The League of The League of Corinth (Corinthian Corinth (Corinthian

League)League)

Diodorus 16. 89Diodorus 16. 89

In 338/7 BC King Phillip, proud of his In 338/7 BC King Phillip, proud of his victory at victory at ChaeroneiaChaeroneia by which he had humbled the leading by which he had humbled the leading Greek states, became ambitious to become leader of Greek states, became ambitious to become leader of all Greece. He spread the word that he wished to all Greece. He spread the word that he wished to undertake a war against the undertake a war against the PersiansPersians on behalf of on behalf of Greece and to punish them for the Greece and to punish them for the sacrilege they sacrilege they had committed against Greek templeshad committed against Greek temples. . He He treated them all kindly both in public and treated them all kindly both in public and private mattersprivate matters and revealed to the cities that he and revealed to the cities that he wanted to discuss with them matters of mutual wanted to discuss with them matters of mutual benefit. Hence he convened a general congress at benefit. Hence he convened a general congress at Corinth and put forward his proposals for the war. By Corinth and put forward his proposals for the war. By raising great hopes, he won the support of the raising great hopes, he won the support of the delegatesdelegates and finally the chose him as and finally the chose him as commander-in-chief of the Greek forcescommander-in-chief of the Greek forces. He . He began to make great preparations for the campaign began to make great preparations for the campaign against the Persians and, after fixing the number of against the Persians and, after fixing the number of troops each city should contribute to the allied troops each city should contribute to the allied forces, he returned to Macedonia.forces, he returned to Macedonia.

……victory at Chaeroneia…victory at Chaeroneia…

► 22ndnd August 338 BC August 338 BC► Greek Allies (Athens and Thebes) v Macedonia & Greek Allies (Athens and Thebes) v Macedonia &

Thessalian CavalryThessalian Cavalry► Allies held strong position between foothills and the Allies held strong position between foothills and the

Cephisus R.Cephisus R.► Phillip orders ‘withdraw’ of Macedonian right Phillip orders ‘withdraw’ of Macedonian right

Athenians pursue Athenians pursue Gap opens between Athenians Gap opens between Athenians and Sacred Band and Sacred Band Alexander lead companions Alexander lead companions through the Gap and wheeled left to attack Sacred through the Gap and wheeled left to attack Sacred band band Thebians slaughtered Thebians slaughtered 1000 Athenians fell, 1000 Athenians fell, 2000 taken hostage.2000 taken hostage.

► Consequences: Consequences: Thebes heavily punished for ‘breaking’ and early agreement Thebes heavily punished for ‘breaking’ and early agreement

with Macedon.with Macedon. Athens offered more lenient terms.Athens offered more lenient terms.

Persians… …sacrilege they had Persians… …sacrilege they had committed against Greek temples.committed against Greek temples.

► Persian Invasion under Xerxes 480-479BCPersian Invasion under Xerxes 480-479BC► The idea of a war against Persia was not new…The idea of a war against Persia was not new…

Panegyricus 380BC – Isocrates urges for a Greek Panegyricus 380BC – Isocrates urges for a Greek crusade against Persia.crusade against Persia.

Phillip 346BC – Isocrates sends an open letter to Phillip 346BC – Isocrates sends an open letter to Phillip to lead the invasionPhillip to lead the invasion

Demosthenes (Athenian orator) supported an Demosthenes (Athenian orator) supported an Athenian lead response against Persia – but was Athenian lead response against Persia – but was openly hostile to a Macedonian lead campaign by openly hostile to a Macedonian lead campaign by Phillip the Barbarian!Phillip the Barbarian!

► Sacrilege – Xerxes has desecrated the Greek Sacrilege – Xerxes has desecrated the Greek templestemples

……He treated them all kindly both in He treated them all kindly both in public and private matters…public and private matters…

► Is this a little romanticised???Is this a little romanticised???► After the battle of Chaeroneia…After the battle of Chaeroneia…

Thebes: Leaders executed, pro-Macedonian oligarchy Thebes: Leaders executed, pro-Macedonian oligarchy established, prisoners sold into slavery, independent treaties established, prisoners sold into slavery, independent treaties abolishedabolished

► But then againBut then again Athens: Disband confederacy and give up Cheronnese, Athens: Disband confederacy and give up Cheronnese,

Athenian prisoners were restored, gained territory from Athenian prisoners were restored, gained territory from ThebesThebes

► Also…Also… The Greek states were ‘free and autonomous’The Greek states were ‘free and autonomous’

► But then again…But then again… Four Macedonian garrisons held ‘strategic’ positions in GreeceFour Macedonian garrisons held ‘strategic’ positions in Greece Phillip was Hegemon of all GreecePhillip was Hegemon of all Greece Anyone allying with Persia was to be executed!Anyone allying with Persia was to be executed!

