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The Battle of Potidaea along with the Battle of Sybota were catalysts
for the Peloponnesian
War
Oppoenntws Athens versus Corinth and Potidaea
Commanders and leaders:
Athens: Archestratus, Callias
Corinth: Aristeus
Strength:
Athens: 70 ships, 3,000 hoplites, 400 cavalry
Corinth and Potidaea 1,600 hoplites, 400 light troops, 200 cavalry
Casualties and losses:
Athens: 150 men
Corinth: 300 men
It was fought near Potidaea in 432 between Athens and a combined army from
Corinth and Potidaea, along with their various allies. Potidaea was a colony of
Corinth on the Chalcidice peninsula, but was a member of the
Delian League and
paid tribute to Athens. After Sybota, Athens demanded that Potidaea pull down
part of its walls, expel Corinthian ambassadors and send hostages to Athens.
Athens was afraid that Potidaea would revolt due to Corinthian or Macedonian
influence, as Perdiccas II of Macedon was encouraging revolts among Athens'
other allies in Thrace. Athens gathered a fleet of 30 ships and 1,000 hoplites
under the overall command of
Archestratus, which
was originally meant to fight Perdiccas in Macedonia, but was diverted to
Potidaea. The Potidaeans sent ambassadors to Athens and Sparta, and when
negotiations broke down in Athens, Sparta promised to help Potidaea revolt. The
Athenian fleet sailed for Potidaea, but when it arrived, Archestratus attacked
the Macedonians instead, as the Potidaeans had already revolted and allied with
Perdiccas. Corinth sent 1,600 hoplites and 400 light troops to Potidaea as
well, under the command of Aristeus, but as "volunteers", thus hoping
not to provoke a larger war. In response, Athens sent out another 2,000
hoplites and 40 more ships, under the command of
Callias. After some
fighting against Perdiccas, the combined Athenian forces sailed to Potidaea and
landed there. Perdiccas and 200 of his cavalry joined with Aristeus, and their
combined army marched to Potidaea. In the ensuing battle, Aristeus' wing of
Corinthian troops defeated a section of the Athenian line, but elsewhere the
Athenians were victorious. Aristeus returned to Potidaea along the sea coast
with some difficulty, hoping to avoid the main Athenian army. A reserve force
of Potidaeans, located in nearby Olynthus, attempted to relieve Aristeus, but
they were also defeated. The Corinthians and Potidaeans lost about 300 men, and
the Athenians about 150, including Callias. The Macedonian cavalry did not join
the battle. The Athenians remained outside Potidaea for some time, and were
reinforced by another 1,600 hoplites under the command of
Phormio. Both sides built
walls and counter-walls, and the Athenians succeeded in cutting off Potidaea
from the sea with a naval blockade. During the blockade, representatives from
Corinth, Athens and Sparta met in Sparta, resulting in a formal declaration of
war. However, this siege, which lasted until 430/429, seriously depleted the
Athenian treasury, with as much as 1,000 talents per year required for the
military activity. This was not popular with the Athenians, and in combination
with the plague that swept through Athens in the early 420s, made the continued
leadership of Pericles untenable. The Periclean strategy of hiding behind the
Long Walls and relying on the low cash reserves of the Peloponnesians was
starting to become unfavourable to the greater Athenian consciousness.
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