Cleonnis
Family: Messenian · Role: chief commander · First appears: Book 4 · Chapter 7
In Book 4, Chapter 7, Euphaes appointed Cleonnis to the chief command of the Messenians, who faced the Lacedæmonians in battle. Cleonnis commanded the centre against Euryleon’s forces; their fighting remained even until night ended the contest. The following day, both sides agreed to bury their dead.
In Chapter 10, Cleonnis and Damis were rivals with Aristodemus and were considered superior to him in war and other respects. Aristodemus was elected king over them, though he held Cleonnis and Damis in special honour. In the fifth year of Aristodemus’ reign, he appointed Cleonnis to command the troops near Ithome; after prolonged fighting and harassment by Messenian light-armed troops, the Lacedæmonians broke ranks. In Chapter 13, Damis selected Cleonnis and Phyleus as coadjutors for the campaign.
Relationship record
Life events
- The fighting between Euryleon’s and Cleonnis’ forces ends when night falls.(Book 4 · Chapter 8)
- With: Euryleon
- “And in the centre on both sides, the Lacedæmonians under Euryleon, and the Messenians under Cleonnis, the fight was pretty equal, till the approach of night put an end to the contest.”
- Both sides agree to bury their dead and immediately begin the burials.(Book 4 · Chapter 8)
- With: Euphaes Polydorus (son of Alcamenes) Euryleon
- “And on the following day neither party were minded to renew the battle nor to erect a trophy of victory, but as the day wore on they sent out heralds to treat of the burying of their dead, and as this was agreed to on both sides, they began to bury their dead immediately.”
- Aristodemus is elected king over Cleonnis and Damis.(Book 4 · Chapter 10)
- With: Damis Aristodemus (king of Messenia)
- “Nevertheless Aristodemus was elected and became king.”
- Aristodemus appointed Cleonnis to command the troops positioned near Ithome.(Book 4 · Chapter 11 · 📍 Ithome)
- With: Aristodemus (king of Messenia)
- “And he appointed Cleonnis to the command here”
- The Lacedæmonians broke ranks after prolonged fighting and harassment by the Messenian forces.(Book 4 · Chapter 11)
- With: Aristodemus (king of Messenia) Damis
- “And eventually the Lacedæmonians, spent with the length of the battle and their wounds, and at the same time harassed beyond measure by the light-armed troops, broke their ranks.”
- Damis selected Cleonnis and Phyleus as coadjutors for the campaign.(Book 4 · Chapter 13)
Book 4 · Chapter 7
- with Euphaes (Euphaes appointed Cleonnis chief commander.) “Euphaes drew up the Messenians in battle array, having appointed Cleonnis to the chief command”
- enemies with Euryleon (Euryleon and Cleonnis commanded opposing centres.) “And opposite the right wing of the Lacedæmonians were the Messenians under Antander and Euphaes, and on the wing opposite Polydorus under Pytharatus, and in the centre under Cleonnis”
Book 4 · Chapter 8
- enemies with Euryleon “And in the centre on both sides, the Lacedæmonians under Euryleon, and the Messenians under Cleonnis, the fight was pretty equal, till the approach of night put an end to the contest.”
Book 4 · Chapter 10
- rivals with Aristodemus (king of Messenia) “And Cleonnis and Damis were rival competitors with Aristodemus, being considered superior to him both in other respects and in war.”
- with Aristodemus (king of Messenia) (Aristodemus especially honoured Cleonnis.) “and of those in authority he held Cleonnis and Damis in special honour.”
Book 4 · Chapter 11
- with Aristodemus (king of Messenia) (Aristodemus appointed Cleonnis to command the troops there.) “And he appointed Cleonnis to the command here”
Book 4 · Chapter 13
- with Damis (Damis selected Cleonnis as a coadjutor.) “And he, having selected Cleonnis and Phyleus as his coadjutors, made preparations for the campaign according to his best ability under the circumstances:”
- with Phyleus (Cleonnis and Phyleus served together as coadjutors.) “And he, having selected Cleonnis and Phyleus as his coadjutors, made preparations for the campaign according to his best ability under the circumstances”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.