Chaeronea (338, Aug 2)

 

Primary Sources

Diodorus 16.85-86

Polyaenus 4.2.2, 4.2.7-8 (=Frontius, 2.1.9), 4.2.14

Plutarch, Alexander 12.3

Plutarch, Demosthenes, 18-29

(Plut. Pelopidas, 17)

Justin 9.3

 

 

Secondary Sources

Ashley, 153-158

Cawkwell, G. L., Philip of Macedon, (1978)

Hammond, Klio (1938) 203

Hammond, N. G. L. Studies in Greek History, (1973)

Hammond, Nicholas, Philip of Macedon, (Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 1994), 145ff.

Pauly, RE, 3/2 “Chaironeia

 

 

 

Athenians were able to enter into a confederation with

      Euboeans

      Achaeans

      Corinthians

      Thebans

      Megarians

      Leukadians

      Korkyraeans

Who brought 15,000 I and 2000 C (Demosth. De Corona, p. 306; Plutarch, Dem. 17

 

10,000 mercenaries were sent to Amphissa (Aeshines, adv. Ktesiph, p. 74)

 

Battle was hotly contested


 

Theban Sacred Band, undefeated elite, 300 strong (Plut. Pelopidas, 18-19)

      Founded by Gorgidas after liberation of Thebes from Sparta in 378

            150 pairs of lovers

            Pelopidas’ victory at Tegyra {375} (Plut. Pelopidas, 17)

            Undefeated until Chaeronea {378-338}

      attacked but could not break the phalanx

      died almost to a man at Chaeronea (Plut. Pelopidas, 18)

            never reformed

      Lion statue marking the battle site over grave of 254 skeletons = Sacred Band

 

Feigned retreat by Hypaspists at Philip’s right flank (Polyaenus 4.2.7 =Frontius, 2.1.9)

      Athenians overzealously attack

      “Let us pursue them to Macedonia

      Philip counterattacked the disorganized Athenians

      1000 killed, 2000 captured

 

Demosthenes the orator fought in the ranks and fled, accused of cowardice later