Siege of Medion: Difference between revisions

Siege of Medion
	Part of the Illyrian Conquests
Date	June - September 231 BC
Location	Medion, Acarnania(modern day Greece)
Result	Aetolian defeat; Illyrians lift the siege
Belligerents
Medion ; Illyrians under Agron	Aetolian League
Commanders and leaders
	King Agron
Strength
	Illyrian relief force of 100 lembi and 5,000 men
Casualties and losses
	'A great number' of Aetolians killed ; 'A still greater number' captured

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 13:47, 18 February 2015

Template:Campaignbox Illyrian Conquests

The Siege of Medion was a siege carried out by Aetolian League in 231 BC against the Ancient Greek city of Medion in Acarnania. The siege triggered an invasion by an Illyrian relief force and ended in the Battle of Medion with an Aetolian defeat.

Siege

Earlier in 231 BC, after the dissolution of the Epirote Union, the Aetolian League had requested the city of Medion to join the League, but the Acarnanians refused. The Aetolians decided to take Medion by force, beginning the siege in June. The king of Macedon Demetrius II Aetolicus, a rival of the Aetolian League, being himself engaged against the Dardanians, requested Agron of Illyria to intervene and help the Acarnanias.^[3] Agron accepted and sent a fleet of 100 lembi and 5,000 men to Medion. This was the largest force any Illyrian king had ever conjured. The Illyrians and Macedonia were not necessarily allied, but the former was instead hired to assault the Aetolians at Medion as mercenaries for Macedon.^[1]^[2]^[4] A modern historian, Erich S. Gruen, says that the fact that Demetrius of Macedon had to call the Illyrians to relieve Medion shows that he was incapable of doing so himself.^[2] This is enforced by another historian, Grainger, who says that Demetrius was preoccupied in northern Macedonia in a war against Dardania. As the Illyrians were also at war against the Dardanians, Grainger states it made Agron and Demetrius 'allies'. Polybius, on the other hand, who wrote a contemporry report, simply states that Agron was bribed by Macedon to attack the Aetolians. Polybius possibly wrote this to enforce his previous and later statements that the Illyrians were pirates.

Battle

The Illyrians landed on the Acarnanian coast in September and marched to Medion to attack the Aetolian besiegers. The Aetolians reacted sending their light infantry and cavalry to a higher ground, but a single Illyrian charge, using their close formation and numbers to their advantage, forced the cavalry to retire to the Aetolian Hoplites. From their higher ground the Illyrians then charged downwards on the combined Aetolian army, quickly routing them. When at last the Acarnanians from inside the city joined the attack the Aetolians were defeated and lost many men.

Aftermath

After taking many prisoners and much booty, the Illyrians left Medion and sailed to Illyria. Upon their arrival, they reported their victory over the Aetolians to King Agron, in late 231 BC. He is said to have died shortly afterwards, due to his excessive victory celebrations. He was succeeded by his wife, Queen Teuta, the same year.^[5]^[a] It is assumed that after the Illyrians defeated the Aetolians at the siege, Medion and the rest of Acarnania allied with Illyria against the Aetolian League to protect the region from future attacks. This is evident as in the naval battle of Paxos, two years later, the Illyrian navy was enforced by ships from Acarnania.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Polybius. Histories, Plb. 2.2. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c Erich S. Gruen. The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome, Volume 1. p. 366. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Erich S. Gruen. The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome, Volume 1. p. 363. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Craige Brian Champion. Cultural Politics in Polybius's Histories. p. 112. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c Polybius. Histories, Plb. 2.3. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
^ Erich S. Gruen. The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome, Volume 1. p. 360. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
^ Appian. Illyrian Wars, App. Ill. 2.7. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
^ Polybius. Histories, Plb. 2.8. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

Notes

^ Appian wrote a vaguer report than Polybius regarding the Illyrians, and wrote it four centuries later,^[6] and so seems less reliable. He states that Agron died in 228 BC and was succeeded by Teuta that same year.^[7] On the other hand, Polybius states that Agron had died in 231 BC after his victory at Medion and Teuta succeeded him that year.^[8]

[2.2-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Polybius. Histories, Plb. 2.2. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

[231BC-2] Erich S. Gruen. The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome, Volume 1. p. 366. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

[Agron-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Erich S. Gruen. The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome, Volume 1. p. 363. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

[Culture-4] Craige Brian Champion. Cultural Politics in Polybius's Histories. p. 112. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

[2.3-5] Polybius. Histories, Plb. 2.3. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

[6] Erich S. Gruen. The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome, Volume 1. p. 360. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

[7] Appian. Illyrian Wars, App. Ill. 2.7. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

[8] Polybius. Histories, Plb. 2.8. Retrieved 17 April 2014.

