Battle of Sellasia Cleomenean War

the destruction of megalopolis shook achaean league. cleomenes set off army raid territory of argos, knowing antigonus not resist him due lack of men. cleomenes hoped raid cause argives lose confidence in antigonus because of failure protect territory. walbank describes raid being impressive demonstration, had no effect other make more clear cleomenes had defeated in pitched battle.

in summer of 222 bc, antigonus summoned troops macedon, arrived other allied forces. according polybius, macedonian army consisted of 10,000 macedonian infantry, of them armed phalangites, 3,000 peltasts, 1,200 cavalry, 3,000 mercenaries, 8,600 greek allies, , 3,000 achaean infantry, making total of 29,200 men.

a drawing of macedonian phalanx, similar 1 fought @ battle of sellasia (the shields smaller , lighter traditional hoplite phalanx, sarissa twice long traditional spears , enclosed helmets not widespread drawing suggests).

cleomenes had fortified passes laconia barricades , trenches before setting off army of 20,000 men pass @ sellasia, on northern border of laconia. overlooking pass @ sellasia 2 hills, evas , olympus. cleomenes positioned brother, eucleidas, allied troops , perioeci on evas; stationed himself on olympus 6,000 spartan hoplites , 5,000 mercenaries.

when antigonus reached sellasia army, found guarded , decided against storming strong position. instead pitched camp near sellasia , waited several days. during time, sent scouts reconnoiter areas , feign attacks on cleomenes position.

unable force move cleomenes, antigonus decided risk pitched battle. positioned of macedonian infantry , illyrians facing evas hill in articulated phalanx. epirots, acarnanians , 2,000 achaean infantry stood behind them reinforcements. cavalry took position opposite cleomenes cavalry, 1,000 achaean , megalopolitan infantry in reserve. rest of macedonian infantry , mercenaries antigonus took position opposite of cleomenes.

the battle started when illyrian troops on macedonian right wing attacked spartan force on evas. spartan light infantry , cavalry, noticing achaean infantry not protected @ rear, launched assault on of macedonian right wing, , threatened rout it. however, @ critical moment, philopoemon of megalopolis (who later became 1 of greatest heroes of achaean league, conquering sparta), tried point out danger senior cavalry commanders. when did not take notice of him, philopoemon gathered few other cavalrymen , charged spartan cavalry. spartans attacking rear broke off engagement enemy, encouraged macedonians charge @ spartan positions. spartans left flank forced , thrown position , commander, eucleidas, killed; fled field.

meanwhile, macedonian phalanx on left flank engaged spartan phalanx , mercenaries. during initial assault, macedonian phalanx gave considerable amount of ground before weight drove spartan phalanx. spartans, overwhelmed deeper ranks of macedonian phalanx, routed, cleomenes managed escape small group of men. battle costly spartans; of army routed 200 of 6,000 spartans fought surviving battle.