Greece, Hellenistic Period (323-146 BC), Antigonid Era (276-146): Philip V (59; r.221-179 BC), Social War (220-217 BC)

In spring 220 BC the Aetolian generals Dorimachus and Scopas sent privateers down the west coast to Phigalia in southwest Arcadia, from where they were to plunder Achaean territories. The generals then took the Aetolian army across the Corinthian Gulf at Rhium, invaded Messenia and at Caphyae defeated an Achaean force commanded by Aratus. After attacking Pellene and plundering Sicyon, the Aetolians returned to Aetolia. The Achaeans appealed to Philip V, who as hegemon took the Hellenic League into a war, known as the War of the Allies or the Social War (220-117 BC), against Aetolia. This war had no great or decisive battles.

In 219 BC at Sparta the ephors (probably after learning of Cleomenes’ death in Egypt) restored the dyarchy and nominated Lycurgus (Eurypontid? r.219-210 BC) and Agesipolis III (Agiad; r.219-215 BC; d.183 BC) as the two kings. However, Agesipolis was only a minor and Lycurgus effectively became Sparta’s only king and eventually her sole ruler.

Lycurgus broke with Macedonia and took Sparta into alliance with the Aetolians. In early summer he advanced from the south and captured several towns in southwestern Argolis; from the west the Eleans, now allied with the Aetolians, attacked Achaea, and from the north the Aetolians made a seaborne raid on Achaean town of Aegira. In Northern Greece during the same period Philip, together with the Epirotes, attacked the Aetolians from the west, while the Aetolians on the eastern front invaded Macedonia and plundered the city of Dium. The Dardanians renewed their attacks on Macedonia, but when Philip hastened northwards to deal with them they withdrew. In the autumn Philip dismissed his troops, and the Aetolians attacked Epirus and laid waste to Dodona.

In winter 219/8 BC he unexpectedly took his army to Corinth and on to southern Elis, winning victory after victory against the surprised Eleans, and retook Phigalia. Moving through Achaea he met with similar success against northern Elis. The Aetolians launched a series of raids on Thessalian countryside from their base at Phthiotic Thebes. Philip, after a successful campaign in Dardania, countered the Aetolian invasion of Thessaly by an attack on Aetolia. He sacked the league’s centre of Thermum then returned to the Peloponnese and ravaged Sparta. In 218 BC he captured Phthiotic Thebes.

In mid-summer 217 BC Philip was at Argos attending the Neamean Games with his friend Demetrius of Pharos, who had recently been ejected from Illyria by the Romans, when they heard that the Romans had been defeated by Hannibal (5) Barca (247-183/2 BC) at Lake Trasimene. Philip’s thoughts now turned away from Greece and towards the West. Polybius (c.200-c.118 BC) tells us that Demetrius (perhaps seeing a chance to recover his possessions in Illyria) persuaded Philip that after this Roman disaster he should end the Social War, invade Illyria and then send an expedition to Italy.

Philip concluded a peace with the Aetolians at Naupactus later in the year. During winter 217/6 BC he built a large fleet which he intended to use to dominate the coast of Illyria for a descent on Italy. In the summer he began by taking his fleet around the Peloponnese to the islands of Cephalonia and Leucas off the west coast. However, when he heard that a Roman fleet was approaching he withdrew to Macedonia. Later, after the Roman defeat at Cannae in 216 BC, he began the negotiations for a treaty with Hannibal.