Today's Passage
This passage describes Sitalces' invasion of Macedonia in 429 BCE during the early years of the Peloponnesian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Assembling in Doberus, they prepared for descending from the heights upon Lower Macedonia, where the dominions of Perdiccas lay; for the Lyncestae, Elimiots, and other tribes more inland, though Macedonians by blood, and allies and dependants of their kindred, still have their own separate governments. The country on the sea coast, now called Macedonia, was first acquired by Alexander, the father of Perdiccas, and his ancestors, originally Temenids from Argos. This was effected by the expulsion from Pieria of the Pierians, who afterwards inhabited Phagres and other places under Mount Pangaeus, beyond the Strymon (indeed the country between Pangaeus and the sea is still called the Pierian Gulf); of the Bottiaeans, at present neighbours of the Chalcidians, from Bottia, and by the acquisition in Paeonia of a narrow strip along the river Axius extending to Pella and the sea; the district of Mygdonia, between the Axius and the Strymon, being also added by the expulsion of the Edonians. From Eordia also were driven the Eordians, most of whom perished, though a few of them still live round Physca, and the Almopians from Almopia. These Macedonians also conquered places belonging to the other tribes, which are still theirs—Anthemus, Crestonia, Bisaltia, and much of Macedonia proper. The whole is now called Macedonia, and at the time of the invasion of Sitalces, Perdiccas, Alexander’s son, was the reigning king.
These Macedonians, unable to take the field against so numerous an invader, shut themselves up in such strong places and fortresses as the country possessed. Of these there was no great number, most of those now found in the country having been erected subsequently by Archelaus, the son of Perdiccas, on his accession, who also cut straight roads, and otherwise put the kingdom on a better footing as regards horses, heavy infantry, and other war material than had been done by all the eight kings that preceded him. Advancing from Doberus, the Thracian host first invaded what had been once Philip’s government, and took Idomene by assault, Gortynia, Atalanta, and some other places by negotiation, these last coming over for love of Philip’s son, Amyntas, then with Sitalces. Laying siege to Europus, and failing to take it, he next advanced into the rest of Macedonia to the left of Pella and Cyrrhus, not proceeding beyond this into Bottiaea and Pieria, but staying to lay waste Mygdonia, Crestonia, and Anthemus.
The Macedonians never even thought of meeting him with infantry; but the Thracian host was, as opportunity offered, attacked by handfuls of their horse, which had been reinforced from their allies in the interior. Armed with cuirasses, and excellent horsemen, wherever these charged they overthrew all before them, but ran considerable risk in entangling themselves in the masses of the enemy, and so finally desisted from these efforts, deciding that they were not strong enough to venture against numbers so superior.
Modern Translation
Gathering at Doberus, they prepared to descend from the mountains into Lower Macedonia, which belonged to Perdiccas. The Lyncestians, Elimiots, and other inland tribes, though ethnically Macedonian and allied to their kinsmen as dependents, maintained their own independent governments. The coastal region now known as Macedonia was first conquered by Alexander, Perdiccas's father, and his predecessors, who were originally Temenids from Argos. They accomplished this by driving the Pierians from Pieria—these people later settled in Phagres and other areas below Mount Pangaeus, beyond the Strymon river (the region between Pangaeus and the sea is still called the Pierian Gulf). They also expelled the Bottiaeans from Bottia, who now live near the Chalcidians, and seized a narrow corridor in Paeonia along the Axius river stretching to Pella and the coast. They added the territory of Mygdonia, between the Axius and Strymon rivers, by expelling the Edonians. The Eordians were driven from Eordia—most died, though a few survivors still inhabit the area around Physca—and the Almopians were expelled from Almopia. These Macedonians also conquered territories belonging to other peoples, which they still control: Anthemus, Crestonia, Bisaltia, and much of Macedonia proper. All this territory is now collectively called Macedonia, and when Sitalces invaded, Alexander's son Perdiccas ruled as king.
