Battle of Mantinea (207 BC)

For other uses, see Battle of Mantinea (disambiguation).
Battle of Mantinea (207 BC)
Part of the First Macedonian War

Map of Peloponnese,a peninsula of Greece.
Date207 BC
Location
Mantinea
Result Achaean League victory
Belligerents
Achaean League Sparta
Commanders and leaders
Philopoemen Machanidas †

The Battle of Mantinea was fought in 207 BC between Sparta under the Tyrant Machanidas, as part of the Aetolian League, and the Achaean League whose forces were led by Philopoemen.[1] Both sides were supplemented by mercenaries.[citation needed] It was the major land battle in Greece of the First Macedonian War, which had occurred due to Macedonian alliance with Carthage in the aftermath of Hannibal's victory at the Battle of Cannae in the Second Punic War.

Machanidas routed and chased from the field the mercenaries of Philopoemen. They pursued, however, too eagerly and when Machanidas led his men back to the battle the outnumbered Spartan infantry had been defeated and the Achaeans were strongly positioned behind a water filled ditch.[citation needed] Going back on to the attack Machanidas was dismounted as he attempted to leap his horse over the ditch and was slain.[2] The Achaeans, allies of Macedonia, were victorious.[3]

References

  1. ^ Μανιατόπουλος, Πάνος (2021). Μάχες της Μαντινείας (418 π.Χ. – 362 π.Χ. – 207 π.Χ.).
  2. ^ "Ελληνιστικοί Χρόνοι". www.tegeamuseum.gr. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  3. ^ "Ελληνιστικοί Χρόνοι". www.tegeamuseum.gr. Retrieved 2022-12-20.

37°36′N 22°24′E / 37.6°N 22.4°E / 37.6; 22.4