Did Macedonians confront in Chaeronea a “United” greek army???

in Ancient Macedonian History / by / on March 3, 2008 at 3:21 pm /

One of the main falsifications of ancient Macedonian history has to do with the mistaken claim, used mostly by propagandists from FYROM that Macedonians confronted a “united” Greek army in Chaeronia.

In fact the opposing sides in Chaeronea were:

Chaeronea

Combatants

Side A’

Macedonia, Thessaly, Epirus, Aetolia, Northern Phocis, Epicnemidian Locrians*

Side B’

Athens, Beotian League (Thebes, etc), Euboean League, Achaean League, Corinth, Megara, Corcyra, Acarnania, Ambracia, Southern Phocis.

Neutral sides

Sparta, Argos, Arcadia, Messene. The three last had alliances both with Athens and Philip but their pro-macedonian activity of 344/3 BC showed they were leaning towards Philip. However they didnt sent aid to Chaeronea in Philip’s side because of the blocking in Isthmus by Corinth and Megara. Sparta had withdrawn almost entirely from Greek affairs in 344 BC.

[*] Elis had an alliance with Philip though they didnt take part in Chaeronea but showed their pro-macedonian feelings by joining their forces with Philip in the invasion of Laconia in the autumn of 338 BC.

If this is translated to some people that Macedonians confronted a “United” Greek army then i am sure in Coronea Spartans also confronted a “United” Greek army

Battle of Coronea (394 BC)
Combatants
Sparta Vs Thebes, Argos, and allies

As the eminent historian Bury writes:

If the chances of another issue to the battle of Chaeronea have been exaggerated, the significance of that event has been often misrepresented. The battle of Chaeronea belongs to the same historical series as the battles of Aegospotami (405 B.C.) and Leuctra (371B.C.).
As the hegemony or first place among Greek states had passed successively from Athens to Sparta, and to Thebes, so now it passed to Macedon. The statement that Greek liberty perished on the plain of Chaeronea is as true or as false as that it perished on the field of Leuctra or the strand of the Goat’s River. Whenever a Greek state became supreme, that supremacy entailed the depression of some states and the dependency or subjection of others. Athens was reduced to a secondary place by Macedon, and Thebes fared still worse; but we must not forget what Sparta, in the day of her triumph, did to Athens, or the more evil things which Thebes.

Want more of this? See these Posts:

  1. World Encyclopaedias about Macedonia - Encyclopaedia of World History 6th Edition 2001
  2. FYROM Falsified Claim ‘ There were no Greek kingdoms in antiquity therefore Macedonians couldnt be Greek’
  3. Skopjan propaganda # 5 “Alexander’s army was not a Greek army”
  4. Macedonians among Greek Mercenaries of Darius
  5. We are indigeneous Macedonians, therefore we are Greek
Comments
RealMacedonianGR says:
April 3, 2009 at 1:54 pm

MORE PROOF THAT IT WAS A CIVIL WAR

Then indeed the Thebans, no longer defending themselves, were slain, NOT SO MUCH by the Macedonians as by the Phocians, Plataeans and other Boeotians, who by indiscriminate slaughter vented their rage against them. Some were even attacked in the houses (a few of whom turned to defend themselves), and others as they were supplicating the protection of the gods in the temples; not even the women and children being spared.
(Arrian 1a8)

Marc Rossveer says:
July 3, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Hello; having read this article and found its information very interesting and something that should inspire others to take note of it’s valuable content.