Domination of the Peloponnese Cleomenean War

a coin depicting ptolemy iii of egypt.

ptolemy iii of egypt offered continued assistance cleomenes on condition spartan king offer mother , children hostages. cleomenes hesitated mother, after learning of ptolemy s offer, went voluntarily egypt.

in 226 bc, citizens of mantinea appealed cleomenes expel achaeans city. 1 night, , troops crept citadel , removed achaean garrison. king reinstated ancient laws of city , returned tegea. tegea, spartans advanced achaea, cleomenes hoped force league face him in pitched battle. cleomenes advanced army dyme, met entire achaean army. in battle of dyme, spartans routed achaean phalanx, killing many of achaeans , capturing others. following victory, cleomenes captured city of lasium , presented elians.

the achaeans demoralized battle; aratus declined generalship, , when both athens , aetolian league turned down appeals, sued cleomenes peace. initially, cleomenes advanced minor requests, talks continued, demands became greater , insisted leadership of league surrendered him. in exchange, return achaeans prisoners , strongholds had seized. achaeans invited cleomenes lerna, holding council. while marching there, cleomenes drank water, caused him lose voice , cough blood—a situation forced him return sparta.

aratus took advantage of incident, , began plotting against cleomenes king antigonus iii doson of macedon. previously, in 227 bc, 2 ambassadors megalopolis had been sent macedon request help. antigonus showed little interest @ time, , these efforts failed. aratus wanted macedonian king come peloponnese , defeat cleomenes, antigonus asked control of acrocorinth in return. sacrifice league not willing make, however, , declined seek macedon.

when achaeans arrived @ argos assembly, cleomenes came down tegea meet them. however, aratus—who had reached agreement antigonus—demanded cleomenes present 300 hostages achaeans , enter city alone, or approach city forces. when message reached cleomenes, declared had been wronged , once again declared war on achaeans.

achaea in turmoil, , cities close revolt; many residents angered @ aratus decision invite macedonians peloponnese. hoped cleomenes introduce constitutional changes in cities. encouraged development, cleomenes invaded achaea , seized cities of pellene, pheneus , penteleium, splitting achaean league in half. achaeans, concerned developing treachery in corinth , sicyon, dispatched mercenaries garrison cities , went argos celebrate nemean games.

cleomenes estimated argos easier capture while filled festival-goers , spectators cause panic. during night, seized rugged area above city s theatre. people of city terrified offer resistance. accepted garrison, delivered twenty hostages cleomenes , became spartan allies. capture of argos gave cleomenes reputation massive boost, since no spartan king had ever managed seize argos. pyrrhus of epirus, 1 of famous generals of age, had been killed while trying take city.

soon after seizure of argos, cleonae , phlius surrendered cleomenes. meanwhile, aratus in corinth investigating suspected of supporting sparta. when heard had happened @ argos, aratus expected city fall sparta. summoned assembly and, citizens present, took horse , fled sicyon. corinthians did surrender city cleomenes, spartan king criticized them failing arrest aratus. cleomenes sent stepfather megistonous aratus, asking surrender of acrocorinth—the citadel of corinth, had achaean garrison—in return large amount of money.

in quick succession, hermione, troezen , epidaurus surrendered cleomenes, went argos corinth , started besieging citadel. sent messenger aratus proposing acrocorinth should garrisoned jointly both spartans , achaeans, , deliver twelve talent pension. aratus faced hard decision of whether give city antigonus or let fall cleomenes. chose conclude alliance antigonus , sent son hostage macedon. cleomenes invaded territory of sicyon , blockaded aratus inside city 3 months before aratus able escape attend achaean council @ aegium.

cite error: there <ref group=note> tags on page, references not show without {{reflist|group=note}} template (see page).