Aratus of Sicyon

Aratus of Sicyon (* 271 BC at Sicyon; † 213 BC) was a politician in Hellenistic Greece. He is best known as the leader of the Achaean League.

Life

Aratus the son of the politician Clinias, an opponent of the tyrant of Sikyon Abantidas, the Clinias was made ​​in 264 BC kill. The young Aratus then went into exile, but returned in the year 251 BC and rushed back Nicocles, who had become a tyrant there. As a result, Aratus came for the unification of the Greeks, especially against Macedonia, and urged the strengthening of the Achaean League, the Sikyon belonged. In league Aratus received in the year 245 BC for the first time by choosing the temporary one-year terms of office strategists, which he held until 212 BC, a total of sixteen times.

243 BC he invaded Akrokorinth, the fortress of the city of Corinth, where the Macedonians had stationed a strong garrison. Corinth then joined to the Achaean Confederation. Then Aratus defeated the Aetolian federal government in Pellene. To 238 BC he won the former opponent for a common policy against Demetrius II of Macedon. Although Aratus succeeded as the union of most Hellenes against Macedonia, but his army was defeated 233 BC at the Battle of Phylakia (presumably at Tegea ) the Macedonian army. As then fell off the Aitolier by the Coalition to Aratus endeavored to stabilize the situation through diplomatic channels; so he succeeded in 229 BC, Hermione, Phlius and Argos to win the Achaean Confederation.

232 BC, he was Olympic champion in car races.

A new threat to the federal government was created by the Spartan king Cleomenes III expansion policy under. Against this Aratus himself allied with the old nemesis Macedonia under Antigonus III. Doson, by means of which in 222 BC at the Battle of Sellasia achieved the decisive victory over Sparta. While this Macedonia in southern Greece again gained a foothold, the importance of the Achaean League went back, especially since this was defeated by the Aitoliern 220 BC at Kaphies. Aratus then went to the court of King Philip V of Macedon, the Aratus in 213 BC was poison.

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