Irlandos at 08:59, April 17, 2006

2006-04-17T08:59:00Z

New page

The '''Peloponnesian League''' was an alliance of states in the [[Peloponnese]] in the [[6th century BC|6th]] and [[5th century BC|5th centuries BC]].

By the end of the 6th century, [[Sparta]] had become the most powerful state in the Peloponnese, and was the political and military hegemon over [[Argos]], the next most powerful state. Sparta acquired two powerful allies, [[Corinth]] and [[Elis]], by ridding Corinth of tyranny, and helping Elis secure control of the [[Olympic Games]]. Sparta continued strategies like this to gain other allies in their league. Sparta defeated [[Tegea]] in a frontier war and offered them a permanent defensive alliance; this was the turning point for Spartan foreign policy.

Many other states in the central and northern Peloponnese joined the league, which eventually included all Peloponnesian states except Argos and [[Achaea]]. Spartan superiority was guaranteed when Sparta defeated [[Argos]] in battle in [[546 BC|546]].

The league was organized with Sparta as the hegemon, and was controlled by the council of allies which was composed of two bodies. The first body was the assembly of Spartiates, and the Congress of Allies in which each allied state had one vote regardless of that state's size or geopolitcal power. No tribute was paid except in times of war, when one third of the military of a state could be requested. Only Sparta could call a congress of the League. All alliances were made with Sparta only, so the member states had to form their own alliances with each other. And although each state had one vote, Sparta was not compelled to abide by any resolutions the League might come to. Thus the Peloponnesian League was not an "alliance" in the strictest sense of the word (nor was it wholly Peloponnesian for the entirety of its existence).

The league provided protection and security to its members, and most importantly to Sparta. It was a very stable alliance which supported Oligarchies and opposed tyrannies.

After the [[Persian Wars]] the League was expanded into the [[Hellenic League]], including [[Athens]] and other states. The Hellenic League was led by [[Pausanias (general)|Pausanias]], but after he was recalled it was led by [[Cimon]] of Athens. Sparta withdrew and the Peloponnesian League was refounded with Sparta's original allies, while the Hellenic League turned into the Athenian-led [[Delian League]]. This might have been caused by Sparta and its allies' jealousy of the Athenians, who wanted to spread their rule. The two Leagues eventually came into conflict with each other in the [[Peloponnesian War]].

==External links==
*[http://www.livius.org Livius], [http://www.livius.org/so-st/sparta/peloponnesian_league.html Peloponnesian League] by Jona Lendering

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Ancient Greece]]
[[Category:Military alliances]]
[[Category:Sparta]]

Peloponnesian League - Revision history

Irlandos at 08:59, April 17, 2006