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Greek Mercenaries at Issus
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:03 pm
by Alexias
Quick question: the Greek mercenaries who fought for Darius at Issus escaped back to Greece and fought for Agis of Sparta against Antipater at Megalopolis. I read a passing reference that said they then turned up elsewhere. Does anyone know where and who their commanders were? Thanks.
Re: Greek Mercenaries at Issus
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 3:28 am
by Jeanne Reames
Way back in the '70s, Gene Borza wrote an article on the revolt called "The End of Agis's Revolt," but I'm sure there's something more recent. Alas, it's not something I've spent a lot of time reading about, but if the ancient sources mention it, it may be in Gene's article. Sometimes, though, we just lack the references/evidence.
Re: Greek Mercenaries at Issus
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 10:01 am
by Paralus
Arrian (2.13.2-3) has some 8,000 of them escape and make it to Tripolis where they sieze the ships they came from Lesbos in and sail to Egypt. They are led by Amyntas (son of Antiokhos) and he is put to death. Arrian mentions nothing more but Curtius (4.1.29-33) says that a battle took place with the Persian defenders. These can really be the only mercenaries to somehow make it to Agis for the others depart with Dareios (2.13.1). If so, Arrian's version is the more likely with Amyntas being dispatched and the mercenaries then finding their way into Agis' employ.
Re: Greek Mercenaries at Issus
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 11:04 pm
by Alexias
Thank you. Tarn says
Antipater (after Megalopolis) sent to Alexander what remained of the 8,000 mercenaries of Issus; but it seems that these irreconcilable veterans were not yet done with. *
* For their probable reappearance after Alexander's death see C.A.H. vi, page 456
C.A.H. SAYS
A large group of refugee Greeks, 8,000 strong, took ship from
Tripolis to Cyprus, where they divided forces, one group making an
abortive attack on Egypt, while another joined the Spartan operations in
Crete (see below, p.85 3).
p 853
The news of the Macedonian victory at Issus aborted those
immediate plans, Agis received minimal assistance (30 talents and ten
triremes) and instructed his brother Agesilaus to begin operations not in
the Peloponnese but in Crete. That was a useful arena in which to deploy
and acquire mercenary forces. The Cretan cities were not apparently
signatories to the Corinthian League, and they had been involved in
internecine war for decades. Like his father Archidamus (Diod.
xvi.62.4) Agis probably intervened in the interests of Lyttus, which
claimed to be a Spartan colony, and attacked Cnossus, exploiting the
endemic hatred between the two states. In 332 the Spartan forces were
joined by some 8,000 Greek refugees from Darius' army at Issus (Curt.
iv.1.39; Diod. xvii.48.1), and the remnants of the Persian fleet in the
Aegean eventually regrouped in Crete. This combined army held at bay
Macedonian forces sent to help the other side, and by the end of the
summer it controlled the greater part of the island. By the spring of 3 31
Alexander himself was sufficiently worried to send a large naval
squadron under Amphoterus with orders to clear Crete of the hostile
Spartan presence and simultaneously strengthen Macedonian allies in
the Peloponnese who were in danger of subversion. He did not formally
declare war upon Sparta, hoping to isolate her and destroy the base in
Crete.1'
The mission of Amphoterus came too late. War broke out in the
Peloponnese during the summer of 3 31, a peculiarly propitious time for
Agis.20 The military reserves of Macedon had been depleted by the
recruiting of Amyntas (see above, p.815) which had taken 6,000 infantry
from Macedonia and 4,000 mercenaries from the Peloponnese. At
roughly the same time Antipater was distracted by a mysterious revolt in
Thrace which engaged his entire army (Diod. xvii.62.6).2
But I can't find any mention of the mercenaries in the edition of the C.A.H. I'm looking at. Unless they are amongst the mercenaries hired by Ptolemy in 321 BC.
Re: Greek Mercenaries at Issus
Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 8:32 pm
by Alexias
the Greek mercenaries who fought for Darius at Issus escaped back to Greece and fought for Agis of Sparta against Antipater at Megalopolis. I read a passing reference that said they then turned up elsewhere
Tarn says that Alexander mostly used mercenaries to garrison the towns he founded. He also states that the remainder of the Greek mercenaries captured at Issus were probably amongst the 10,000 troops left with Philip as satrap of Bactria.