On 5 August 322 BCE, the Battle of Crannon was fought between the Macedonians under Antipater and the Greeks under Antiphilus during the Lamian War.
Why did it happen?
In the aftermath of Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE, the Greek city-states led by Demosthenes revolted against the Macedonians. After defeating the regent of Macedon, Antipater, at Thermopylae, the Greeks laid siege to Lamia. Before they could surround the town, Antipater sent out messengers to request aid from Leonnatus and Craterus. In 322 BCE, Leonnatus attempted to relieve Antipater but was defeated and killed in battle outside the town. When Craterus responded in July, he sent a fleet under Cleitus the White to defeat the Greek navy at Amorgos, allowing him to transport an army to Greece. After breaking the Siege of Lamia, Antipater and Craterus combined forces and met the Greek army at Crannon.
Who was involved?
The Macedonian army at Crannon numbered 40,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry and 3,000 archers. The infantry phalanx was positioned in the centre under Antipater with the archers in the vanguard, while the cavalry was stationed on both wings with the right wing under the command of Craterus. The Macedonian plan was to use their superior numbers to overwhelm the Greek army. The Greek army at Crannon numbered 25,000 infantry and 3,500 cavalry. Most of the infantry were hoplites, while the cavalry consisted largely of Thessalian cavalry. Antiphilus commanded the infantry, while the cavalry was led by Menon of Pharsalus, stationed in front of the Greek phalanx. The Greek plan was to use their superior cavalry to decide the battle before the weaker hoplites could engage the superior Macedonian phalanx.
What happened?
Eager to win the battle with their Thessalian cavalry, the Greek horsemen charged the Macedonian cavalry on the wings and engaged them in furious hand-to-hand fighting. When the Greek cavalry began to gain the upper hand, Antipater led the Macedonian phalanx against the Greek hoplites, inflicting significant casualties on the Greeks. Being unable to withstand the superior weight and numbers of the Macedonian phalanx, the Greek hoplites retreated to higher ground and repulsed subsequent attacks by the Macedonians. Upon seeing the withdrawal of their infantry, the Greek cavalry broke off and retreated to join them on the high ground. Both sides then disengaged from the fighting, with Macedonian losses amounting to 130 killed and Greek losses at 500 killed.
What changed as a result?
The Battle of Crannon was a decisive Macedonian victory. In the aftermath of the battle, Athens surrendered and was occupied by a Macedonian garrison. Demosthenes committed suicide while his colleague Hyperides was captured and executed. It marked the end of the Classical Era in Greece and the beginning of the Hellenistic Era. Throughout the third and second centuries BCE, until their conquest by the Roman Republic in 146 BCE, the Greek city-states had to ally themselves with an outside power to stand any chance of a war against Macedon. As stated by Bob Bennett and Mike Roberts, “Never again would any Greek people or even a Greek coalition of cities, unaided, be able to take on the power at Pella. Crannon had finally buried any chance of revival by any of the mighty independent states of the Classical era” (Bennett & Roberts, 2009, p.39).
Bibliography
Bennett, Bob. & Roberts, Mike. The Wars of Alexander’s Successors 323-281 BC, Volume II: Battles and Tactics. Barnsley, Pen & Sword Military, 2009.
Kikobe. “Lamian War 323 BC-322 BC (Part 2/2) - Battle of Crannon 322 BC.” YouTube video, 10:16. September 6, 2020. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P6AETa7l4Q
Rickard, John. “Lamian or Hellenic War, 323-321 BC.” History of War. Last revised June 4, 2007. www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_lamian.html
Siculus, Diodorus. Library of History: Volume XVIII. Translated by Russel M. Geer. Cambridge, Loeb Classical Library, 1947.
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