League of Corinth

Quick Facts: Who was League of Corinth?

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League of Corinth

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A pivotal Greek federation unifying city-states under Macedonian hegemony against Persia.

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Origins & Early Life

The League of Corinth, also referred to as the Hellenic League (Greek: κοινὸν τῶν Ἑλλήνων, koinòn tõn Hellḗnōn; or simply οἱ Ἕλληνες, the Héllēnes), was a federation of Greek states created by Philip II of Macedon in 338–337 BC. The League was created in order to unify Greek military forces under Macedonian hegemony (leadership) in a pan-Hellenic expedition against the Persian Achaemenid Empire. King Philip was initially urged by Isocrates in 346 BC to unify Greece against the Persians. After the Battle of Chaeronea, the League of Corinth was formed and controlled by Philip. Alexander the Great utilized his father's league when planning his pan-Hellenic invasion of Asia to expand Macedon and take revenge on the Persian Empire.

Career & Major Achievements

During the Hellenistic period, some Antigonid rulers of Macedon shortly revived the league, also known as the 'Hellenic Alliance'. The title 'League of Corinth' was invented by modern historians because the first council of the League took place in Corinth, though the Greek word synedrion is better translated as congress. The adjective Hellenic derives from Hellenikos meaning "pertaining to Greece and Greeks". The League was the first time in history that the Greek city-states (except Sparta, who by then was deprived of Messenia and long since in terminal decline as a military power) would unify under a single political entity. From the mid-fourth century BC, the system of city-states (poleis) was gradually challenged by the ideas of pan-Hellenic unity, forwarded by some writers and orators, including Isocrates, who urged king Philip (in Isocrates' Philippus oration) to unify Greek powers against the Persians.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Pan-Hellenic unity was only achieved with the rise of Macedon. Following his victory at the Battle of Chaeronea (337 BC), Philip was able to impose a settlement upon southern Greece, which all states accepted, with the exception of Sparta. Philip had no intention of besieging any city, nor indeed of conquering it, but rather he wanted the southern Greeks as his allies for his planned campaign against the Persians. In the months after the battle, he moved around Greece making peace with the states that opposed him, dealing with the Spartans, and installing garrisons. In mid 337 BC, he seems to have camped near Corinth and began the work to establish a league of the city-states, which would guarantee peace in Greece and provide Philip with military assistance against Persia.

Notable Quotes by League of Corinth

“I will neither break the agreement with Philip, nor take up arms on land or sea, harming any of those abiding by the oaths.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: League of Corinth

True or False: “The title 'League of Corinth' was originally bestowed upon the league because all its major decisions were made in the city of Corinth.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Modern historians invented the title because the first council meeting took place in Corinth; the original Greek term for such a gathering is better translated as congress.

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