Philopoimen

Philopoimen (* 253 BC in Arcadia ; † 183/182 BC in Messene ) was a Greek general , called "the last of the Hellenes".

Philopoimen was the son of the rich landowner Kraugis from Megalopolis in Arcadia . When his hometown in early 222 BC By the Spartans under Cleomenes III. was attacked, he brought the residents to Messene to safety. In the successful decisive battle against Cleomenes near Sellasia in the summer, he distinguished himself again and was 210 to 209 BC. Chr. Hipparch and 208 to 207 BC BC strategist of the Achaean League .

In this position Philopoimen developed an extraordinary activity in the reorganization of the warfare of the Achaeans and defeated Mantineia in 207 BC. The Spartans completely. When Sparta was later conquered by the Aitolians and the king ( Basileus ) Nabis was murdered, Philopoimen moved the Spartans in 192 BC. For union with the Achaean covenant.

Later on, Sparta and Messenia only reluctantly stayed side by side in the League and in 183/182 BC. The Messenians fell away. Philopoimen immediately gathered his mercenary troops and a band of horsemen formed from the core of the people. In the hasty attack he was caught. In Messene he then had to empty the poison cup.

After Messene was conquered again by the Achaeans, his ashes were solemnly buried in Megalopolis.

literature

• Hans Volkmann: Philopoimen In: Der Kleine Pauly , Vol. 4 (1972), Sp. 778f.