Aristaenus ( grc, Ἀρίσταινος) of Megalopolis, was sometimes called "Aristaenetus" by

Polybius Polybius (; grc-gre, Πολύβιος, ; ) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic period. He is noted for his work , which covered the period of 264–146 BC and the Punic Wars in detail. Polybius is important for his analysis of the mixed ...

and

Plutarch Plutarch (; grc-gre, Πλούταρχος, ''Ploútarchos''; ; – after AD 119) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for his ''P ...

, ''Philopoemen'' 13, 17 Aristaenus, however, appears to be the correct name. He was '' strategus'' of the

Achaean league The Achaean League (Greek: , ''Koinon ton Akhaion'' "League of Achaeans") was a Hellenistic-era confederation of Greek city states on the northern and central Peloponnese. The league was named after the region of Achaea in the northwestern Pel ...

in 198 BCE, and induced the Achaeans to join the Romans in the war against

Philip V of Macedon Philip V ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 238–179 BC) was king ( Basileus) of Macedonia from 221 to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of the Roman Republic. He would lead Macedon ag ...

. Polybius defends him from the charge of treachery for having done so. In the following year (197 BCE) he was again strategus and accompanied the consul

Titus Quinctius Flamininus Titus Quinctius Flamininus (c. 228 – 174 BC) was a Roman politician and general instrumental in the Roman conquest of Greece. Family background Flamininus belonged to the minor patrician ''gens'' Quinctia. The family had a glorious place ...

to his interview with Philip. In the same year he also persuaded the

Boeotia Boeotia ( ), sometimes Latinized as Boiotia or Beotia ( el, Βοιωτία; modern: ; ancient: ), formerly known as Cadmeis, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. Its capital is Livadeia, and its lar ...

ns to take up the side of the Romans. In 195 BCE, when he was yet again strategus, he joined Flamininus with 10,000 foot soldiers and 1000 horse in order to attack the

Sparta Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referre ...

n ruler Nabis. He was also strategus in 185 BCE, and attacked

Philopoemen Philopoemen ( el, Φιλοποίμην ''Philopoímēn''; 253 BC, Megalopolis – 183 BC, Messene) was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean strategos on eight occasions. From the time he was appointed as strategos in 209 BC ...

and

Lycortas Lycortas of Megalopolis ( el, Λυκόρτας ''Lykórtas''), son of Thearidas, was a politician of the Achaean League active in the first half of the 2nd century BC. He was the father of the historian Polybius. A political ally of Philopoemen, ...

for their conduct in relation to the embassy that had been sent to

Ptolemy V Epiphanes egy, Iwaennetjerwymerwyitu Seteppah Userkare Sekhem-ankhamun Clayton (2006) p. 208. , predecessor = Ptolemy IV , successor = Ptolemy VI , horus = '' ḥwnw-ḫꜤj-m-nsw-ḥr-st-jt.f'Khunukhaiemnisutkhersetitef'' The youth who ...

. Aristaenus was the political opponent of Philopoemen, and showed more readiness to satisfy the wishes of the Romans than Philopoemen did. He was eloquent and skilled in politics, but described as being not especially distinguished in war. Pausanias, ''Description of Greece'' 8.51.1 Some historians think that he is to be identified with Aristaenos of Dyme, son of Timocades or Damocades, who was hipparch 208/07 BC. Others hold that they were two different people.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aristaenos Of Megalopolis Ancient Greek generals Ancient Megalopolitans 3rd-century BC Greek people 2nd-century BC Greek people Achaean League