, unscrupulous in the choice of its instruments employed him as an active and able ally.
Machanidas revered the religious prejudices of Greece as little as the political rights of his own subjects. Towards the close of the Aetolian War
, in 207 BC, while the Greek states were negotiating the terms of peace, and the Eleans were making preparations for the next Olympic festival, Machanidas projected an inroad into the sacred territory of Elis. The design was frustrated by the timely arrival of the king of Macedon in the Peloponnesus, and Machanidas withdrew precipitately to Sparta. But the project marks both the man and the era—an era equally void of personal, national, and ancestral faith. At length, in 207 BC, after eight months' careful preparation, Philopoemen
, captain-general of the cavalry of the Achaean league, delivered Greece from Machanidas. The Achaean and Lacedaemonian armies met between Mantineia
and Tegea
. The Tarentine mercenaries of Machanidas routed and chased from the field the Tarentine mercenaries of Philopoemen. They pursued, however, too eagerly; and when Machanidas led them back, the Lacedaemonian infantry had been broken, and the Achaeans were strongly intrenched behind a deep foss. In the act of leaping his horse over the foss Machanidas fell by the hand of Philopoemen. To commemorate their leader's valour, the Achaeans set up a statue of brass at Delphi
, representing Philopoemen giving the death-wound to Machanidas.
He was originally, perhaps, the leader of a band of Tarentine mercenaries in the pay of the 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...
n government. The history of Lacedaemon at this period is so obscure that the means by which Machanidas obtained the tyranny are unknown. He was probably at first associated with Pelops, son and successor of Lycurgus on the double throne of Sparta; but he eclipsed or expelled his colleague, and for his crimes and the terror he inspired he is termed emphatically "the tyrant." (tyrannus Lacedaemoniorum, Livy 27.29.9 ) Like his predecessor Lycurgus, Machanidas had no hereditary or plausible title to the crown, but, unlike him, he respected neither the ephors nor the laws, and ruled by the swords of his mercenaries alone. Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
and the Achaean League
Achaean League
The Achaean League was a Hellenistic era confederation of Greek city states on the northern and central Peloponnese, which existed between 280 BC and 146 BC...
found him a restless and relentless neighbour, whom they could not resist without the aid of Macedon. Rome
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
at that crisis, the 11th year of the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
, was anxious to detain Philip IV
Philip IV
Philip IV may refer to:* Philip IV of Spain * Philip IV of France * Philip IV of Macedon * Philip IV of Burgundy * Philip IV of Aragon...
; as usual, unscrupulous in the choice of its instruments employed him as an active and able ally.
Machanidas revered the religious prejudices of Greece as little as the political rights of his own subjects. Towards the close of the Aetolian War
Aetolian War
The Aetolian War was fought between the Romans and their Achaean and Macedonian allies and the Aetolian League and their allies, the kingdom of Athamania. The Aetolians had invited Antiochus the Great to Greece, who after his defeat by the Romans had returned to Asia. This left the Aetolians and...
, in 207 BC, while the Greek states were negotiating the terms of peace, and the Eleans were making preparations for the next Olympic festival, Machanidas projected an inroad into the sacred territory of Elis. The design was frustrated by the timely arrival of the king of Macedon in the Peloponnesus, and Machanidas withdrew precipitately to Sparta. But the project marks both the man and the era—an era equally void of personal, national, and ancestral faith. At length, in 207 BC, after eight months' careful preparation, Philopoemen
Philopoemen
Philopoemen , was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean strategos on eight occasions....
, captain-general of the cavalry of the Achaean league, delivered Greece from Machanidas. The Achaean and Lacedaemonian armies met between Mantineia
Mantineia
Mantineia was a city in ancient Greece that was the site of two significant battles in Classical Greek history. It is also a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat...
and Tegea
Tegea
Tegea was a settlement in ancient Greece, and it is also a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat was the village Stadio....
. The Tarentine mercenaries of Machanidas routed and chased from the field the Tarentine mercenaries of Philopoemen. They pursued, however, too eagerly; and when Machanidas led them back, the Lacedaemonian infantry had been broken, and the Achaeans were strongly intrenched behind a deep foss. In the act of leaping his horse over the foss Machanidas fell by the hand of Philopoemen. To commemorate their leader's valour, the Achaeans set up a statue of brass at Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
, representing Philopoemen giving the death-wound to Machanidas.