Philip II of Macedon and The Garrison in Naupactus
Jacek Rzepka
TYCHE: 19 (2004) pp. 157-66, FGrHist 115F 235
Abstract
Early relations between Macedonia and the Aetolian Confederacy, unlike their contactsin the Hellenistic Age, have not been often subjected to historical investigation. Inspite — or rather because — of this relative shortage of modern studies historical constructs do not agree in details. Historians dealing with a rapid growth of Macedonia during the reign of Philip II admit that Aetolia belonged to his closest allies even inthe last years of the king’s reign. This friendly attitude is commonly believed to findproof in transferring Naupactus from the Achaean Confederacy to the Aetolians withhelp from Philip II after the battle of Chaeronea. This consensus, however, was disturbed by an unconventional historical reconstruction presented by A. B. Bosworth.
The sequence of events as presented by Bosworth was not unquestionably accepted, butstill demands discussion since the person behind it is undoubtedly counted among the most influential recent historians of Alexander the Great. A test case used by Bosworth to enlighten the real nature of Aetolian — Macedonian relations in the 330sis the fate of Naupactus during the last years of Philip II. His main result is that Philip II had dissolved the Aetolian Confederacy after the Chaeronea campaign. Bosworth alleges that the Aetolian Confederacy was temporarily disbanded, based on a passage in Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander (1, 10, 2), according to which in 335 theAetolians sent to Alexander the Great „their tribal embassies“.
Jacek Rzepka
TYCHE: 19 (2004) pp. 157-66, FGrHist 115F 235
Abstract
Early relations between Macedonia and the Aetolian Confederacy, unlike their contactsin the Hellenistic Age, have not been often subjected to historical investigation. Inspite — or rather because — of this relative shortage of modern studies historical constructs do not agree in details. Historians dealing with a rapid growth of Macedonia during the reign of Philip II admit that Aetolia belonged to his closest allies even inthe last years of the king’s reign. This friendly attitude is commonly believed to findproof in transferring Naupactus from the Achaean Confederacy to the Aetolians withhelp from Philip II after the battle of Chaeronea. This consensus, however, was disturbed by an unconventional historical reconstruction presented by A. B. Bosworth.
The sequence of events as presented by Bosworth was not unquestionably accepted, butstill demands discussion since the person behind it is undoubtedly counted among the most influential recent historians of Alexander the Great. A test case used by Bosworth to enlighten the real nature of Aetolian — Macedonian relations in the 330sis the fate of Naupactus during the last years of Philip II. His main result is that Philip II had dissolved the Aetolian Confederacy after the Chaeronea campaign. Bosworth alleges that the Aetolian Confederacy was temporarily disbanded, based on a passage in Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander (1, 10, 2), according to which in 335 theAetolians sent to Alexander the Great „their tribal embassies“.
Click here to read this article from TYCHE
Sponsored Content