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LEOSTHENES

 
 

He was an Athenian who was commander of the combined Greek army in theLamian War. Leosthenes was the son of Leosthenes who had suffered exile in 362/1 and who had fled to the court of Philip II. He may have served then underAlexander the Great but he later was a strong opponent of Macedon and advocate for Greek independence. Shortly before the death of Alexander, Leosthenes collected and brought over to Cape Taenarum near Athens many of the Greek mercenaries who had been disbanded by the various satraps in Asia, following Alexander's orders. Upon Alexander's death he went to Taenarus and hired 8,000 mercenaries. He then was able to encourage many Greek cities including in Aetolia to join a revolt for independence. In this he was strongly aided by the oratory of Demosthenes, who had always opposed Macedon. But Leosthenes was elected to command the allied forces. which he moved to Thermopylae, the key access pass from Macedon into Greece. But the Boeotians, remained allied to Macedon and assembled their army to prevent the Athenians from joining. Leosthenes then shifted part of his army to defeat these Boeotians and open the way for the Athenians. Meanwhile Antipater, the Macedonian commander, brought his smaller army south. Leosthenes defeated him at Plataea in 323 and then and forced the Macdonians to withdraw to Lamia which he besieged. Leosthenes knew he had to win quickly before more of Alexander's generals brought overwhelming power so began to besiege Lamia by blockade. While supervising the siege lines he was struck by a stone and died. This sapped the Greek's morale. But they didn't stand much chance in the long run anyway. Historians do considered that Leosthenes demonstrated great courage and leadership while he lasted. But Antipater won the war.

 
 

 
     

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