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The League of about 70 city-states was organized by Athens in 378-377 BC after the Corinthian War. It followed the same model as the First Athenian Sea League – the council of the allies (synedrion) met in Athens but was independent from the Athenian state. Again there were contributions in money from the allies, which were called syntaxeis with the purpose not to remind of the controversial “phoros” of the previous league. The Second Athenian Sea League cut Sparta’s claims for hegemony and supported the successes of the Theban League. Soon after that it became clear that Athens strives for hegemony once again and their realtions became hostile. The active naval policy of Athens and its hegemony became the reason, as at the time of the first league, many city-states to fall off the sea league, which led to strong anti-Athenian movements. After the War of the Allies (s.c. Social War) in 355 BC the League dissolved.
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First Athenian Sea league
Athenian-Delian League (Delian Symmachia or Confederacy of Delos) – alliance formed during the Greco-Persian Wars 478 – 477 BC between Athens on one hand and the Greek city-states in Anatolia and the Aegean region on the other. This federation of over 200 sea city-states under the leadership of Athens was organized with the purpose to lead the war against Persians to an end, but Sparta and its supporting city-states refused to take part in it. The allies bound themselves to contribute a certain number of men and ships. Instead of this the smaller city-states had to pay each year a sum (phoros) to the treasury of the League. It was located in the temple of Apollo at Delos and its tribute was about 460 talents a year. The affairs of the First Athenian Sea League were managed by a synod. Gradually Athens gained hegemony in the League. Athens persisted on receiving annual tributes to support the powerful fleet, which was a constant threat to Persia but was also used by Athens against its allies. The oligarchic city-states revolted against the imposed government, as well as the annual contributions. Athens resorted to punitive expeditions against its allies, especially during the Peloponnesian War, when the tributes were raised to 1000 talents. The League came to an end with the victory of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War.
King Seuthes I
SEUTHES I
Thracian king 424 – about 408 BC, son of the Odrysian ruler Sparadokos and successor of Sitalces. At the time of the military operations against Macedon and Chalkidiki in 429 BC, he played a major role in the kingdom politics. After Sitalces’ death in 424 BC he demonstrated the entire might of the kingdom by collecting from the Aegean colonies tributes to the total amount of 400 talents and the same sum paid in kind. About 411 BC he led active military political campaigns in the Thracian Chersonese aiming to abolish the Athenian influence. During his reign the Odrysian kingdom turned into a significant political power on the Balkans.
Philip II of Macedon
PHILIP II OF MACEDON (about 382 – 336 BC)
A Macedonian king-reformer, who ruled 359-336 BC and turned Macedonia into a centralized kingdom.
Philip II of Macedon reorganized the army – introduced into the infantry corps the so called Macedonian phalanx, and made the first steps for fleet in Macedonia.
He managed to conquer the Pangaion Hills with their gold mines and the colony of Amphipolis from the Thracians. He took advantage of the Odrysian kingdom, weakened after the death of Cotys I and conquered Aegean Thracia, where he initiated a great colonization. Philip II of Macedon started minting gold coins, which led to a conflict with the Persian interests and undermining of the Athenian silver coins. He seized the opportunity, when the Second Athenian Sea League lost its power, and took part in the Holy War on the side of Phocis against Thebes and Athens – 352 BC. In 339 BC, he crushed their united forces at Chaeronea. The established peace made easier for Philip II of Macedon to force the Macedonian hegemony in Hellas. In 337 BC, at the Synedrion at Corinth, a Hellenic league was established under Macedonian hegemony and peace for entire Hellas and a Holy War on Persia was declared. In 336 BC, the military operations began and the Macedonian army, commanded by Parmenion and Attalus, invaded Anatolia to liberate the Greek settlements. In the same year Philip II of Macedon was assassinated by plotters.
Perseus of Macedon
PERSEUS
The last king of Macedon 179 – 168 BC, son of Philip V. He succeeded to dethrone his pro-Roman brother Demetrius and to organize an anti-Roman coalition with the Greek city-states. The so called Third Macedonian War started with an initial success for Perseus but in the Battle of Pydna 168 BC he suffered an utter defeat and was forced to surrender to the Romans. His victor, Lucius Aemilius Paullus, carried immense plunder back to Rome and enslaved 150 000 people from the Epirote towns, allied to Perseus. He was captured too and died in 165 or 162 BC.