Irlandos at 18:02, March 17, 2006

2006-03-17T18:02:01Z

Irlandos at 18:01, March 17, 2006

2006-03-17T18:01:24Z

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The '''Battle of Chaeronea''' ([[338 BC]]), fought near [[Chaeronea]], in [[Boeotia]], was the greatest victory of [[Philip II of Macedon]]. There, Philip (with 32,000 men) defeated the smaller combined forces of [[Athens]] and [[Thebes]], securing Macedonian hegemony in Greece.

The battle itself pitted the classical phalanx of the Athenian and Theban confederates and the [[Macedonian phalanx]] of Philip. The confederate battle line formed with the Athenians holding the left wing and the Thebans holding the right wing (with the all-important extreme right flank protected by the [[Sacred Band of Thebes|Sacred Band]]). Athenians and Thebans occupied the center of the line. In the Macedonian line, Philip commanded the right wing, while Alexander commanded the left wing - albeit supervised by the best Commanders of the King. The famed [[Companion Cavalry]] was situated to the rear of the Macedonian line.

Ancient sources tell us that the two sides fought bitterly for a long time. It would appear that Philip deliberately withdrew his troops on the right wing, in order to break up the Greek lines. Most sources are agreed in saying that Alexander was the first to break into the Theban lines, followed by ''a courageous band'' (presumably his kinsmen and friends); upon seeing this, Philip urged his forces to attack with great fury and the Athenians - ardent but untrained - were unable to resist his Macedonian veterans. With the rout of the Athenians, the Thebans were left to fight for themselves and crushed. Of the famed 300-strong [[Sacred Band of Thebes]], 254 fell on the field of battle, while 46 were wounded and captured.

A different account of the battle was advanced by the Alexander historian [[Nicholas G. L. Hammond]] which has established itself as the popular version in latter years. He speculated that it was Alexander, in person, who at the head of the Companion cavalry drove into the gap and outflanked the Greek lines; however none of the sources we have (the main ones being [[Plutarch]], [[Frontinus]] and [[Diodorus]]) mention this feature of the battle. It should be noted that Hammond never pretended that this was anything more than speculation, but the story has subsequently been propagated in many history books and web sites as historical fact.

==Effect==
The southern Greek city-states were decisively defeated and submitted to Macedon.

==External links==
*[http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexander/alexander_t42.html Livius Picture Archive: the battle of Chaeronea (338 BC)]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:338 BC]]
[[Category:Battles of Macedon|Chaeronea 338 BC]]
[[Category:Battles of Athens|Chaeronea 338 BC]]
[[Category:Battles of Thebes|Chaeronea 338 BC]]

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 Ancient sources tell us that the two sides fought bitterly for a long time. It would appear that Philip deliberately withdrew his troops on the right wing, in order to break up the Greek lines. Most sources are agreed in saying that Alexander was the first to break into the Theban lines, followed by ''a courageous band'' (presumably his kinsmen and friends); upon seeing this, Philip urged his forces to attack with great fury and the Athenians - ardent but untrained - were unable to resist his Macedonian veterans. With the rout of the Athenians, the Thebans were left to fight for themselves and crushed. Of the famed 300-strong [[Sacred Band of Thebes]], 254 fell on the field of battle, while 46 were wounded and captured.
-A different account of the battle was advanced by the Alexander historian [[Nicholas G. L. Hammond]] which has established itself as the popular version in latter years. He speculated that it was Alexander, in person, who at the head of the Companion cavalry drove into the gap and outflanked the Greek lines; however none of the sources we have (the main ones being [[Plutarch]], [[Frontinus]] and [[Diodorus]]) mention this feature of the battle. It should be noted that Hammond never pretended that this was anything more than speculation, but the story has subsequently been propagated in many history books and web sites as historical fact.
+A different account of the battle was advanced by the Alexander historian Nicholas G. L. Hammond which has established itself as the popular version in latter years. He speculated that it was Alexander, in person, who at the head of the Companion cavalry drove into the gap and outflanked the Greek lines; however none of the sources we have (the main ones being [[Plutarch]], [[Frontinus]] and [[Diodorus]]) mention this feature of the battle. It should be noted that Hammond never pretended that this was anything more than speculation, but the story has subsequently been propagated in many history books and web sites as historical fact.
 ==Effect==

Battle of Chaeronea - Revision history

Irlandos at 18:02, March 17, 2006

Irlandos at 18:01, March 17, 2006