Chaeronea

From Jatland Wiki

Chaeronea is a village and a former municipality in Boeotia, Greece.

Location

It is located about 80 kilometers east of Delphi. It is located by the mountain Thourion and in the Kifisós river valley, NW of Thebes.

Variants of name

Jat clans

History

First settled in the Prehistoric period at the site now known as Magoula Balomenou (Μαγούλα Μπαλωμένου), its older name was Arne, and it was originally on the shore of Lake Copais (later drained). Chaeronea was subject to Orchomenus which was, beginning in 600 BCE, a member of the Boeotian League. In the late 5th century BCE, Chaironeia belonged to one of the 11 Boeotian districts along with Acraephnium and Copia.

Chaeronea was the site of several historical battles. Best known is that of 338 BCE, between Philip II of Macedon and a coalition of various Greek states, mainly Thebes and Athens. During the battle, the elite unit of Theban soldiers known as the Sacred Band of Thebes was wiped out completely.[1] The ancient biographer and essayist Plutarch was born in Chaeronea, and several times refers to these and other facts about his native place in his writings.

After capturing Chaeronea in 447 BCE the Athenians were attacked and defeated in the same year by the Boeotians at the Battle of Coronea.


In 146 BCE the Roman general Matellus defeated a unit of 1,000 Arkadians.

In 86 BCE, Archelaus and Taxilos, generals of Mithridates VI of Pontus, landed in Boeotia. They were met by the Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla near Chaeronea and in the ensuing battle the Mithridatics were defeated and retreated to Chalcis.[2]

Battle between Catalans and Franks in March 15, 1311. The Catalan Company defeated the Franks and took control of great part of Greece. Turks participated with the side of Catalans. The battle is described by Ramon Muntaner, a Catalan soldier.

Battle between Greeks and Turks in 1823 and 1825 during the Greek Revolution (1821-1828).

Funerary relief for Athenian footman Pancahres, likely fell at the battle of Chaeronea.

The site of the Theban mass grave was excavated in 1879-80 by P. Stamatakis, and the prehistoric site of Magoula Balamenou 23 years later by the archaeologist G. Soteriadis.

References