Today's Passage
This passage describes a military campaign in 423 BCE during the Peloponnesian War's Archidamian phase.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Leaving these two towns to prepare together against the speedy arrival of the Athenians, Brasidas and Perdiccas started on a second joint expedition into Lyncus against Arrhabaeus; the latter with the forces of his Macedonian subjects, and a corps of heavy infantry composed of Hellenes domiciled in the country; the former with the Peloponnesians whom he still had with him and the Chalcidians, Acanthians, and the rest in such force as they were able. In all there were about three thousand Hellenic heavy infantry, accompanied by all the Macedonian cavalry with the Chalcidians, near one thousand strong, besides an immense crowd of barbarians. On entering the country of Arrhabaeus, they found the Lyncestians encamped awaiting them, and themselves took up a position opposite. The infantry on either side were upon a hill, with a plain between them, into which the horse of both armies first galloped down and engaged a cavalry action. After this the Lyncestian heavy infantry advanced from their hill to join their cavalry and offered battle; upon which Brasidas and Perdiccas also came down to meet them, and engaged and routed them with heavy loss; the survivors taking refuge upon the heights and there remaining inactive. The victors now set up a trophy and waited two or three days for the Illyrian mercenaries who were to join Perdiccas. Perdiccas then wished to go on and attack the villages of Arrhabaeus, and to sit still no longer; but Brasidas, afraid that the Athenians might sail up during his absence, and of something happening to Mende, and seeing besides that the Illyrians did not appear, far from seconding this wish was anxious to return.
Modern Translation
Having left these two cities to prepare jointly for the imminent arrival of the Athenians, Brasidas and Perdiccas embarked on their second combined campaign into Lyncus against Arrhabaeus. Perdiccas brought his Macedonian forces and a contingent of Greek hoplites who had settled in the region, while Brasidas led the Peloponnesians still under his command along with the Chalcidians, Acanthians, and other allies in whatever strength they could muster. Their combined Greek heavy infantry numbered approximately three thousand, supported by the entire Macedonian and Chalcidian cavalry—nearly a thousand horsemen—plus a vast multitude of non-Greek warriors. Upon entering Arrhabaeus's territory, they discovered the Lyncestians already positioned and waiting for them, so they established their own position facing the enemy. Both armies' infantry occupied opposing hills with a plain stretching between them. The cavalry forces from each side first charged down into this plain and clashed in mounted combat. Following this engagement, the Lyncestian hoplites descended from their hill to support their cavalry and presented themselves for battle. Brasidas and Perdiccas likewise advanced to meet them, engaging and decisively defeating them with considerable casualties; the survivors fled to the high ground where they remained defensively positioned. The victorious forces erected a trophy and spent two or three days awaiting the Illyrian mercenaries expected to reinforce Perdiccas. Perdiccas was then eager to advance and attack Arrhabaeus's settlements rather than remain idle, but Brasidas strongly opposed this plan. He feared the Athenians might arrive by sea in his absence and that Mende might be threatened. Moreover, noting the Illyrians' failure to appear, he was determined to return rather than pursue Perdiccas's objectives.
Historical Context
This passage describes a military campaign in 423 BCE during the Peloponnesian War's Archidamian phase. The Spartan general Brasidas, operating in northern Greece, has allied with the Macedonian king Perdiccas II for a campaign against Arrhabaeus, ruler of Lyncestis (a region in upper Macedonia). This represents their second joint expedition, following an earlier unsuccessful attempt. The campaign occurs while Brasidas is concerned about Athenian naval movements threatening his recent conquests in the Chalcidice, particularly the city of Mende. The passage illustrates the complex web of alliances and local conflicts that characterized warfare in the northern Aegean, where great power competition between Athens and Sparta intersected with regional disputes. The tension between Brasidas's strategic priorities (maintaining his Chalcidian gains) and Perdiccas's local ambitions (subduing Arrhabaeus) reveals the fragility of such expedient alliances.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Macedonian Military Organization
The passage reveals Macedonia's military structure in the 5th century BCE, combining native forces with Greek settler hoplites and cavalry. This mixed composition reflects Macedonia's position between the Greek and 'barbarian' worlds, foreshadowing the military reforms that would later make Macedonia dominant under Philip II.
Learn more →Brasidas's Northern Campaign
Brasidas's operations in Chalcidice and Macedonia (424-422 BCE) represented Sparta's most successful offensive of the Archidamian War. His diplomatic skills and military prowess won over numerous Athenian allies, fundamentally altering the war's strategic balance in the north.
Learn more →Greek-Barbarian Distinction
Thucydides's reference to an 'immense crowd of barbarians' reflects the Greek cultural distinction between Hellenes and non-Greeks. The Macedonians occupied an ambiguous position in this schema, being considered semi-barbarous by many Greeks despite their claimed Hellenic ancestry.
Learn more →Trophy (Tropaion)
The erection of a trophy after victory was a crucial Greek military custom. These monuments, typically constructed from captured arms and armor, marked the point where the enemy turned to flee and served both religious and psychological purposes in Greek warfare.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.68)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of Brasidas's campaigns in the north, though with less detail than Thucydides. His version emphasizes Brasidas's personal charisma in winning over Greek cities.
Read passage →Xenophon: Hellenica (5.2.11-25)
While describing later events, Xenophon illustrates similar dynamics of Spartan commanders operating far from home and managing complex local alliances, showing the continuity of these strategic challenges.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Lysander (16-17)
Plutarch's account of Lysander's later dealings with local dynasts echoes Brasidas's diplomatic challenges, showing how Spartan commanders had to balance local politics with broader strategic goals.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does this passage illustrate the challenges faced by Spartan commanders operating far from home without reliable communication or reinforcements?
- What does the composition of the opposing armies tell us about the nature of warfare and political organization in northern Greece during this period?
- How does Brasidas's reluctance to pursue Perdiccas's objectives reflect the tension between local and strategic goals in military alliances?
- What role does the distinction between 'Hellenes' and 'barbarians' play in Thucydides's presentation of this campaign?