Download Diodorus Siculus on The Battle of Chaeronea

Alexander and Hellenism
Lifelong Learning Institute
Douglas Kenning
Philip II of Macedon
Battle of Chaeronea (338 BCE)
In 338 BCE the liberty of the old Greek city-states was ended at Chaeronea
in Boeotia by the victory of Philip of Macedon. This battle marked the passing of
democracy, of civil society as defined by the Greek system of city-states, and the
triumph of the new order of large military-defined monarchies.
Sicilian Greek historian Diodorus Siculus (1C BCE) tells what happened in his
Library of History, Book XVI, Chap. 14:
In the year Charondas was first archon in Athens, Philip, King of Macedon, being
already in alliance with many of the Greeks, made it his chief business to subdue the
Athenians, and thereby with more ease control all Hellas. To this end he presently seized
Elateia [a Phocian town commanding the mountain passes southward], in order to fall on
the Athenians, imagining to overcome them with ease; since he conceived they were not
at all ready for war, having so lately made peace with him. Upon the taking of Elateia,
messengers hastened by night to Athens, informing the Athenians that the place was
taken, and Philip was leading on his men in full force to invade Attica.
The Athenian magistrates in alarm had the trumpeters sound their warning all night,
and the rumor spread with terrifying effect all through the city. At daybreak the people
without waiting the usual call of the magistrate rushed to the assembly place. Thither
came the officials with the messenger; and when they had announced their business, fear
and silence filled the place, and none of the customary speakers had heart to say a word.
Although the herald called on everybody "to declare their minds"---as to what was to be
done, yet none appeared; the people, therefore, in great terror cast their eyes on
Demosthenes, who now arose, and bade them to be courageous, and forthwith to send
envoys to Thebes to treat with the Boeotians to join in the defense of the common
liberty; for there was no time (he said) to send an embassy for aid elsewhere, since
Philip would probably invade Attica within two days, and seeing he must march through
Boeotia, the only aid was to be looked for there.
The people approved of his advice, and a decree was voted that such an embassy
should be sent. As the most eloquent man for the task, Demosthenes was pitched upon,
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and forthwith he hastened away [to Thebes. ---Despite past hostilities between Athens
and Thebes, and the counter-arguments of Philip's envoys, Demosthenes persuaded
Thebes and her Boeotian cities that their liberty as well as that of Athens was really at
stake, and to join arms with the Athenians.] . . .When Philip could not prevail on the
Boeotians to join him, he resolved to fight them both. To this end, after waiting for
reinforcements, he invaded Boeotia with about thirty thousand foot and two thousand
horse. . . .
Both armies were now ready to engage; they were equal indeed in courage and
personal valor, but in numbers and military experience a great advantage lay with the
king. For he had fought many battles, gained most of them, and so learned much about
war, but the best Athenian generals were now dead, and Chares---the chief of them still
remaining---differed but little from a common hoplite in all that pertained to true
generalship. About sunrise [at Chaeronea in Boeotia] the two armies arrayed themselves
for battle. The king ordered his son Alexander, who had just become of age, yet already
was giving clear signs of his martial spirit, to lead one wing, though joined to him were
some of the best of his generals. Philip himself, with a picked corps, led the other wing,
and arranged the various brigades at such posts as the occasion demanded. The
Athenians drew up their army, leaving one part to the Boeotians, and leading the rest
themselves.
At length the hosts engaged, and the battle was fierce and bloody. It continued long
with fearful slaughter, but victory was uncertain, until Alexander, anxious to give his
father proof of his valor---and followed by a courageous band---was the first to break
through the main body of the enemy, directly opposing him, slaying many; and bore
down all before him---and his men, pressing on closely, cut to pieces the lines of the
enemy; and after the ground had been piled with the dead, put the wing resisting him in
flight. The king, too, at the head of his corps, fought with no less boldness and fury, that
the glory of victory might not be attributed to his son. He forced the enemy resisting him
also to give ground, and at length completely routed them, and so was the chief
instrument of the victory.
Over one thousand Athenians fell, and two thousand were made prisoners. A great
number of Boeotians, too, perished, and many more were captured by the enemy. . .
[After some boastful conduct by the king, thanks to the influence of Demades, an
Athenian orator who had been captured], Philip sent ambassadors to Athens and
renewed the peace with her [on very tolerable terms, leaving her most of her local
liberties]. He also made peace with the Boeotians, but placed a garrison in Thebes.
Having thus struck terror into the leading Greek states, he made it his chief effort to be
chosen generalissimo of Greece. It being noised abroad that he would make war upon
the Persians, on behalf of the Greeks, in order to avenge the impieties committed by
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them against the Greek gods, he presently won public favor over to his side throughout
Greece. He was very liberal and courteous, also, to both private citizens and
communities, and proclaimed to the cities that he wished to consult with them as to the
common good.' Whereupon a general council [of the Greek cities] was convened at
Corinth, where he declared his design of making war on the Persians, and the reasons he
hoped for success; and therefore desired the Council to join him as allies in the war. At
length he was created general of all Greece, with absolute power, and having made
mighty preparations and assigned the contingents to be sent by each city, he returned to
Macedonia [where, soon after, he was murdered by Pausanius, a private enemy].
source:
from: William Stearns Davis, Readings in Ancient History: Illustrative Extracts from the Sources,
2 Vols., (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1912-1913), Vol. I: Greece and the East, pp.
293-296.
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