……raising great hopes, he raising great hopes, he won the support of the won the support of the

delegates…delegates…►A slightly different translation…A slightly different translation…

Through bribery and propaganda, military Through bribery and propaganda, military might and the threat of reprisal, he won might and the threat of reprisal, he won the begrudging support of the delegates the begrudging support of the delegates and they had no choice but to name him and they had no choice but to name him as the as the commander-in-chief of the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces.Greek forces.

……commander-in-chief of the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces.Greek forces.

► Strategos AutokratorStrategos Autokrator Pure military rolePure military role Commander-in-chief of all Macedonain and Commander-in-chief of all Macedonain and

LEAGUE forces in the fieldLEAGUE forces in the field

►HegemonHegemon Leader of the LeagueLeader of the League Military and civilMilitary and civil Council would pass resolutions and hegemon Council would pass resolutions and hegemon

would implementwould implement Phillip manipulated this position to suit his own Phillip manipulated this position to suit his own

ends.ends.►Taxation, Macedonian status, execution of traitorsTaxation, Macedonian status, execution of traitors

The League of The League of Corinth (Corinthian Corinth (Corinthian

League)League)

Tod, Greek Historical Tod, Greek Historical Inscriptions, No. 177Inscriptions, No. 177

extractextract

I shall abstain from any I shall abstain from any attack… on any member attack… on any member

state…state…►This was essentially a peace proposal. This was essentially a peace proposal.

All members could feel secure and safeAll members could feel secure and safe Philip would not have to worry about Philip would not have to worry about

internal conflicts while he was abroadinternal conflicts while he was abroad Importantly, Macedonia did not join the Importantly, Macedonia did not join the

League so was not bound by these League so was not bound by these clausesclauses

I shall not subvert the I shall not subvert the kingdom of Philip and his kingdom of Philip and his

descendants…descendants…► This was Philip’s protection clause.This was Philip’s protection clause.

If any member state tried to rise against Macedon If any member state tried to rise against Macedon then this would be in breach of the common peace.then this would be in breach of the common peace.

… … I shall make war on the transgressor…I shall make war on the transgressor… This This clause meant that all members would need to make clause meant that all members would need to make war on the state that broke the common peace. This is war on the state that broke the common peace. This is a big incentive NOT to break the conditions.a big incentive NOT to break the conditions.

► Alexander was assured the same privileges and Alexander was assured the same privileges and protection that Philip had. This also included a protection that Philip had. This also included a hereditary right to the leadership of the Leaguehereditary right to the leadership of the League

……constitutions which constitutions which existed…existed…

►Philip was shrewd in his political dealings.Philip was shrewd in his political dealings. He ensured that the conditions enforced on He ensured that the conditions enforced on

Thebes and Athens after Chaeroneia still Thebes and Athens after Chaeroneia still appliedapplied

And…And… That the ‘autonomy’ of the member states That the ‘autonomy’ of the member states

was protected.was protected.►This autonomy was artificial in that Member States This autonomy was artificial in that Member States

had Macedonian garrisons patroling them.had Macedonian garrisons patroling them.

……decision of the common decision of the common council and the orders of the council and the orders of the

Leader…Leader…► Common CouncilCommon Council

SynhedrionSynhedrion Elected representatives from member statesElected representatives from member states Numbers of representatives were determined by naval and Numbers of representatives were determined by naval and

military strengthmilitary strength Judicial powers and could impose sentencesJudicial powers and could impose sentences

► Leader (Hegemon)Leader (Hegemon) Leader of the LeagueLeader of the League Military and civilMilitary and civil Council would pass resolutions and hegemon would Council would pass resolutions and hegemon would

implementimplement Phillip manipulated this position to suit his own ends.Phillip manipulated this position to suit his own ends.

► Taxation, Macedonian status, execution of traitorsTaxation, Macedonian status, execution of traitors

The ‘New’ RelationshipThe ‘New’ Relationship

► By the time the L.O.C was actioned…By the time the L.O.C was actioned… Macedonia was now in a dominant position.Macedonia was now in a dominant position.

►The Greek States were forced to support Macedon and any The Greek States were forced to support Macedon and any attempts to resist would be meet with force.attempts to resist would be meet with force.

►Macedonia was the Master Macedonia was the Master the Greek States were the the Greek States were the slaves.slaves.

► Just as a Master needs slaves, so to Macedon Just as a Master needs slaves, so to Macedon needed the resources of the Greek States.needed the resources of the Greek States. ““Philip’s policy, it seems likely, was aimed primarily Philip’s policy, it seems likely, was aimed primarily

at securing the advancement of Macedon and for at securing the advancement of Macedon and for this he found Greeks useful, perhaps essential.” this he found Greeks useful, perhaps essential.”

(Hamilton, 1973, 28)(Hamilton, 1973, 28)