"Τη μάνα μου τη Ρούμελη ν' αγνάντευα το λαχταρώ
Ψηλά που με νανούριζες καημένo Καρπενήσι!
Τρανά πλατάνια ξεδιψούν στις βρύσες με το κρύο νερό
Σαρακατσάνα ροβολάει και πάει για να γεμίσει.

Με κρουσταλλένια σφυριχτά, σε λόγγους φεύγουν σκοτεινούς
κοτσύφια και βοσκόπουλα με τα λαμπρά τα μάτια,
νερά βροντούνε στο γκρεμό και πάνε προς τους ουρανούς
ίσια κι ορθά, σαν την ψυχή της Ρούμελης, τα ελάτια..."

Ζαχαρίας Παπαντωνίου

Κυλιόμενο

6/7/14

The Lamian War (323-322 BC)


  The death of Alexander the Great inaugurated the era of the Successors (323-280 BC), which was marked by major conflicts within and outside of the helladic space. The vast empire - which he had created - was maintained as a single, exclusively, due to the personality and the strong leadership of the charismatic Stratelates. But when he died prematurely, substantially was lost any sense of unity and it was next to follow intrigues between the ambitious generals, revolutions in every corner of the territory and of course big battles - some of them even world-historical importance. One of these conflicts took place in Lamia, where the Macedonians were besieged by the allied forces of Greeks of the south.
Antipater
   In Athens when it was learned the death of Alexander, was convened the City Church, which was very noisy. The anti-Macedonian side prevailed and it was decided to undertake the match for freedom of the Greeks and to be expelled the Macedonian garrisons from the occupied cities. Also they sent ambassadors to other cities to strengthen of diplomatic positions, while the Athenians themselves decided to construct 200 triremes and 40 tetrireis and call to arms men up to 40 years. As head was defined Leosthenes, an experienced in war strategist.  He, after secretly he enlisted 8.000 veteran mercenaries of Alexander (Pausanias A 25.5) and secured military assistance 7.000 men from the Aetolians, he occupied Thermopylae. And then in the Greek coalition were joined all Dorians (residents of Dorida), the Locrians, the Phocians, Thessalians except Pellinaion, the Malieis, the Ainianes, the Alyzaioi Akarnanes, the Dolopians, the Athamanes, the Lefcadians, a portion of Molossians, Carystus from Evia, Argos, Sikyon, Ilia and Messinia the coastal. On the side of Macedonians remained only Heraclea, Lamia and Phthiotic Thebes from the region of Central Greece (Diod.18, 11).
   The allies took care to further reinforce their positions and forces. Thus, an Athenian army of 5.000 soldiers, 500 horsemen and 2.000 mercenaries was launched to come across Leosthenes. The Boeotians with the Macedonian garrison of the Kadmeion (acropolis of Thebes) and a power of Euboeans were plugging the street near Plataea. Leosthenes has arrived quickly with a part of his army, defeated his opponents and having propped up a trophy he returned to Thermopylae. Now - with a total of 30.000 men - he waited the main force of Macedonians (Diod.18 11. Paus. I, 1.3).
   On the other side, the general Antipater, locus tenens of the Macedonian throne in European soils was found in dire straits. Take long to react, and had available weak forces and even worse he had to face the renewed aggressiveness of Illyrians and Thracians. Nevertheless, in these fronts there have been no developments and Antipater, after requesting help from the generals Craterus and Philotas, he finally arrived in Thessaly with 13.000 pedestrians, 600 horsemen and with the whole fleet, consisting of 110 triremes (Diod. 18 , 11). The Thessalians helped with cavalry force and thus arrived at plain Sperchios, crossed the river and captured Heraclea. But Leosthenes with frequent skirmishes managed to sets him adrift in battle, in which the Macedonians were defeated, while the Thessalian cavalry have defected to the revolutionaries. After this evolution Antipater was found trapped. But for his good luck, he found unguarded the passes of Sperchios river, which he crossed and he invaded to Lamia, where he was fortified. Thereafter, the whole Thessaly was acceded to the rebellious (I. Vorts.D 3.,  Diod.18, 11).

