In 338 B.C. the liberty of the old Greek city-states was blasted at Chaeronea in
Boeotia by the victory of Philip of Macedon. This battle implied the passing of the Greek
system of city-states and the substitution of large military monarchies.
Library of History, Book XVI, Chap. 14:
In the year Charondas was first archon in Athens, Philip, King of Macedon, being
already in alliance with many of the Greeks, made it his chief business to subdue the
Athenians, and thereby with more ease control all Hellas. To this end he presently seized
Elateia [a Phocian town commanding the mountain passes southward], in order to fall on the
Athenians, imagining to overcome them with ease; since he conceived they were not at all
ready for war, having so lately made peace with him. Upon the taking of Elateia,
messengers hastened by night to Athens, informing the Athenians that the place was taken,
and Philip was leading on his men in full force to invade Attica.
The Athenian magistrates in alarm had the trumpeters sound their warning all night, and
the rumor spread with terrifying effect all through the city. At daybreak the people
without waiting the usual call of the magistrate rushed to the assembly place. Thither
came the officials with the messenger; and when they had announced their business, fear
and silence filled the place, and none of the customary speakers had heart to say a word.
Although the herald called on everybody "to declare their minds"---as to what
was to be done, yet none appeared; the people, therefore, in great terror cast their eyes
on Demosthenes, who now arose, and bade them to be courageous, and forthwith to send
envoys to Thebes to treat with the Boeotians to join in the defense of the common liberty;
for there was no time (he said) to send an embassy for aid elsewhere, since Philip would
probably invade Attica within two days, and seeing he must march through Boeotia, the only
aid was to be looked for there.
The people approved of his advice, and a decree was voted that such an embassy should
be sent. As the most eloquent man for the task, Demosthenes was pitched upon, and
forthwith he hastened away [to Thebes. ---Despite past hostilities between Athens and
Thebes, and the counter-arguments of Philip's envoys, Demosthenes persuaded Thebes and her
Boeotian cities that their liberty as well as that of Athens was really at stake, and to
join arms with the Athenians.] . . .When Philip could not prevail on the Boeotians to join
him, he resolved to fight them both. To this end, after waiting for reinforcements, he
invaded Boeotia with about thirty thousand foot and two thousand horse. . . .
Both armies were now ready to engage; they were equal indeed in courage and personal
valor, but in numbers and military experience a great advantage lay with the king. For he
had fought many battles, gained most of them, and so learned much about war, but the best
Athenian generals were now dead, and Chares---the chief of them still remaining---differed
but little from a common hoplite in all that pertained to true generalship. About sunrise
[at Chaeronea in Boeotia] the two armies arrayed themselves for battle. The king ordered
his son Alexander, who had just become of age, yet already was giving clear signs of his
martial spirit, to lead one wing, though joined to him were some of the best of his
generals. Philip himself, with a picked corps, led the other wing, and arranged the
various brigades at such posts as the occasion demanded. The Athenians drew up their army,
leaving one part to the Boeotians, and leading the rest themselves.
At length the hosts engaged, and the battle was fierce and bloody. It continued long
with fearful slaughter, but victory was uncertain, until Alexander, anxious to give his
father proof of his valor---and followed by a courageous band---was the first to break
through the main body of the enemy, directly opposing him, slaying many; and bore down all
before him---and his men, pressing on closely, cut to pieces the lines of the enemy; and
after the ground had been piled with the dead, put the wing resisting him in flight. The
king, too, at the head of his corps, fought with no less boldness and fury, that the glory
of victory might not be attributed to his son. He forced the enemy resisting him also to
give ground, and at length completely routed them, and so was the chief instrument of the
victory.
Over one thousand Athenians fell, and two thousand were made prisoners. A great number
of Boeotians, too, perished, and many more were captured by the enemy. . .
[After some boastful conduct by the king, thanks to the influence of Demades, an
Athenian orator who had been captured], Philip sent ambassadors to Athens and renewed the
peace with her [on very tolerable terms, leaving her most of her local liberties]. He also
made peace with the Boeotians, but placed a garrison in Thebes. Having thus struck terror
into the leading Greek states, he made it his chief effort to be chosen generalissimo of
Greece. It being noised abroad that he would make war upon the Persians, on behalf of the
Greeks, in order to avenge the impieties committed by them against the Greek gods, he
presently won public favor over to his side throughout Greece. He was very liberal and
courteous, also, to both private citizens and communities, and proclaimed to the cities
that he wished to consult with them as to the common good.' Whereupon a general council
[of the Greek cities] was convened at Corinth, where he declared his design of making war
on the Persians, and the reasons he hoped for success; and therefore desired the Council
to join him as allies in the war. At length he was created general of all Greece, with
absolute power, and having made mighty preparations and assigned the contingents to be
sent by each city, he returned to Macedonia [where, soon after, he was murdered by
Pausanius, a private enemy].
