39 - The Antigonid War (244 - 242)
When Isokrates Antigonid became King in 294, he was roughly one year old and inherited a Kingdom in turmoil. The once mighty Realm had collapsed, the few remaining holdings in Asia Minor were rising in revolt. What was left were Thessaly, Paeonia, Chalkidiki and the island of Cyprus.
In 279, just 16 years old, the Regency of his older family members ended and he became King in his own right. The situation had slightly improved, since the Kingdom had begun to gain influence in Boeotia and also controlled the south and west of the Peloponnes. Until 262, Isokrates waged different wars and was able to further expand the borders of his Kingdom, annexing southern Thracia, Boeotia, Attica and Euboea as well as Aeolia in Asia Minor.
The Antigonid Kingdom (yellow) in 262
As of then, the tide changed against him. In 258 he had to cede Aeolia, Thessaly and parts of Emathia to Ptolemy II. By 253, the Greeks in the southern Peloponnes had revolted against his rule and formed the League of Elis. He tried to compensate his losses by advancing northward into Thracia towards the Danube River. In early 244 he was at war, trying to seize the remaining parts of Odrysia. That was when Roman troops appeared in Boeotia.
It is interesting to note, that even Roman authors put little effort into justifying the ongoing aggressive expansion of the Republic into Greece. Some do quote the plight of the Greek cities under the tyrannical rule of the Diadochi. At the same time they forget to mention, that Roman rule was equally far away from the traditional independence of the Poleis.
Anyway, the Republic continued to advance along the coastline, avoiding the territories of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Hence the only route left for them was into Boeotia and Attica, the heartland of classical Greece. This caught Isokrates by surprise, since he had to split his attention and forces to two theaters, that were far apart. Although he still had Vassals especially in Asia Minor, such as Ionia, these had little means to effectively support his war efforts versus the Republic.
Nevertheless Isokrates tried to gain the initiative with an advance to Ambrakia, trying to cut the Roman supply routes at land. This resulted in the battle of Ambrakia on 19th March 244, when two armies equal in size of roughly 7.000 soldiers each met on the battlefield. Rome won a clear victory and pursued their opponents eastward, resulting in a second Antigonid loss in June at Larisa.
At the same time Delphi had to surrender and the Roman forces spread into Boeotia and Attica, occupying Athens probably in September 244. Immediately afterward the most notable event of the war began. The siege of Aegina, an island in the Saronic Gulf. The island was heavily fortified and the roman army appearing there in late 244 faced a long siege.
In December, despite bad weather, an Antigonid fleet appeared near the island and defeated the Roman force, sinking probably ten vessels in the process, while the majority of the Roman fleet was able to escape. As of then, the Roman soldiers on Aegina were isolated, although the Antigonid fleet did not take advantage of the success and returned to its base on Euboea. This gave the Romans the opportunity to supply its forces with small coastal vessels. But the situation on Aegina, where hunger and disease took a toll, remained precarious. At least until late 243, when a large Roman fleet arrived with supplies, leading to the surrender of the island.
Shortly later, reports arrived of an Antigonid fleet heading for the island. The Roman Commander took the initiative and sailed southeast, meeting the Antigonids near Myrtoum, where the first large Roman victory in a sea battle occurred on 16th November 243. Both fleets seem to have consisted of roughly 70 vessels each. But the Romans were able to push their enemies back, destroying 12 ships while losing only one themselves.
Having lost large territories, naval superiority and a last battle near Orchomenos in early 242, Isokrates had to sign a peace treaty, confirming the annexation of Boeotia and Attica by the Romans.
When Isokrates Antigonid became King in 294, he was roughly one year old and inherited a Kingdom in turmoil. The once mighty Realm had collapsed, the few remaining holdings in Asia Minor were rising in revolt. What was left were Thessaly, Paeonia, Chalkidiki and the island of Cyprus.
In 279, just 16 years old, the Regency of his older family members ended and he became King in his own right. The situation had slightly improved, since the Kingdom had begun to gain influence in Boeotia and also controlled the south and west of the Peloponnes. Until 262, Isokrates waged different wars and was able to further expand the borders of his Kingdom, annexing southern Thracia, Boeotia, Attica and Euboea as well as Aeolia in Asia Minor.
The Antigonid Kingdom (yellow) in 262
As of then, the tide changed against him. In 258 he had to cede Aeolia, Thessaly and parts of Emathia to Ptolemy II. By 253, the Greeks in the southern Peloponnes had revolted against his rule and formed the League of Elis. He tried to compensate his losses by advancing northward into Thracia towards the Danube River. In early 244 he was at war, trying to seize the remaining parts of Odrysia. That was when Roman troops appeared in Boeotia.
It is interesting to note, that even Roman authors put little effort into justifying the ongoing aggressive expansion of the Republic into Greece. Some do quote the plight of the Greek cities under the tyrannical rule of the Diadochi. At the same time they forget to mention, that Roman rule was equally far away from the traditional independence of the Poleis.
Anyway, the Republic continued to advance along the coastline, avoiding the territories of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Hence the only route left for them was into Boeotia and Attica, the heartland of classical Greece. This caught Isokrates by surprise, since he had to split his attention and forces to two theaters, that were far apart. Although he still had Vassals especially in Asia Minor, such as Ionia, these had little means to effectively support his war efforts versus the Republic.
Nevertheless Isokrates tried to gain the initiative with an advance to Ambrakia, trying to cut the Roman supply routes at land. This resulted in the battle of Ambrakia on 19th March 244, when two armies equal in size of roughly 7.000 soldiers each met on the battlefield. Rome won a clear victory and pursued their opponents eastward, resulting in a second Antigonid loss in June at Larisa.
At the same time Delphi had to surrender and the Roman forces spread into Boeotia and Attica, occupying Athens probably in September 244. Immediately afterward the most notable event of the war began. The siege of Aegina, an island in the Saronic Gulf. The island was heavily fortified and the roman army appearing there in late 244 faced a long siege.
In December, despite bad weather, an Antigonid fleet appeared near the island and defeated the Roman force, sinking probably ten vessels in the process, while the majority of the Roman fleet was able to escape. As of then, the Roman soldiers on Aegina were isolated, although the Antigonid fleet did not take advantage of the success and returned to its base on Euboea. This gave the Romans the opportunity to supply its forces with small coastal vessels. But the situation on Aegina, where hunger and disease took a toll, remained precarious. At least until late 243, when a large Roman fleet arrived with supplies, leading to the surrender of the island.
Shortly later, reports arrived of an Antigonid fleet heading for the island. The Roman Commander took the initiative and sailed southeast, meeting the Antigonids near Myrtoum, where the first large Roman victory in a sea battle occurred on 16th November 243. Both fleets seem to have consisted of roughly 70 vessels each. But the Romans were able to push their enemies back, destroying 12 ships while losing only one themselves.
Having lost large territories, naval superiority and a last battle near Orchomenos in early 242, Isokrates had to sign a peace treaty, confirming the annexation of Boeotia and Attica by the Romans.