Onomarchus
Encyclopedia
Onomarchus was general of the Phocians in the Third Sacred War
, brother of Philomelus and son of Theotimus.
Onomarchus commanded a division of the Phocian army under Philomelus in the action at Tithorea
, in which Philomelus perished. After the battle Onomarchus gathered the remains of the Phocian army and retreated to Delphi
. An assembly of the people was held, in which Onomarchus strongly urged the prosecution of the war — in opposition to the counsels of the more moderate party — and succeeded in obtaining his own nomination to the chief command in the place of Philomelus 353 BC
.
Onomarchus was, however, far from imitating the moderation of his predecessor: he confiscated the property of all those who were opposed to him and scrupulously squandered the sacred treasures of Delphi
. Using the treasures of Delphi he was able to assemble and maintain a large body of mercenary troops, in addition to bribing many of the hostile states, allowing him to influence the Thessalians to abandon their allies and take up a neutral position.
Thus freed from his most formidable antagonists, he was more than a match for his remaining foes. He invaded Locris
, took the town of Thronium
, compelled Amphissa
to submit, ravaged the Dorian Tetrapolis, and finally turned his arms against Boeotia
— where he took Orchomenus
and laid siege to Chaeronea
— but was compelled to retreat without effecting anything more.
Following the siege of Chaeronea, his assistance was requested by Lycophron
, a tyrant of Pherae
who was attacked by Philip II of Macedon
. At first Onomarchus sent his brother Phayllus into Thessaly with an army of 7000 men, to a defeat by Philip's armies. Onomarchus then marched with his whole forces to the support of Lycophron, defeated Philip in two successive battles, and drove him out of Thessaly
.
Onomarchus then returned to Boeotia, whom he defeated in a battle, and took the city of Coroneia. He was then recalled once more to the assistance of Lycophron, against Philip, who had again invaded Thessaly. Onomarchus hastened to support his ally with an army of 20,000 foot and 500 horse, but was met by Philip at the head of a force, still more numerous, and a pitched battle ensued, in which the superiority of the Thessalian cavalry decided the victory in favour of Philip.
Onomarchus and many of the fugitives plunged into the sea in hopes of swimming to the Athenian ships under Chares
which were lying off the shore, but perished in the waves, or, according to Pausanias
, by the darts of his own soldiers. Onomarchus' body fell into the hands of Philip, who had it crucified as punishment for his sacrilege. His death took place in 352 BC.
Third Sacred War
The Third Sacred War was fought between the forces of the Delphic Amphictyonic League, principally represented by Thebes, and latterly by Philip II of Macedon, and the Phocians...
, brother of Philomelus and son of Theotimus.
Onomarchus commanded a division of the Phocian army under Philomelus in the action at Tithorea
Tithorea
Tithorea is a village and a former municipality in Phthiotis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Amfikleia-Elateia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,759 . The seat of the municipality was in Kato Tithorea, which is served by the...
, in which Philomelus perished. After the battle Onomarchus gathered the remains of the Phocian army and retreated to Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
. An assembly of the people was held, in which Onomarchus strongly urged the prosecution of the war — in opposition to the counsels of the more moderate party — and succeeded in obtaining his own nomination to the chief command in the place of Philomelus 353 BC
353 BC
Year 353 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Peticus and Poplicola...
.
Onomarchus was, however, far from imitating the moderation of his predecessor: he confiscated the property of all those who were opposed to him and scrupulously squandered the sacred treasures of Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
. Using the treasures of Delphi he was able to assemble and maintain a large body of mercenary troops, in addition to bribing many of the hostile states, allowing him to influence the Thessalians to abandon their allies and take up a neutral position.
Thus freed from his most formidable antagonists, he was more than a match for his remaining foes. He invaded Locris
Locris
Locris was a region of ancient Greece, the homeland of the Locrians, made up of three distinct districts.-Locrian tribe:...
, took the town of Thronium
Thronium
Thronion or Thronium was an ancient Greek city of the Euboian-Lokrians in Epirus. It is believed to lie somewhere to the south of Vlorë, between the Shushicë River and the sea....
, compelled Amphissa
Amfissa
Amfissa is a town and a former municipality in Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delphi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is also the capital of the regional unit of Phocis...
to submit, ravaged the Dorian Tetrapolis, and finally turned his arms against Boeotia
Boeotia
Boeotia, also spelled Beotia and Bœotia , is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. It was also a region of ancient Greece. Its capital is Livadeia, the second largest city being Thebes.-Geography:...
— where he took Orchomenus
Orchomenus
-Greek mythology:*Orchomenus, a king, the father of Elara*Orchomenus, one of the twenty sons of Lycaon*Orchomenus, son of Zeus and Isonoe, father of Minyas and Kyparissos*Orchomenus, a son of Athamas and Themisto-Ancient Greek geography:...
and laid siege to Chaeronea
Chaeronea
Chaeronea is a village and a former municipality in Boeotia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Livadeia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,218...
— but was compelled to retreat without effecting anything more.
Following the siege of Chaeronea, his assistance was requested by Lycophron
Lycophron
Lycophron was a Hellenistic Greek tragic poet, grammarian, and commentator on comedy, to whom the poem Alexandra is attributed .-Life and miscellaneous works:...
, a tyrant of Pherae
Pherae
Pherae was an ancient Greek town in southeastern Thessaly. It bordered Lake Boebeïs. In mythology, it was the home of King Admetus, whose wife, Alcestis, Heracles went into Hades to rescue. In history, it was more famous as the home of the fourth-century B.C...
who was attacked by Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
. At first Onomarchus sent his brother Phayllus into Thessaly with an army of 7000 men, to a defeat by Philip's armies. Onomarchus then marched with his whole forces to the support of Lycophron, defeated Philip in two successive battles, and drove him out of Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
.
Onomarchus then returned to Boeotia, whom he defeated in a battle, and took the city of Coroneia. He was then recalled once more to the assistance of Lycophron, against Philip, who had again invaded Thessaly. Onomarchus hastened to support his ally with an army of 20,000 foot and 500 horse, but was met by Philip at the head of a force, still more numerous, and a pitched battle ensued, in which the superiority of the Thessalian cavalry decided the victory in favour of Philip.
Onomarchus and many of the fugitives plunged into the sea in hopes of swimming to the Athenian ships under Chares
Chares of Athens
Chares and was an Athenian general, who for a number of years was a key commander of Athenian forces.-First campaigns:Chares, an Athenian general, is first mentioned in historical records in 367 BC, when he was sent to the aid of the city of Phlius. The city was hard pressed by the Arcadians and...
which were lying off the shore, but perished in the waves, or, according to Pausanias
Pausanias (general)
Pausanias was a Spartan general of the 5th century BC. He was the son of Cleombrotus and nephew of Leonidas I, serving as regent after the latter's death, since Leonidas' son Pleistarchus was still under-age. Pausanias was also the father of Pleistoanax, who later became king, and Cleomenes...
, by the darts of his own soldiers. Onomarchus' body fell into the hands of Philip, who had it crucified as punishment for his sacrilege. His death took place in 352 BC.