Lamiaque war

The lamiaque war is a conflict which starts in Greece with died of Alexandre Large the in June 323 av . J. - C.. He opposes revolted Greek cities, among which Athens, with the Macedonians carried out by Antipater. The war is finally gained by this last in 322 and the rebellious cities must be subjected.

Context

The conflict originates in an edict of Alexandre, taken with Suse little before its death, ordering the return of the outlaws in all the Greek cities. This edict is read by Nicanor de Stagire, the envoy of the king, with the Olympic Games. Athens and the Étoliens refuse. For Athens indeed that implies that it returns the clérouquie of Samos of which it drove out the inhabitants while Étoliens fear to be constrained to return Œniades to the mouths of the Achéloos which they seized towards 330.

Revolt Greek cities

The news of died of Alexandre is not allowed at the beginning. The speaker Démade exclaims “the world would be full with the odor of his corpse”. As soon as the news is confirmed, the Athenians raise themselves in spite of the hostility of Phocion and the having classes. The rebellion is carried out by Hypéride, Démosthène being exiled following the scandal of the business Harpale. They invite the other Greeks to shake the yoke Macedonian of the regent Antipater. Athenians (approximately: 8000 men), Étoliens form an army and are joined by the Locride and the Phocide. Later the cities of Leucade, Messène, Argos, Elect, Carystos and part of the Épire begins in the war at the sides of revolted. Their forces directed by Léosthène probably count until: 25000 with: 30000 men including one great number of mercenaries that Alexandre had congédiés. Demosthene is also recalled of exile after having tried to rejoin the cities of the Peloponnese.

Conflict

Antipater has only rather reduced troops, undoubtedly: 13000 infantrymen and: 600 riders. It is beaten in Béotie, loses the Thermopyles and is locked up in the town of Lamia, in Phtiotide, whose name gave that of the conflict. He however refuses to go without condition as Léosthène requires it. He thus tries to save time because the reinforcements of Cratère are still far in Cilicie, and Lysimaque, the satrap of Thrace, is confronted with revolts.

It is the governor of the Phrygie, a hétaïre among noblest, Léonnat, which assists from Antipater. Leosthene dies in a skirmish at the time of the winter 323/322 and is replaced by Antiphile. Léonnat, betrayed by the riders thessaliens which make defection, is overcome and killed by the Greeks but the phalange Macedonian is intact. Antipater succeeds in leaving Lamia and making its junction with it before being withdrawn in Macedonia by avoiding the plains where the Greek cavalry had continued it.

In fact, the fate of the war is played at sea. The Athenian fleet is victorious initially of that of Antipater but a squadron made of: 240 ships phenicians and Cypriot directed by the Macedonian Cleithos crushes to two recovery the fleet of the Athenian admiral Évétion, in the Hellespont then close to Amorgos.

Outcome

The arrival of Crater, bringing back close to: 50000 infantrymen and: 5000 riders veterans of the campaigns of Alexandre, makes it possible Antipater to take again the initiative. It gains a victory in Crannon in August -322 which although nondecisive will see the dislocation of united Greek. Indeed, Antipater agree to treat only separately with the cities of the coalition, this one fringe and Athens must be subjected. The democracy is reversed. More: 12000 citizens lose their political rights which are reserved to the men having at least: 2000 drachmas (either: 9000 people). Many Athenians among poorest leave in exile, in Thrace for example where Antipater grants grounds to them. Athens loses also Samos and Oropos which returns to the Béotie. A garrison Macedonian settles in the city. Démade, on the orders of Antipater, makes vote the decree condemning to dead the patriotic speakers. Hypéride is taken with Égine then is cruelly tortured cruelly to be carried out with Cléonées. Demosthene is tracked until in the temple of Poséidon to Calaurie where it is poisoned before falling between the hands from the henchmen from Antipater.

See too

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