Battle of Chaeronea
Chaeronea, Boeotia, Greece
What happened
King Philip II of Macedon and his 18-year-old son Alexander fought an alliance of Athens and Thebes, whose resistance was led by the Athenian statesman Demosthenes. Philip II had made Macedon the strongest power in northern Greece, and Athens and Thebes joined forces to stop him. The two armies met on the plain of Chaeronea. After a long, hard fight, Alexander broke through the elite Theban unit called the Sacred Band, and the allied army collapsed.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It made Macedon the leading power in Greece and ended the independence of the great Greek city-states. It was also the first great battle of the young Alexander, later called Alexander the Great.
What came next
In 337 BCE Philip formed the League of Corinth, uniting most Greek states under his leadership. He died in 336 BCE, and Alexander took over his plan to invade the Persian Empire.
Did you know?
A large stone lion, the Lion of Chaeronea, was later put up at the site; it was found buried in 1818 and pieced back together in 1902.
Timeline
- August 338 BCEPhilip II wins at Chaeronea.
- 337 BCEThe League of Corinth is formed.
- 336 BCEPhilip II falls and Alexander becomes king.
- 1818Travellers find the buried Lion of Chaeronea.
- 1902The lion is restored.