Philopœmen

Family: Megalopolitan · Role: son of Craugis · First appears: Book 4 · Chapter 29

Philopœmen, son of Craugis, was still a boy when his father died; Cleander became his guardian, and Megalophanes and Ecdelus were among his tutors. He looked to Epaminondas as a model. When Cleomenes (son of Leonidas) captured Megalopolis, Philopœmen got two-thirds of its adults and all the women and children safely to Messene, then persuaded the exiled citizens to return armed rather than accept treaty terms. At Sellasia he fought for the infantry, was pierced through both thighs, and survived. He later refused Antigonus’s invitation to Macedonia, went to Crete, and became a mercenary captain.

On returning to Megalopolis, he was chosen commander of the Achæan cavalry and made it the best in Greece. At the river Larisus he killed Demophantus and routed the opposing cavalry; he also changed the Achæan infantry’s arms. At Mantinea he defeated the Lacedæmonian hoplites and killed Machanidas. Philip (son of Demetrius) sent assassins to kill him, but the attempt failed. Philopœmen fought Nabis at Messene and in a night attack, defeating him and raising his standing among the Greeks.

He compelled the Lacedæmonians to join the Achæan League, later shut Lacedæmon’s gates against advancing Roman and Achæan commanders, and altered the city’s institutions. After Manius departed, he allowed Lacedæmonian fugitives to return. Wounded and captured by the Messenians, Philopœmen was poisoned by Dinocrates despite popular demands to spare him. Lycortas later marched against Messene; those implicated in Philopœmen’s murder were put to death, and Dinocrates committed suicide. One account calls Philopœmen “the last” public benefactor of Greece.