Achaean League
The Achaean League was a confederation of city-states located in the northern Peloponnese of Greece, which originally formed in the fourth century BCE but was dissolved following the Macedonian conquest. It was revived in 280 BCE and, under the leadership of Aratus of Sicyon, expanded its influence significantly, even welcoming non-Achaean cities like Sicyon into its fold by 251 BCE. By 228 BCE, the league expelled Macedonian forces from the Peloponnese, establishing itself as a dominant power in southern Greece. Governance within the league involved a federal assembly, with a council and magistrates managing day-to-day affairs, while local autonomy was preserved for member cities. The Achaean League faced challenges such as the resurgence of Sparta, which led to temporary alliances with Macedonia. However, the league eventually allied with Rome against Macedonia in 198 BCE. Tensions with Rome escalated, resulting in the capture of a thousand Achaeans, including the historian Polybius, as hostages in 167 BCE. Ultimately, in 146 BCE, the league was defeated by Roman forces, marking the end of the last remnants of Greek independence.
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Achaean League
Related civilizations: Hellenistic Greece, Republican Rome.
Date: fourth century b.c.e.-c. 323 b.c.e. and 280 b.c.e.-146 b.c.e.
Locale: Peloponnese in southern Greece
Achaean League
A confederation of Achaean (uh-KEE-uhn) cities, located in the northern Peloponnese, existed during the fourth century b.c.e., but this league was dissolved after the Macedonian conquest. The league was revived in 280 b.c.e., and in 251 b.c.e., it extended membership to Sicyon (Sikyon), a non-Achaean city. Under the leadership of Aratus of Sicyon, the league grew, and by 228 b.c.e., it had expelled the Macedonians from the Peloponnese and become the chief power in southern Greece.
The Achaean League was governed by a federal assembly, but a council and several magistrates handled daily business. The chief league official was an annually elected general who could hold office only in alternate years. Member cities did not give up local autonomy and lived under their own laws.
The resurgence of Sparta forced the Achaean League into alliance with Macedonia in 224 b.c.e., but Achaea joined Rome against Macedonia in 198 b.c.e. Relations with Rome soured, and in 167 b.c.e., the Romans took one thousand Achaeans, including the historian Polybius, to Rome as hostages. In 146 b.c.e., the Romans declared war on and defeated the Achaean League. The league was dissolved, ending the last vestige of Greek freedom.
Bibliography
Larsen, J. A. O. Greek Federal States: Their Institutions and History. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1968.
Walbank, F. W. The Hellenistic World. Rev. ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1993.