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, XV, 19, 3">
The First Olynthian War 382-379 BC. War of
, XV, 19, 2">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 ...
, Macedonia and their allies against the cities
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
of the Chalcidian League
The Chalcidian League ( el, Κοινόν τῶν Χαλκιδέων, ''Koinon tōn Chalkideōn'', "League of the Chalcidians"), also referred to as the Olynthians or the Chalcidians in Thrace (, ''Chalkideis epi Thrakēs'') to distinguish them fr ...
, led by Olynthus
Olynthus ( grc, Ὄλυνθος ''Olynthos'', named for the ὄλυνθος ''olunthos'', "the fruit of the wild fig tree") was an ancient city of Chalcidice, built mostly on two flat-topped hills 30–40m in height, in a fertile plain at the he ...
.
The reasons were, firstly, the strengthening of the Chalcidian League
The Chalcidian League ( el, Κοινόν τῶν Χαλκιδέων, ''Koinon tōn Chalkideōn'', "League of the Chalcidians"), also referred to as the Olynthians or the Chalcidians in Thrace (, ''Chalkideis epi Thrakēs'') to distinguish them fr ...
led by Olynthus
Olynthus ( grc, Ὄλυνθος ''Olynthos'', named for the ὄλυνθος ''olunthos'', "the fruit of the wild fig tree") was an ancient city of Chalcidice, built mostly on two flat-topped hills 30–40m in height, in a fertile plain at the he ...
, which created a threat to Macedonia, and secondly, the desire of Sparta to establish its dominance in Northern Greece.
Background
In 393/392 BC. Macedonia was invaded by theIllyrians
The Illyrians ( grc, Ἰλλυριοί, ''Illyrioi''; la, Illyrii) were a group of Indo-European-speaking peoples who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. They constituted one of the three main Paleo-Balkan populations, a ...
, who defeated Amyntas III
Amyntas III (Greek: Αμύντας Γ΄ της Μακεδονίας) (420 – 370 BC) was king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia in 393 BC and again from 392 to 370 BC. He was the son of Arrhidaeus and grandson of Amyntas, one of the sons ...
and drove him out of the country. Trying to enlist the help of Olynthus, Aminta transferred part of the border territory to this policy. However, there is no information that Olynthus provided the overthrown king
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
with any assistance. Amyntas is believed to have fled from Macedonia to Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, The ...
, where he had supporters who soon helped him return to the throne.
Some time later (probably c. 391 BC), a 50-year treaty was concluded between Macedonia and the Chalcisian League. Part of the text of this treaty was found on a stone at Olynthus. There is talk of a military alliance, and rules are established for the export of timber, a strategic raw material, the export of which was previously under the control of Macedonia. From now on, the Chalcidians were allowed to freely export resin and wood to build ships. Only to export spruce it was necessary to obtain permission from the king and pay duties. In the political part of the agreement, the parties agreed not to conclude, except by common consent, treaties of friendship with Amphipolis
Amphipolis ( ell, Αμφίπολη, translit=Amfipoli; grc, Ἀμφίπολις, translit=Amphipolis) is a municipality in the Serres regional unit, Macedonia, Greece. The seat of the municipality is Rodolivos. It was an important ancient Gr ...
, Akanthos, and Bottieya.
The main points of the treaty were in the interests of Olynthus, who, in addition to unheard of trade privileges, achieved the isolation of his rivals in the region. Over the next few years, the economic and political position of the Chalcidian League continued to strengthen, while Macedonia remained very vulnerable.
In the mid-380s. BC. The Illyrians again intensified their pressure on their neighbors: in 385/384 BC. At the instigation of the Syracusan tyrant Dionysius the Elder
Dionysius I or Dionysius the Elder ( 432 – 367 BC) was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse, in Sicily. He conquered several cities in Sicily and southern Italy, opposed Carthage's influence in Sicily and made Syracuse the most powerful of the Western Gre ...
they attacked the Epirus Kingdom to restore the exiled king Alcetes to the throne. About 15 thousand Molossians
The Molossians () were a group of ancient Greek tribes which inhabited the region of Epirus in classical antiquity. Together with the Chaonians and the Thesprotians, they formed the main tribal groupings of the northwestern Greek group. On t ...
died in the battle, and then the Spartans sent army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
to Epirus to drive out the barbarians.
Based on the story Diodorus
Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...
Diodorus
Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...
, XV, 19, 2 it is assumed that the Illyrians in 383/382 BC made a new invasion of Macedonia, and this prompted King Amyntas to make additional concessions to the Chalcidians. However, it is more likely that Diodorus simply duplicated the report of the 393/392 BC invasion.
