An Athenian victory over Boeotia during the Lamian War that secured reinforcements for the Greek coalition opposing Macedonian hegemony.
Key Facts
- Year
- 323 BC
- Athenian infantry reinforcements
- 5,000 men
- Athenian cavalry
- 500 horses
- Mercenaries
- 2,000 men
- Athenian commander
- Leosthenes
- Conflict
- Lamian War
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After Alexander the Great destroyed Thebes in 335 BC, the Boeotians received Theban lands. When Athens joined the anti-Macedonian coalition in 323 BC, the Boeotians feared Athens would restore Theban power, costing them those gains, and so mobilized against the Athenian reinforcement column marching to join Leosthenes.
Athenian reinforcements numbering five thousand infantry, five hundred cavalry, and two thousand mercenaries linked up with Leosthenes near Plataea. Leosthenes formed the combined force into battle line and launched an assault on the Boeotian camp, defeating the Boeotian army in the engagement.
Following the victory, Leosthenes rapidly led his forces north to Thermopylae to confront the Macedonian regent Antipater's advancing army, integrating the newly joined reinforcements into the main Greek coalition force for the next critical phase of the Lamian War.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Leosthenes.
Side B
1 belligerent