The siege of Lamia gave its name to the Lamian War and marked a major Greek resistance effort against Macedonian power following Alexander's death.
Key Facts
- Duration
- 323 to 322 BC
- Macedonian commander
- Antipater
- Greek coalition commander
- Leosthenes
- Death of Leosthenes
- Struck by sling-shot stone, died three days later
- Siege tactic
- Greeks cut off all supplies and escape routes
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After Antipater was defeated at the Second Battle of Thermopylae, he retreated into the city of Lamia. A coalition of Greek forces, predominantly from central Greece, pursued him under the command of Leosthenes, who then encircled the city and began siege operations to trap the Macedonian forces.
Leosthenes besieged Lamia by fortifying a camp, digging a wide ditch, and constructing a palisade around the city. He launched daily assaults on the walls and blockaded supplies to starve the garrison. Antipater's forces defended successfully from the walls, exploiting their abundant missiles, while the Greeks maintained the encirclement.
During a Macedonian sortie against Greeks digging the moat, Leosthenes was struck in the head by a sling-shot stone and died three days later. His death significantly weakened the Greek coalition's leadership. The siege, which gave the wider conflict its name—the Lamian War—ultimately ended without a decisive Greek victory over the Macedonians.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Antipater.
Side B
1 belligerent
Leosthenes.