[The following takes place during the Battle of Sellasia, during the Cleomenean War of 229/228-222 BCE. Context of the battle, courtesy of Wikipedia: “The Battle of Sellasia took place during the summer of 222 BC between Macedon and the Achaean League, led by Antigonus III Doson, and Sparta under the command of King Cleomenes III. The battle was fought at Sellasia on the northern frontier of Laconia and ended in a Macedonian-Achaean victory.”]
When the moment for the assault arrived, the Illyrians were given their signal, the officers passed the word to the men to do their duty, and all the Illyrians at once sprang into view of the enemy and launched their attack on the hill. At this point the light-armed mercenaries who had been stationed in the valley to support the Spartan cavalry noticed that the Achaean units were not covered by any troops behind them, and so they launched a charge from the rear.
This move threatened the whole of Antigonus’ right wing, which was pressing the attack up the hill of Evas, since they were facing Eucleidas’ troops above them and were being strongly attacked by the mercenaries from behind and below. At this critical moment Philopoemen of Megalopolis saw what was happening, and at the same time what was likely to happen.
At first he tried to point out the danger to the senior commanders, but as he was still quite a young man, and had never before held a command, nobody took any notice of him. Finally he called upon his fellow-citizens to rally round him and boldly charged the Spartan cavalry. His action quickly created a diversion. The mercenaries, who had been harassing the rear of the troops advancing up Evas, heard the commotion and, seeing that their own cavalry were engaged, broke off their action and ran back to their original positions to support the cavalry. Meanwhile the Illyrians and Macedonians and the rest of the assault force found themselves freed from the threat to their rear, and hurled themselves with fresh courage upon the enemy.
And so, as became clear afterwards, it was Philopoemen’s action which was principally responsible for the success of the attack on Eucleidas’ position.
The story goes that after the battle Antigonus, who was disposed to chaff Alexander, the commander of the cavalry, asked him why he had ordered an attack before the signal had been given. Alexander denied the accusation and retorted that the attack had been begun by a boy from Megalopolis who had acted against his orders.
The King’s reply was that the boy had grasped the situation and acted like a good general; it was Alexander, the so-called general, who had acted like a boy.
Source:
Polybius, et al. “Events in Greece.” The Rise of the Roman Empire. Penguin, 2003. 175. Print.
Further Reading:
Antigonus III Doson (Greek: Ἀντίγονος Γ΄ Δώσων)
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