However, Macedonia was still weakened, and when Amyntas asked to return the lands ceded to the Chalcidians, he was refused.Diodorus
Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...Diodorus
Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...
XV, 19, 2 Moreover, according to Xenophon
Xenophon of Athens (; grc, Ξενοφῶν ; – probably 355 or 354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian, born in Athens. At the age of 30, Xenophon was elected commander of one of the biggest Greek mercenary armies o ...
, Olynthos continued his expansion, “taking possession of many other Macedonian cities, including even Pella
Pella ( el, Πέλλα) is an ancient city located in Central Macedonia, Greece. It is best-known for serving as the capital city of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, and was the birthplace of Alexander the Great.
On site of the ancient cit ...
, the largest city in Macedonia”. Amyntas's domain was as a result reduced, it is believed, to the borders of the ancestral domain of the Argead dynasty - the region of Pieria around Aegae (Macedonia)
Aegae or Aigai ( grc, Αἰγαί), also Aegeae or Aigeai (Αἰγέαι) was the original capital of the Macedonians, an ancient kingdom in Emathia in northern Greece.
The city was also the burial-place of the Macedonian kings, the dynasty whi ...
.
Embassies to Sparta
Aminta decided to turn for help to the strongest Greek power - Sparta, which, after the conclusion of thePeace of Antalcidas
The King's Peace (387 BC) was a peace treaty guaranteed by the Persian King Artaxerxes II that ended the Corinthian War in ancient Greece. The treaty is also known as the Peace of Antalcidas, after Antalcidas, the Spartan diplomat who traveled t ...
, had a free hand for active action in Greece.Diodorus
Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...Diodorus
Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...
XV, 19, 3 The cities of Apollonia and Akanthos, which the Olynthians forced to join the Chalcidian League, also turned to Sparta with requests for help against Olynthus. The ambassadors of these cities most of all emphasized that Olynthus was negotiating with the enemies of the Lacedaemonians - Athenians and Thebans
Thebes (; ell, Θήβα, ''Thíva'' ; grc, Θῆβαι, ''Thêbai'' .) is a city in Boeotia, Central Greece. It played an important role in Greek myths, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus, Heracles and others. Archaeolo ...
, and if measures are not taken, then the Spartans may soon face a powerful coalition.
Start of war
The Spartans decided to equip 10,000 troops against the Chalcidian army. Since it took time to gather it, in the spring of 382 BC. 2,000 were sent to Chalkidiki
Chalkidiki (; el, Χαλκιδική , also spelled Halkidiki, is a peninsula and regional unit of Greece, part of the region of Central Macedonia, in the geographic region of Macedonia in Northern Greece. The autonomous Mount Athos region co ...
. A detachment of Neodamodes
The neodamodes ( el, νεοδαμώδεις, ''neodamōdeis'') were helots freed after passing a time of service as hoplites in the Spartan army.
The date of their first apparition is uncertain. Thucydides does not explain the origin of this spe ...
and perieks under the command of Eudàmides. Arriving at the place, Eudamidas placed garrisons in the cities that asked for it, occupied Potidea
__NOTOC__
Potidaea (; grc, Ποτίδαια, ''Potidaia'', also Ποτείδαια, ''Poteidaia'') was a colony founded by the Corinthians around 600 BC in the narrowest point of the peninsula of Pallene, the westernmost of three peninsulas at ...
, recently included in the Chalcisian League, and established his base there. He had few troops for offensive operations, so the Spartan commander limited himself to the defense of the possessions of the allies.
The Thebans did not dare to oppose Sparta, but took a hostile position, forbidding their citizens to participate in the campaign against Olynthus.
In the summer of 382 BC. The Spartans sent reinforcements to Eudamidas under the command of his brother Phoebids. He, passing by Thebes, supported the oligarchic coup that brought the pro-Spartan party to power in the city. A Spartan garrison.
The Spartans then sent the rest of the army to Chalkidice, led by harmost
Harmost ( el, , "joiner" or "adaptor") was a Spartan term for a military governor. The Spartan general Lysander instituted several harmosts during the period of Spartan hegemony after the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. They were sent int ...
om Teleutius, brother of king
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
Agesilaus II
Agesilaus II (; grc-gre, Ἀγησίλαος ; c. 442 – 358 BC) was king of Sparta from c. 399 to 358 BC. Generally considered the most important king in the history of Sparta, Agesilaus was the main actor during the period of Spartan hegemo ...
. This army was joined by contingents from the allied cities, Thebes also fielded hoplites
Hoplites ( ) ( grc, ὁπλίτης : hoplítēs) were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. Hoplite soldiers used the phalanx formation to be effective in war with fewer soldiers. The f ...
s and cavalry.