The fortification of Akrolamia
   Of course, Lamia at that time, not only had the imposing fortress that we know today. Built on a unique geo-strategic location, had the ability to control the coastal road and the narrow passage that leads to Thessaly. It was therefore logical to be the apple of discord, since whoever he was occupying this, substantially was cutting the Greece in two. Therefore, it was next to be fortified with a strong wall. The excavations have uncovered parts of the wall, but which now have been lost by the construction of the modern city. We know that it was starting from the hill of Kastro (Castle), was undergoing from the districts just below it, such as that of St. Theodore, and it were settling - including of course - on the hill of St. Luke. In the lower parts we should assume that the wall was even stronger. This fact he noted with a bitter way himself Leosthenes and then.
   The only choice of the excised Antipater it was to withstand - as he could - in the upcoming siege and to await reinforcements from Asia. Thoughts about flee certainly there were not as long as the rival cavalry was dominated in the open field. Thus, he began to renovate and to improve the fortifications of Lamia, by manufacturing weapons and machines and to gather supplies. The poliorketes Leosthenes by moving his army near the walls, he made intrenched camp with trench and he began the siege. In a first phase, Leosthenes arrayed his men and caused the Macedonians in open battle. As well as they there was no chance to risk something like that, he attempted to taken over the city by assault. For days the allies were unleashed repeated violent attacks on the walls, but they were repelled with courage and bravery from the defenders. The large losses have forced Leosthenes to changed tactics. So, he decided to conquer the city with hunger. He constructed an exterior wall and moat around the city, so that no one can enter or exit from it (Diodorus 18.11., J. Vorts.D 3).
   After they were made these, the Aetolians requested to leave “for some national needs”. The exact causes of this movement they can not be identified safely. Maybe because the time had come to elect a new strategist, perhaps they were tired from their longstanding bloody but fruitless wars, or their lands were threatened by their eternal enemies the Acarnanians. However, the fact is that the allied army was deprived a large part of its initial force, about a quarter of this. Nevertheless, Leosthenes had enough army to continue the siege of the city (I.Vorts. D 3.,  Diod.18, 11).
   In camp of the besieged Macedonian the state started to become nightmarish. Many necessary was missing in and the spectrum of surrender was already visible. Antipater began negotiations and he requested peace, but Leosthenes demanded the unconditional surrender. (I.Vorts. D, 3 Elefth. Encycl. Lexiko: Leosthenes). There where all seemed lost, a random event it came to change the flow of developments. The Macedonians targeting to a battering trench of the Greeks, they made impetuous exit. Leosthenes rushed to help his soldiers, but he accepted a stone on his head and was transported unconscious to the camp where he died three days later. His death was saddened deeply all allies, as well as his doings they had surpassed their expectations such as characteristics mentioned by Pausanias (A, 25.4), while their spirits had been crushed and has contributed greatly to the final defeat. The dead strategist was buried with values a hero probably in his camp outside of Lamia, such as John Vortselas argues. The captaincy now was assigned to Antifilos, described by Diodorus “as a man who differed in prudence, strategy and bravery”.
    As long as the Greeks were grieving Leosthenes, Macedonians destroyed part of the enemy's intrenchment and were supplied with enough food. But the biggest news was another. Leonattos, the satrap of Phrygia Hellespont, a childhood friend and bodyguard of Alexander the Great, after spending in Macedonia and gathered more than 20.000 pedestrians and 2.500 horsemen was descending through Thessaly to confront the coalition of Greeks. If Antipater managed to unite his force with that of Leonnatos, the balance will be tilted decisively in favor of the Macedonians. Antifilos ought to deter this, so he solved the siege of Lamia, he burned their luggage and he rushed to collide with Leonnatos.
   The two armies found themselves a few miles northeast of Lamia, probably in the location Ramna, on the way to the Thebes of Fthiotis (J. Vorts. D, 3), was conducted a fierce hippomachia (horseback battle) that lasted a long time. Eventually the Greeks prevailed thanks to the bravery of the Thessalians and their leader Menon. Leonattos fought against brave and impetuously, but was excluded in the marshy area, he accepted enough traumas in which succumbed later. The Macedonian infantry had not been engaged, seeing the negative outcome was withdrawn to the nearby hills. The winners, after they set up a trophy on the battlefield, they departed in their places (J.Vorts.D, 3. - Diod.18, 14).
   Antipater taking advantage of the departure of the besiegers left Lamia and the next day of the battle was joined with the remnants of the defeated army. He avoided the course at smooth field where the Greek cavalry was dominated, and following rough terrain he reached closer to Macedonia from where he could be refilled easily. However contrary to the land operations, the Macedonians had imposed their dominance at sea, until the spring of 322 BC. The Athenians, whose admiral was Haetion, had manufactured and other ships, whom the total number reached 170. The Macedonians, led by Cleitos had numerical superiority with 240 ships[1]. The two fleets were fight a battle twice at Abydos of the Hellespont and in Amorgos, while the Macedonian destroyed many enemy ships at the Echinades Islands[2] (J.Vorts.D 3., Hellenic History, III. Diod.18, 16).