Faced with such an overwhelming invasion force, the Macedonians could not risk open battle and instead retreated to whatever strongholds and fortified positions their land offered. These were relatively few, as most existing fortifications had been built later by Archelaus, Perdiccas's son, after his succession. Archelaus also constructed proper roads and strengthened the kingdom's military resources—cavalry, heavy infantry, and other war materials—more than all eight previous kings combined. Moving from Doberus, the Thracian army first invaded the former domain of Philip, capturing Idomene by storm while Gortynia, Atalanta, and several other towns surrendered through negotiation, switching sides out of loyalty to Philip's son Amyntas, who accompanied Sitalces. After unsuccessfully besieging Europus, the invaders advanced into Macedonia proper, west of Pella and Cyrrhus, but went no further into Bottiaea and Pieria, instead remaining to devastate Mygdonia, Crestonia, and Anthemus.
The Macedonians never considered engaging with their infantry. However, they harassed the Thracian host whenever possible with cavalry units, reinforced by their inland allies. These horsemen, wearing breastplates and skilled riders, routed everyone in their path when they charged, but risked becoming trapped in the enemy's superior numbers. Eventually they abandoned these tactics, recognizing they lacked sufficient strength to challenge such overwhelming forces.
Historical Context
This passage describes Sitalces' invasion of Macedonia in 429 BCE during the early years of the Peloponnesian War. Sitalces, king of the Odrysian Thracians and an Athenian ally, led a massive army against Perdiccas II of Macedonia, who had switched sides between Athens and Sparta. The text provides crucial geographical and historical background about Macedonia's formation under the Argead dynasty, detailing how Alexander I and his ancestors conquered various territories to create the Macedonian kingdom. Thucydides emphasizes Macedonia's military weakness compared to Thrace's numerical superiority, forcing the Macedonians to adopt defensive strategies and guerrilla cavalry tactics rather than direct confrontation.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Macedonian Geography
Thucydides provides detailed geographical information about Macedonia's expansion from its original highland core. The distinction between Upper Macedonia (independent allied tribes) and Lower Macedonia (directly ruled coastal territories) reflects the kingdom's federal structure and gradual territorial consolidation.
Learn more →Argead Dynasty
The ruling house of Macedonia claimed descent from Temenus of Argos, establishing Greek credentials crucial for Macedonian legitimacy. Alexander I (r. 498-454 BCE) significantly expanded the kingdom, while his grandson Archelaus (r. 413-399 BCE) later modernized its infrastructure and military.
Learn more →Thracian Military Power
The Odrysian kingdom under Sitalces represented the largest territorial state in Europe at this time. Their massive armies, while lacking sophisticated organization, could devastate regions through sheer numbers, making them valuable but unpredictable allies in Greek conflicts.
Learn more →Cavalry Warfare
Macedonian cavalry, equipped with cuirasses (breastplates), represented an elite force that would later become legendary under Philip II and Alexander the Great. Their hit-and-run tactics against Thracian infantry demonstrate early development of combined arms warfare.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Herodotus: Histories (Book 5.17-22)
Herodotus describes Alexander I of Macedonia's relationship with Persia and his role in expanding Macedonian territory, providing background to the kingdom Thucydides describes.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.50)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of Sitalces' invasion of Macedonia, offering additional details about the campaign's scope and the size of the Thracian forces involved.
Read passage →Strabo: Geography (Book 7, fragments)
Strabo describes the geography and peoples of Macedonia and Thrace, providing context for understanding the territorial changes and tribal movements Thucydides mentions.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Thucydides' detailed geographical description serve his historical narrative? What does it tell us about his intended audience and historical method?
- Compare the Macedonian defensive strategy with other examples of asymmetric warfare in Thucydides. What factors determine when weaker powers can successfully resist stronger ones?
- What does this passage reveal about the nature of political authority in ancient Macedonia? How does the relationship between the king and the highland tribes compare to Greek political structures?
- How might this early description of Macedonian weakness make later Macedonian dominance under Philip II and Alexander the Great more remarkable?