First battle of Olynthus
Arriving in Chalkidiki in the late summer of 382 BC. Teleutius linked up with a small Macedonian army, which Amyntas was able to recruit, as well as with a selected detachment of 400 horsemen, who were brought by Derda II, the ruler of Elymyotis in Western Macedonia. The combined forces of the Spartans and their allies exceeded 10,000 people. Having marched with these forces to Olynthos, Teleutius defeated the Chalcidians under the walls of the city, after which he devastated the surrounding area. Derda's cavalry especially distinguished itself in the battle, whose attack, in fact, decided the outcome of the battle. The Olynthian infantry, however, did not suffer significant losses, since they promptly took refuge behind the city walls.
The Olynthians themselves carried out successful raids on cities allied with the Spartans until Derda in the spring of 381 BC. Did not defeat the cavalry detachment that invaded the lands of Apollonia.
Second Battle of Olynthus
In May 381 BC. Teleutius again approached Olynthos. The Olynthian cavalry crossed the river that flowed near the city in order to secretly get close to the Spartan formations, but were noticed, and Teleutius ordered the chief of thepeltasts
A ''peltast'' ( grc-gre, πελταστής ) was a type of light infantryman, originating in Thrace and Paeonia, and named after the kind of shield he carried. Thucydides mentions the Thracian peltasts, while Xenophon in the Anabasis distin ...
Tlepolid to attack the horsemen. They did not engage in battle, and went back across the river, and when the peltasts who rushed in pursuit crossed the river and went ashore, the cavalry turned around and attacked the infantrymen who did not have time to line up for battle. Tlepolis and a hundred of his warriors were killed.
Teleutius, according to Xenophon, flew into a rage and ordered his troops to pursue the enemy to the very city walls. This was a mistake, as the Spartans, who came too close to the walls, were showered with a hail of stones and other projectiles, and were forced to retreat in disarray from the fire zone. The Olynthians took advantage of their confusion and made a sortie with all their might. Teleutius died in battle, and his army completely fled and took refuge in the allied cities. According to Diodorus, Spartan losses exceeded 1,200 people
End of the war
The Spartans equipped a new army led by King Agesipolis. He approached Olynthos, but since the enemy did not come out to fight this time, the Spartans began to devastate the area.Toroni
Toroni ( grc, Τορώνη, ''Toróne'', modern pronunciation ''Toróni'') is an ancient Greek city and a former municipality in the southwest edge of Sithonia peninsula in Chalkidiki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of ...
, allied to the Olynthians, was taken. Summer 380 B. Agesipolis died of fever, and the harmost Polybiades. He blockaded Olynthos and starved the city into capitulation (Autumn 379 BC)Xenophon
Xenophon of Athens (; grc, Ξενοφῶν ; – probably 355 or 354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian, born in Athens. At the age of 30, Xenophon was elected commander of one of the biggest Greek mercenary armies o ...
. Greek History, V, 3, 26
The Chalcidian Union was dissolved, Olynthus became a satellite of Sparta, and the lands both ceded to the Olynthians and captured by them were returned to Macedonia.
Result
The defeat of the Chalcidian League and the subjugation of Thebes significantly strengthened theSpartan hegemony
The polis of Sparta was the greatest military land power of classical Greek antiquity. During the Classical period, Sparta governed, dominated or influenced the entire Peloponnese. Additionally, the defeat of the Athenians and the Delian League ...
, which had been shaken during the Corinthian War. However, it turned out that this victory was the last for Sparta. The rude and cynical policy of the Spartans, who did not care about the interests of other states, caused a response, and the last straw that broke the patience of the Greeks was the entry of the Spartan garrison into Cadmea
The Cadmea, or Cadmeia (Greek: Καδμεία, ''Kadmía''), was the citadel of ancient Thebes, Greece, which was named after Cadmus, the legendary founder of Thebes. The area is thought to have been settled since at least the early Bronze Age, ...
.
The Spartans liquidated the Chalcidian League on the basis of the provisions of the Peace of Antalcis, which asserted the independence of individual policies and prohibited hegemonic alliances. They hoped that politically fragmented Greece would not be able to get out of their influence. However, in accordance with this treaty, the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta was also subject to dissolution; however, it never occurred to the Spartans that anyone could seriously demand this.
But the following year, the democratic coup took place in Thebes, and the Athenians began the formation of the anti-Spartan League, the constitution of which corresponded to the conditions of the Royal Peace. The days of Spartan hegemony were numbered.
References
Sources
* * * * Anton Powell (editor), ''A Companion to Sparta'', Hoboken, Wiley, 2018. {{Ancient Greek Wars, state=autocollapse Wars involving ancient Greece Wars involving Macedonia (ancient kingdom) 380s BC conflicts