Sculptural representation of  ippomachia
   The war had now entered the final phase. Craterus known strategist and friend of Alexander has arrived from Cilicia with 10.000 pedestrians, of which 6.000 were veterans of Alexander, 1.000 Persian archers and men with slingshots and 1.500 horsemen. Descended to Thessaly, was united with Antipater in which ceded the leadership and he encamped near Peneus. Their total forces were amounting to 40.000 heavily armed pedestrians, 3.000 archers and men with slingshots and 5.000 horsemen.
    On the other side, many Greeks had departed to visit their families, underestimating their opponents due to the previous successes. Their forces consisted of 25.000 pedestrians and 3.500 experienced horsemen, on which were pinning their hopes. The armies met at Krannona of Thessaly. The Macedonians they tried to blackmail the battle. Were lined up and initially attacked with their cavalry. When, in the hippomachia (cavalcade battle) that followed seemed to dominate the Greeks, the Macedonian infantry entered the battle, collided with the rival infantry and caused him heavy casualties. The Greeks, being unable to withstand the pressure and the numerical superiority of the Macedonians retreated with class into more tough terrain. Their cavalry, who until that moment was defeating, just became aware to the retreat of the rest of array, it also exited.
   The next day, the heads Antifilos and Menon discussed on whether to expect aids or they will seek peace. Finally they decided the second and they sent emissaries to Antipater. He replied that it will accept the embassies of each city individually, and not as a “Common”. The confederated Greeks were not accepted and the Macedonians were proceeded to the siege of Thessalian cities, without the coalition be able to provide assistance. The result was that the Thessalians were detached from the coalition, the Greek army was withdrawed and the Athenians and Aetolians they stayed without allies (J. Vorts. D 3. Diod.18, 17).
   For the story, to mention that ultimately Antipater marched unhidered until Boeotia, where he accepted an Athenian embassy. The Athenians, helpless now, they accepted the harsh terms of Antipater, who he took power of the city, abolished the republic and he installed a Macedonian garrison (Pausanias, 25, 5-6. Diod.18, 18). This war was just a first taste of the chaos and the sweeping realignments, which were occurred across the Hellenistic world during the turbulent period of the Successors.
   In conclusion, as regards the city, Lamia saw to pass countless armies and again in front of her and to quarrel for her possession. But in the geostrategic map of antiquity (and not only ...) there was unique for her position and the strong walls.

George K. Balomenos


SOURCES
1.       J. Vortselas: FTHIOTIS”, editions KASTALIA, 1973, Athens.
2.       Diodorus Sikelian: Historical Library”.
3.       Pausanias: Periegesis of Greece”, Ekdotiki Athinon, 1974.
4.       Greek History, Volume III, Ekdotiki Athinon, 2007.
5.       Eleftheroudaki Encyclopedic Dictionary.
6.       Alex. Paradisi: Forts and castles of Greece”, P. Efstathiades, 1976.
7.       http://www.yppo.gr/
8.       el.wikipedia.org/


FOOTNOTES


[1] The numbers who Diodorus gives in the beginning are contradictory with them and then. Maybe in that way it attributed the evolution of business at sea until this point, but a fact for which we can not be sure.
[2] The Echinades islands are located close to the Aetolian coast. It is unlikely the two fleets they met there, i.e. so far from the centers of combat operations. John Vortselas and many researchers speculate that the islands, which Diodorus says are actually what they are located opposite of Echinos (the present village Achinos), i.e. to be Lihadonisia.

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