Achean League

Background

Origins of the Achean League

• The Achean league was originally formed in the 5th century BC as a confederation in northern Peloponnese
• It was reestablished in the 3rd century BC, by Aratus of Sicycon
  • Its capital was in Megalopolis

Revival of Sparta

• Sparta had been doing bad after since it was defeated by Macedonians in 331 BC. (in the battle of Megalopolis)
• Spartan king Cleomenes III re-instituted traditional Spartan customs and Sparta underwent a revival

Acheans vs. Sparta

• Soon, Acheans and Spartans fought over the Peloponnese

Fall of Megalopolis

• 226 BC
• Spartans under Cleomenes against Acheans under Aratus
• Spartans won and destroyed Achean headquarters in Megalopolis

Battle of Sellasia

• 222 BC
• Acheans allied themselves with Antigonus III (king of Macedon)
• Spartans were vastly outnumbered and destroyed

Philopoemen vs. Nabis

• 209–192 BC
• Achean league assumed their dominant position in the Peloponnese under Philopoemen
• Nabis, a tyrant and the last Spartan king, arose in Sparta
• Acheans persuaded Romans (proconsul Flaminius in particular) that Spartan power needs to be checked
  • Of course, Sparta stood no chance against the allied forces of Romans and Acheans and was utterly defeated in the end

Achean Wars

• Philopoemen tried to keep good relations with Rome
  • But after his death, anti-Rome sentiment arose

    

Battle of Leucapetra

• 146 BC
• Also known as the battle of Corinth
• Roman army under Lucius Mummius against forces of the Achean league under Diacus
  • The Greeks were obviously outnumbered
• Greeks lost
  • Corinth is completely destroyed and its inhabitans sent to slavery
  • Many works of art were transfered from Greece to Rome, exposing it further to Greek culture