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Philopoimen

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'''Philopoemen''' (in [[Greek language |Greek]], '''Φιλοποίμην,''' transliterated as '''Philopoimen'''), ([[253 BC|253]]-[[184 BC]]), [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] general, was born at [[Megalopolis]], and educated by the academic philosophers Ecdemus and Demophanes or Megalophanes, who had distinguished themselves as champions of freedom. Avoiding the fashionable and luxurious gymnasia, he devoted himself to military studies, bunting and border forays. In [[232 BC]] Philopoemen skilfully evacuated Megalopolis before the attack of [[Cleomenes III]], and distinguished himself at [[Sellasia]] ([[222 BC]]). The next eleven years he spent as a condottiere in [[Crete]]. Elected commander of the [[Achaean League]] cavalry on his return, he reorganized that force and defeated the [[Aetolia|Aetolians]] on the [[Elea|Elean]] frontier ([[210 BC]]). Appointed to the chief command two years later, he introduced heavy armour and close formation for the [[infantry]], and with a well-trained army beat [[Machanidas]] of [[Sparta]], near [[Mantinea]]. The new liberator was now so famous that [[Philip V of Macedon]] attempted to poison him. In [[202 BC]], Philopoemen drove [[Nabis]], the Spartan tyrant, from [[Messene]] and routed him off [[Tegea]]. After another long sojourn in Crete he again received the command against Nabis. Though unsuccessful at sea, he almost annihilated Nabisss Nabis' land force near [[Gythium]], but was prevented by the Roman Flamininus from taking Sparta. In [[190 BC]], Philopoemen protected Sparta, which meanwhile had joined the League and thereupon seceded, but punished a renewed defection so cruelly as to draw the censure of Rome upon his country. At Messene he likewise checked a revolt ([[189 BC]]), but when that city again rebelled, in [[184 BC]], he was captured in a skirmish and promptly executed. His body was recovered by the Achaeans and buried with great solemnity.
Philopoemen's great merit lies in his having restored to his compatriots that military efficiency without which the Achaean League for all its skilful diplomacy could never stand. Towards Rome he advocated a courteous but independent attitude. In politics he was a democrat and introduced reforms of a popular character.

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