Spartan-Achaean Wars
The Spartan-Achaean Wars represent a series of conflicts that unfolded in ancient Greece, primarily between the Achaean League and Spartan forces, alongside the backdrop of broader regional tensions. Initiated in the early 3rd century BCE due to internal strife and the competition for power in the Peloponnese, these wars were influenced by external factors, such as the encroaching presence of Macedonia and the political maneuvers of figures like Aratus of Sicyon. Aratus significantly strengthened the Achaean League, uniting many Peloponnesian cities but also sowing seeds of discontent among poorer citizens who felt excluded from the benefits of his leadership.
As the Aetolian League and Sparta allied against the Achaean League, a class struggle emerged, exacerbating tensions within the region. The rise of leaders like Philopoemen and the subsequent establishment of a revolutionary dictatorship in Sparta under Nabis marked significant shifts in power dynamics. Nabis’s controversial policies aimed at redistributing wealth led to conflicts with established elites and drew the attention of Rome. The eventual Roman intervention in Greek affairs culminated in the end of Sparta as a significant power, effectively concluding its role in the wider historical narrative of Greece. The aftermath of these wars highlights the fragility of alliances and the transformative nature of social upheaval in shaping the trajectory of ancient Greek civilization.
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Spartan-Achaean Wars
At issue: Struggle for power between Greece, Macedonia, and Sparta
Date: 228-188 b.c.e.
Location: Greece and Macedon
Combatants: Achaean Greeks and Macedonians vs. Spartans
Principal commanders:Achaean Greek, Aratus of Sicyon (271-213 b.c.e.); Macedonian, King Philip V (238-179 b.c.e.); Spartan, Nabis (d. 192 b.c.e.)
Principal battle: Corinth
Result: Rome declared war on Macedonia and began the conquest of Greece
Background
In 279 b.c.e., an army of Celts, or Gauls, marched through Macedonia into Greece. At the same time, a revolution broke out in Macedonia. The Gauls advanced on Apollo’s temple at Delphi but were repulsed by a terrible storm and a strong Greek force. The surviving Gauls crossed over into Asia Minor where they butchered all the men and boys, old women, and babies. After suffering years of such devastation, the Greeks of Asia bought off the invaders and persuaded them to go into northern Phrygia. About 279 b.c.e., Aetolia began to organize the cities of northern Greece into the Aetolian League, and about the same time, the Achaean League of Patrae, Dyme, Ellene, and other towns began to attract many cities of the Peloponnese.
Action
Aratus of Sicyon transformed the Achaean League into a first-class power. Through negotiation, he persuaded all areas of the Peloponnese except Sparta and Elis to join the league (245-235 b.c.e.). With a few hundred men, he entered Corinth (243 b.c.e.), defeated the Macedonian troops, and freed the city. Passing on to the Piraeus, he bribed the Macedonian garrison to surrender and liberated Athens. Until its conquest by Rome, Athens enjoyed a unique self-government. Although it was militarily powerless, it was left intact because its universities made it the intellectual capital of the Greek world.
At the height of their power, the Aetolian and Achaean Leagues began to weaken because of internal class wars and war with each other. In 220 b.c.e., the Aetolian League, with Sparta and Elis, fought the Social War against the Achaean League and Macedonia. Aratus had built his reputation on defending freedom, but it was soon learned that he was also the protector of wealth or property. Because of this, the poor felt disenfranchised and began to turn against the government and toward Macedonia.
Macedonia was ruled by Antigens III, who served as regent for his stepson Philip. In 221 b.c.e., when Philip V came to power, he began a long reign of war. During this time, he enlarged and enriched Macedonia. In 215 b.c.e., he aligned himself with Hannibal and Carthage. This was to have grave consequences for Greece concerning the Romans. In 229-228 b.c.e., Rome had been campaigning against pirates in Illyria. Then in 218-201 b.c.e., it was preoccupied with and became drained by the Second Punic War with Hannibal. However, only one year later, Rome declared war on Macedonia and began the conquest of Greece.
During all this time, the class war had continued. The people of Sparta overthrew the government and set up a revolutionary dictatorship. Philopoemen, who had succeeded Aratus as head of the Achaean League (208 b.c.e.), invaded Laconia and restored the rule of property. As soon as Philopoemen had gone, the people rose up again and set up Nabis as dictator (207 b.c.e.) of Sparta. He gave citizenship to all freemen and freed all the helots. When the rich obstructed him, he confiscated their wealth and cut off their heads. The news of his actions spread abroad, and Nabis found it easy to gain the help of the poorer classes to conquer Argos, Messenia, Elis, and part of Arcadia.
The Achaean League was unable to overthrow him and appealed to Rome for aid. In 195 b.c.e., the Romans sent Titus Quinctius Flamininus with an army, but Nabis offered such a strong resistance that the Romans accepted a truce. Nabis was to release the imprisoned rich but would retain his power. Shortly following this arrangement, Nabis was assassinated by an agent of the Aetolian League (192 b.c.e.). Four years later, Philopoemen marched in again, bolstered up the oligarchs, abolished the Lycurgean regimen, and sold most of Nabis’s followers into slavery.
Aftermath
With the end of the revolution came the end of Sparta. The city continued to exist, but it played no further part in the history of Greece.
Bibliography
Boardman, John, et al. Greece and the Hellenistic World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Cartledge, Paul. Hellenistic and Roman Sparta: A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Routledge, 1989.
Montagu, John Drogo. Battles of the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Chronological Compendium of 667 Battles to 31 b.c. London: Greenhill Books, 2000.