Aratus

d. 213 BC

Aratus, Greek statesman, was born at Sicyon in 271 B.C., and educated at Argos after the death of his father, at the hands of Abantidas, tyrant of Sicyon. When twenty years old Aratus delivered Sicyon from its tyrant by a bold coup de main. By enrolling it in the Achaean League he secured it against Macedonia, and with funds received from Ptolemy Philadelphus he pacified the returned exiles. Ever anxious to extend the league, in which after 245 he was general almost every second year, Aratus took Corinth by surprise (243), and with mingled threats and persuasion won over other cities, notably Megalopolis (233) and Argos (229), whose tyrants abdicated voluntarily. He fought successfully against the Aetolians (241), and in 228 induced the Macedonian commander to evacuate Attica. But when Cleomenes III opened hostilities, Aratus sustained several reverses, and was badly defeated near Dyme (226 or 225). Rather than admit Cleomenes as chief of the league, where he might have upset the existing timocracy, Aratus opposed all attempts at mediation. As plenipotentiary in 224 he called in Antigonus Doson of Macedonia, and helped to recover Corinth and Argos and to crush Cleomenes at Sellasia, but at the same time sacrificed the independence of the league.

In 220-219 the Aetolians defeated him in Arcadia and harried the Peloponnese unchecked. When Philip V. of Macedon came to expel these marauders, Aratus became the king's adviser, and averted a treacherous attack on Messene (215); before long, however, he lost favour and in 213 was poisoned. The Sicyonians accorded him hero-worship as a "son of Asclepius." To Aratus is due the credit of having made the Achaean League an effective instrument against tyrants and foreign enemies. But his military incapacity and his blind hatred of democratic reform went far to undo his work.


Key events during the life of Aratus:


Year
Event
271 BC
 Born in Sicyon. Father was killed by Abantidas, the Tyrant of Sicyon.
251 BC
 Overthrew Tyrant of Sicyon.
245 BC
 First elected as leader of the Achaean League, funded by Ptolemy II, to resist Macedonia.
243 BC
 Enrolled Corinth in the Achaean League.
241 BC
 Defeated Aetolians.
233 BC
 Megalopolis joined Achaean League.
229 BC
 Argos joined Achaean League.
228 BC
 At the height of its power, the Achaean League drove Macedonia from the Peloponnese.
226 BC
 Defeated by Sparta at battle of Dyme and Megalopolis. Important allies desert Achaean League.
224 BC
 Called in Antigonus III of Macedonia to resist Spartan influence.
222 BC
 Sparta defeated at Sellasia. Cleomenes went into exile.
219 BC
 Aetolians over-ran the Peloponnese. Aratus called in Philip V. of Macedonia, and became his advisor.
213 BC
 Aratus poisoned by Philip V.

Other Resources


Story Links
Book Links
Up the Scaling-Ladders  in  Tales of the Greeks: The Children's Plutarch  by  F. J. Gould
Achæan League  in  The Story of the Greeks  by  H. A. Guerber
War of the Two Leagues  in  The Story of the Greeks  by  H. A. Guerber
Aratus  in  Our Young Folks' Plutarch  by  Rosalie Kaufman


Contemporary
Short Biography
Abantidas Tyrant of Sicyon. Overthrown by Aratus.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ruler of Egypt. Allied with Aratus against Macedonia.
Philip V King of Macedonia. Allied with Aratus, then killed him.
Antigonus III King of Macedonia. Helped defeat Sparta under Cleomenes III at Sellasia.
Cleomenes III Successfully implemented many reforms in Sparta, but was resisted by Achaean League.