--- title: Achaean League author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Achaean League _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ The Achaean League (or Achaian Confederacy) was a federation of [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states in the north and central parts of the [Peloponnese](https://www.worldhistory.org/Peloponnese/) in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. With a combined political representation and land army, the successful early years of the League would eventually bring it into conflict with other regional powers [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/), [Macedon](https://www.worldhistory.org/macedon/), and then later [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). Defeat by the latter in 146 BCE brought the confederacy to a dramatic end. ### Founding & Membership The League was formed in c. 281 BCE by 12 city-states in the region of Achaea who considered themselves as having a common identity (*ethnos*). Indeed, several of these states had already been members of a federation (*koinon*) in the Classical period but this had broken up c. 324 BCE. The principal founding members of the League were, then, Dyme, Patrai, Pharai, and Tritaia, all located in western Achaea in the northern Peloponnese of [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/). More Achaean [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) joined in the following decade and the stature of the League grew when Sicyon, a city outside the region, joined in 251 BCE. From then on, membership steadily grew to encompass the whole of the Peloponnese. Members enjoyed the strength in numbers of the League whilst maintaining their independence. Their primary obligation was to contribute a quota of warriors for the League's collective army. Cities also sent representatives to meetings of the League in proportion to their status - smaller cities sent one, and larger ones could send three. Of these, the original founding and larger members continued to exert more influence and their representatives certainly carried more stature as regional statesmen. The representatives met, perhaps four times each year, on a federal council and there was also a citizen's assembly. Up to c. 189 BCE meetings were held at the sanctuary of [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/) Homarios at Aigion and thereafter at individual city-states, presumably on a rotation basis. The representatives sent by city-states were led by the *strategos* (general), a position which was introduced in c. 255 BCE and held for one year. To better ensure one state did not overly dominate, the position could not be held for consecutive years. However, this did not stop some notable figures such as Philopoimen (from Megalopolis) and Aratos (from Sicyon) holding the position several times in their careers. Other important positions included the cavalry commander (*hipparch*), ten *damiourgoi* officials, and a League secretary. The League not only gave its members a better defence against outside aggression but also brought several non-military benefits such as access to a common judicial process and the use of a common currency and system of measurements. ### Successes As the League expanded and became more influential, so too its relations with other regional powers increased in intensity. Local rivalries existed in particular with Sparta to the south and the Aitolian League across the straits of [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/). Even distant Macedon and [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/) began to take an interest in the League's affairs. These relations became ever more strained as the League became more ambitious. In 243 BCE Corinth was attacked and forcibly made a member of the League. The effect of this acquisition was to weaken the Macedonian presence in the region and so allowed the League to assume more member cities, notably Megalopolis in 235 BCE. [ ![Greek Phalanx](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/2567.jpg?v=1772151125) Greek Phalanx CA (Copyright) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2567/greek-phalanx/ "Greek Phalanx")### The Macedonian Wars Trouble was brewing, though, as Cleomenes III of Sparta (r. 235-222 BCE) sought to expand his own influence in the region. This forced the League to seek help from [Antigonos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Antigonos/) III of Macedon. Together the two allies defeated Sparta at the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Sellasia in 222 BCE. As payment for their support, the [acropolis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Acropolis/) of Corinth, the Acrocorinth, was given back to the Macedonians. Then a new heavyweight power entered the scene of Greek inter-state politics: Rome. The League remained loyal to Macedon in the First Macedonian [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) (212-205 BCE) between the two powers. This was an unwise move as Philip V's Macedonian army was defeated. The Achaeans then pragmatically switched sides in the Second Macedonian War (200-196 BCE) and supported Rome. This time finding itself on the winning side, the League had to carefully balance its ambitions with the new wider political situation. Around 196 BCE Rome and the League signed a treaty of alliance, quite a distinction at the time. [ ![Achaean League c. 150 BCE](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/4574.jpg?v=1624008602) Achaean League c. 150 BCE Augusto de Cartagena (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4574/achaean-league-c-150-bce/ "Achaean League c. 150 BCE")### Conflict with Rome & Collapse Sparta, Elis, and Messene were made members of the League while Rome was distracted by another war, this time against [Antiochos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/antiochos/) III, the [Seleucid](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/) king. Again the Romans were unstoppable and their defeat of Antiochos at [Thermopylae](https://www.worldhistory.org/thermopylae/) in 191 BCE and Magnesia in [Asia Minor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/) in 190 BCE left Greece ever more vulnerable to [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) dominance. A Third Macedonian War (171-167 BCE) brought another Roman victory and Greece was well on the road to become nothing more than a Roman province. Already not best pleased by the League's acquisition of Sparta, Rome became suspicious of its ambiguous political stance. As a consequence, Rome took 1,000 prominent Achaean hostages back to the Eternal City and in 146 BCE there was open war between the two powers in what is sometimes referred to as the Achaean War. Predictably, the Roman war machine prevailed again; Corinth was sacked and the League in its current form disbanded. The confederacy was, though, later permitted to function in a more limited way and on a more local basis. It survived as such into the 3rd century CE and perhaps beyond, occasionally forming alliances with other such groups within the Greek region of the [Roman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Empire/). #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - Bagnall, R. et al. *The Encyclopedia of Ancient History.* Wiley-Blackwell - [Hornblower, S. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/) - [Kinzl, H. *A Companion to the Classical Greek World.* Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1444334123/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **c. 280 BCE**: Founding of the [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/) in the [Peloponnese](https://www.worldhistory.org/Peloponnese/) of [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/). - **c. 255 BCE**: The position of strategos is introduced to lead the representatives of the [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/). - **251 BCE**: Sicyon joins the [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/) in [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/). - **243 BCE**: [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/) is attacked and brought into the [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/). - **235 BCE**: Megelopolis joins the [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/). - **222 BCE**: The [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/) and [Antigonos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Antigonos/) III of [Macedon](https://www.worldhistory.org/macedon/) defeat [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/) at Sellasia. - **212 BCE - 205 BCE**: The [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/) sides with [Macedon](https://www.worldhistory.org/macedon/) against [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) in the First Macedonian [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/). - **200 BCE - 196 BCE**: The [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/) sides with [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) in the Second Macedonian [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/). - **c. 191 BCE**: The [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/) signs a treaty of alliance with [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). - **146 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) sacks [Corinth](https://www.worldhistory.org/corinth/) and dissolves the [Achaean league](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/). [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) is ruled by Rome. - **146 BCE**: Open [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) breaks out between [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) and the [Achaean League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2016, March 07). Achaean League. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean\_League/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Achaean League." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 07, 2016. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean\_League/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Achaean League." *World History Encyclopedia*, 07 Mar 2016, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean\_League/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaean_League/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 07 March 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.