[9] Appian wrote a vaguer report than Polybius regarding the Illyrians, and wrote it four centuries later,^[6] and so seems less reliable. He states that Agron died in 228 BC and was succeeded by Teuta that same year.^[7] On the other hand, Polybius states that Agron had died in 231 BC after his victory at Medion and Teuta succeeded him that year.^[8]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[a]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 }}
-The '''Siege of Medion''' was a siege carried out by [[Aetolian League]] in 231 BC against the Ancient Greek city of [[Medion (polis)|Medion]].
+The '''Siege of Medion''' was a siege carried out by [[Aetolian League]] in 231 BC against the Ancient Greek city of [[Medion (polis)|Medion]] in [[Acarnania]]. The siege triggered an invasion by an Illyrian relief force and ended in the '''Battle of Medion''' with an Aetolian defeat.
 ==Siege==
-Earlier in 231 BC, the League had requested Medion to join the League, but it had refused. The Aetolians decided instead to take Medion by force, beginning the siege in June. [[Demetrius II Aetolicus|Demetrius of Macedon]], a rival of the Aetolian League, requested [[Agron of Illyria|Agron]] of [[Illyria]] to lift the siege and defeat the Aetolians.<ref name="Agron"/> Agron accepted, and sent a fleet of 100 [[Lembus|lembi]] and 5,000 men to Medion. This was the largest force any Illyrian king had ever conjured. The Illyrians arrived off the coast of Medion in September. They initially blockaded the Aetolian besiegers and later attacked them. The Illyrians and Macedonia were not necessarily allied, but the former was instead hired to assault the Aetolians at Medion as mercenaries for Macedon.<ref name="2.2">{{cite book|title=Histories, Plb. 2.2|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.2|author=Polybius|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="231BC"/><ref name="Culture">{{cite book|title=Cultural Politics in Polybius's Histories|page=112|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jp_cWQQyf6EC&pg=PA142&lpg=PA142&dq=Polybius+2.2.5&source=bl&ots=3uhslNFREh&sig=1dS0dthYmp-dGVDuR_AxXP3xwcE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sTVRU5bwMsvFPffygLAN&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=Craige Brian Champion|accessdate=18 April 2014}}</ref> A later historian, [[Erich S. Gruen|Gruen]], says that the fact that Demetrius of Macedon had to call the Illyrians to relieve Medion shows that he was incapable of doing so himself.<ref name="231BC"/> This is enforced by another historian, Grainger, who says that Demetrius was preoccupied in northern Macedonia in a war against Dardania. As the Illyrians were also at war against the Dardanians, Grainger states it made Agron and Demetrius 'allies'. Polybius, on the other hand, who wrote a contemporry report, simply states that Agron was bribed by Macedon to attack the Aetolians. Polybius possibly wrote this to enforce his previous and later statements that the Illyrians were pirates.
+Earlier in 231 BC, after the dissolution of the Epirote Union, the Aetolian League had requested the city of Medion to join the League, but the [[Acarnania]]ns refused. The Aetolians decided to take Medion by force, beginning the siege in June. The king of [[Macedon]] [[Demetrius II Aetolicus]], a rival of the Aetolian League, being himself engaged against the [[Dardania]]ns, requested [[Agron of Illyria|Agron]] of [[Illyria]] to intervene and help the Acarnanias.<ref name="Agron"/> Agron accepted and sent a fleet of 100 [[Lembus|lembi]] and 5,000 men to Medion. This was the largest force any Illyrian king had ever conjured. The Illyrians and Macedonia were not necessarily allied, but the former was instead hired to assault the Aetolians at Medion as mercenaries for Macedon.<ref name="2.2">{{cite book|title=Histories, Plb. 2.2|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.2|author=Polybius|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="231BC"/><ref name="Culture">{{cite book|title=Cultural Politics in Polybius's Histories|page=112|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jp_cWQQyf6EC&pg=PA142&lpg=PA142&dq=Polybius+2.2.5&source=bl&ots=3uhslNFREh&sig=1dS0dthYmp-dGVDuR_AxXP3xwcE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sTVRU5bwMsvFPffygLAN&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=Craige Brian Champion|accessdate=18 April 2014}}</ref>
+A modern historian, [[Erich S. Gruen]], says that the fact that Demetrius of Macedon had to call the Illyrians to relieve Medion shows that he was incapable of doing so himself.<ref name="231BC"/> This is enforced by another historian, Grainger, who says that Demetrius was preoccupied in northern Macedonia in a war against Dardania. As the Illyrians were also at war against the Dardanians, Grainger states it made Agron and Demetrius 'allies'. Polybius, on the other hand, who wrote a contemporry report, simply states that Agron was bribed by Macedon to attack the Aetolians. Polybius possibly wrote this to enforce his previous and later statements that the Illyrians were pirates.
