Philopoemen
252–182 BCPhilopoemen was a Greek general, who was best known as leader of the Achaean League during its later years. He was born at Megalopolis, and educated by the academic philosophers there, who had distinguished themselves as champions of freedom. Avoiding the fashionable and luxurious gymnasia, he devoted himself to military studies, hunting and border forays. In 233-232 B.C.. Philopoemen skillfully evacuated Megalopolis before the attack of Cleomenes III, and distinguished himself at Sellasia. The next eleven years he spent as a condottiere in Crete.
Elected commander of the League's cavalry on his return, he reorganized that force and defeated the Aetoliaris on the Elean frontier (210). Appointed to the chief command two years later, he introduced heavy armour and close formation for the infantry, and with a well-trained army beat Machanidas of Sparta, near Mantinea. The new "liberator" was now so famous that Philip V. of Macedon attempted to poison him. In 201 B.C. Philopoemen drove Nabis, the Spartan tyrant, from Messene and routed him off Tegea. After another long sojourn in Crete he again received the command against Nabis. Though unsuccessful at sea, he almost annihilated Nabis's land force near Gythium, but was prevented by the Roman Flamininus from taking Sparta. In Igo Philopoemen protected Sparta, which meanwhile had joined the League and thereupon seceded, but punished a renewed defection so cruelly as to draw the censure of Rome upon his country. At Messene he likewise checked a revolt, but when that city again rebelled, in 184 B.C., he was captured in a skirmish and promptly executed. His body was recovered by the Achaeans and buried with great solemnity.
Philopoemen's great merit lies in his having restored to his compatriots that military efficiency without which the Achaean League for all its skilful diplomacy could never stand. Towards Rome he advocated a courteous but independent attitude. In politics he was a democrat, and introduced reforms of a popular character.
—Adapted from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Key events during the life of Philopoemen:
| Evacuated Megalopolis before it was besieged by Cleomenes III of Sparta. | |
| Fought at the Battle of Sellasia, where Cleomenes III was defeated. | |
| Traveled to Crete as a mercenary | |
| Appointed to chief command of the Achaean League. Fought battle of the Larissus. | |
| Routed Spartans at Battle of Mantinea. | |
| Drove Nabis, tyrant of Sparta from Messene. | |
| Allied with Flamininus, defeated Nabis at the battle of Argos. | |
| Final defeat of Nabis of Sparta. | |
| Checked a revolt at Messene. | |
| Captured and executed during another rebellion in Messene. |
Other Resources
| Last of the Greeks in | Tales of the Greeks: The Children's Plutarch by F. J. Gould |
| Last of the Greeks in | The Story of the Greeks by H. A. Guerber |
| Philopoemen in | Our Young Folks' Plutarch by Rosalie Kaufman |
| Philopoemen and the Fall of Sparta in | Historical Tales: Greek by Charles Morris |
| Philopoemen in | Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston by |
Image Links | ||
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 Philopoemen in Prison in Plutarch's Lives W. H. Weston |
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| Leader of Achaean League; First resisted Macedonia, then forced an alliance to defeat Sparta. | |
| Philip V of Macedon | King of Macedonia from 230-179 B.C. Fought Rome in Second Macedonian War. |
| Successfully implemented many reforms in Sparta, but was resisted by Achaean League. | |
| Nabis | Tyrant of Sparta who ruled after the fall of Cleomenes III. Raised a large army against the Achaean League. |
| Led Rome against Philip V in second Macedonian War. |