Battle of Chalcis
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Spartolos
took place in 429 BC
between Athens
and the Chalkidian League
and their allies, in the early part of the Peloponnesian War
.
The Athenians under Xenophon (not the famous historian and pupil of Socrates) marched into Thrace
to attack Spartolos
. They destroyed the crops outside and began negotiating with pro-Athenian factions in Chalcidice, but the anti-Athenian factions asked for help from Olynthus
. An army from Chalcidice, Spartolos, and Olynthus met the Athenians in battle, but their hoplite
s were defeated and they retreated to Spartolus; their cavalry, however, was victorious against the Athenian troops. Reinforcements soon arrived from Olynthus, and they launched a second attack on the Athenians. The Athenians panicked and were routed, with all of their generals and 430 other men killed.
In the Athenian tribute list of 429/8 BC the only cities of Chalcidice are: Mende, Aphytis
, Scione
, Stageira
and Acanthus (Athos). Acanthus and Mende had not even joined the Chalkidian League
.
Spartolos
Spartolos was the chief city of the Bottiaeans, perhaps in Bottike, North-West Chalcidice. It was a member of the Delian League under the Thracian phoros, paying 2 or 3,5 talents, until the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, when the Bottiaean and the Chalkidian League revolted against Athens...
took place in 429 BC
429 BC
Year 429 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tricipitinus and Fidenas...
between Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and the Chalkidian League
Chalkidian League
The Chalkidian League was a federal state that existed on the shores of the north west Aegean from around 430 BCE until it was destroyed by Philip II of Macedon in 348 BCE.-History:...
and their allies, in the early part of the Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
.
The Athenians under Xenophon (not the famous historian and pupil of Socrates) marched into Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
to attack Spartolos
Spartolos
Spartolos was the chief city of the Bottiaeans, perhaps in Bottike, North-West Chalcidice. It was a member of the Delian League under the Thracian phoros, paying 2 or 3,5 talents, until the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, when the Bottiaean and the Chalkidian League revolted against Athens...
. They destroyed the crops outside and began negotiating with pro-Athenian factions in Chalcidice, but the anti-Athenian factions asked for help from Olynthus
Olynthus
Olynthus was an ancient city of Chalcidice, built mostly on two flat-topped hills 30–40m in height, in a fertile plain at the head of the Gulf of Torone, near the neck of the peninsula of Pallene, about 2.5 kilometers from the sea, and about 60 stadia Olynthus was an ancient city of...
. An army from Chalcidice, Spartolos, and Olynthus met the Athenians in battle, but their hoplite
Hoplite
A hoplite was a citizen-soldier of the Ancient Greek city-states. Hoplites were primarily armed as spearmen and fought in a phalanx formation. The word "hoplite" derives from "hoplon" , the type of the shield used by the soldiers, although, as a word, "hopla" could also denote weapons held or even...
s were defeated and they retreated to Spartolus; their cavalry, however, was victorious against the Athenian troops. Reinforcements soon arrived from Olynthus, and they launched a second attack on the Athenians. The Athenians panicked and were routed, with all of their generals and 430 other men killed.
In the Athenian tribute list of 429/8 BC the only cities of Chalcidice are: Mende, Aphytis
Aphytis
Aphytis was an ancient Greek city in Pallene, the westernmost headland of Chalcidice. Around the middle of the 8th century BC colonists from Euboea arrived. The city became well known for its Temple of Dionysus, which appears to have been built in the second half of the 8th century BC...
, Scione
Scione
Scione was an ancient Greek city in Pallene, the westernmost headland of Chalcidice, on the southern coast east of the modern town of Nea Skioni....
, Stageira
Stageira
Stageira was an ancient Greek city on the Chalkidiki peninsula and is chiefly known for being the birthplace of Aristotle. The city lies approximately 8 kilometres north northeast of the present-day village of Stagira, close to the town of Olympiada....
and Acanthus (Athos). Acanthus and Mende had not even joined the Chalkidian League
Chalkidian League
The Chalkidian League was a federal state that existed on the shores of the north west Aegean from around 430 BCE until it was destroyed by Philip II of Macedon in 348 BCE.-History:...
.