 ==Battle==
-The Aetolians quickly reacted to the Illyrian landings, and their [[cavalry]] took higher ground, but a single Illyrian charge, using their close formation and numbers to their advantage, forced the cavalry to retire with the Aetolian [[Hoplites]]. The Illyrians then took higher ground, and charged downwards on the combined Aetolian army, quickly routing them. The Medion army inside the city then charged at the Aetolian forces. The Aetolians were defeated and lost many men.
+The Illyrians landed on the Acarnanian coast in September and marched to Medion to attack the Aetolian besiegers. The Aetolians reacted sending their light infantry and [[cavalry]] to a higher ground, but a single Illyrian charge, using their close formation and numbers to their advantage, forced the cavalry to retire to the Aetolian [[Hoplites]]. From their higher ground the Illyrians then charged downwards on the combined Aetolian army, quickly routing them. When at last the Acarnanians from inside the city joined the attack the Aetolians were defeated and lost many men.
 ==Aftermath==
-After taking many prisoners and much booty, the Illyrians left Medion and sailed to Illyria. Upon their arrival, they reported their victory over the Aetolians to King Agron, in late 231 BC. He is said to have died shortly afterwards, and was succeeded by his wife, [[Teuta of Illyria|Queen Teuta]], the same year.<ref name="2.3"/>{{efn|Appian wrote a vaguer report than Polybius regarding the Illyrians, and wrote it four centuries later,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome, Volume 1|page=360|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EkdCokrrp4gC&pg=PA363&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=Erich S. Gruen|accessdate=18 April 2014}}</ref> and so seems less reliable. He states that Agron died in 228 BC and was succeeded by Teuta that same year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Illyrian Wars, App. Ill. 2.7|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0551.tlg012.perseus-eng1:2.7|author=Appian|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref> On the other hand, Polybius states that Agron had died in 231 BC after his victory at Medion and Teuta succeeded him that year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Histories, Plb. 2.8|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.8|author=Polybius|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref>}} It is assumed that after the Illyrians defeated the Aetolians at the siege, Medion and the rest of Acarnania allied with Illyria against the Aetolian League to protect the region from future attacks. This is evident as in the naval [[battle of Paxos]], two years later, the Illyrian navy was enforced by ships from Acarnania.
+After taking many prisoners and much booty, the Illyrians left Medion and sailed to Illyria. Upon their arrival, they reported their victory over the Aetolians to King Agron, in late 231 BC. He is said to have died shortly afterwards, due to his excessive victory celebrations. He was succeeded by his wife, [[Teuta of Illyria|Queen Teuta]], the same year.<ref name="2.3"/>{{efn|Appian wrote a vaguer report than Polybius regarding the Illyrians, and wrote it four centuries later,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome, Volume 1|page=360|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EkdCokrrp4gC&pg=PA363&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=Erich S. Gruen|accessdate=18 April 2014}}</ref> and so seems less reliable. He states that Agron died in 228 BC and was succeeded by Teuta that same year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Illyrian Wars, App. Ill. 2.7|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0551.tlg012.perseus-eng1:2.7|author=Appian|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref> On the other hand, Polybius states that Agron had died in 231 BC after his victory at Medion and Teuta succeeded him that year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Histories, Plb. 2.8|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.8|author=Polybius|accessdate=17 April 2014}}</ref>}} It is assumed that after the Illyrians defeated the Aetolians at the siege, Medion and the rest of Acarnania allied with Illyria against the Aetolian League to protect the region from future attacks. This is evident as in the naval [[battle of Paxos]], two years later, the Illyrian navy was enforced by ships from Acarnania.
 ==References==