Cultures > Acarnanian League

Acarnanian League

Origins and Early Structure

The Acarnanian League (Ancient Greek: τὸ κοινὸν τῶν Ἁκαρνάνων, to koinon tōn Akarnanōn) was a tribal confederation that later evolved into a fully-fledged federation (koinon) of the Acarnanians in Classical, Hellenistic, and early Roman-era Greece. The League existed since the 5th century BC, initially functioning as a loose confederation rather than a fully-integrated federation (sympoliteia). An assembly of representatives met at Stratos, empowered to negotiate treaties with other states, and a supreme court existed at Olpae (shared with the Amphilochians). The League had a common coinage and cult but lacked federal officials and a unified foreign policy. While the League sometimes acted on behalf of all its members, such as in alliances with Sparta in 390 BC and joining the Second Athenian League in 375/4 BCE, individual city-states often acted independently, as seen during the Third Sacred War.

Conflict and Reorganization

During the common struggle against Philip II of Macedon, the Acarnanians agreed to provide 2,000 hoplites, but only a few volunteers participated in the Battle of Chaeronea due to Philip's occupation of Ambracia. The leaders of the independence faction were banished, and the League joined the League of Corinth organized by Philip. The Aetolians seized Oiniadai from the League during Alexander the Great's Asian campaign. Following Alexander's death, the Acarnanians remained largely uninvolved in subsequent struggles, but in 314 BCE, Cassander reorganized the League on a truly federal basis, and Leucas joined soon after by evicting its Macedonian garrison.

Alliances and Conflicts

The League became a member of the Hellenic League organized by Demetrius Poliorcetes and later fell under the control of King Pyrrhus of Epirus. After Pyrrhus' death around 270 BCE, the Acarnanians and Aetolians settled their differences, agreeing on the Acheloos River as their mutual border and forming a perpetual alliance. This treaty outlined mutual military assistance and the rights of epigamia, citizenship, and property acquisition. The treaty lists seven strategoi from various cities, indicating the importance of Stratos at the time. However, soon after, the Aetolians allied with Pyrrhus' son, Alexander II of Epirus, invaded Acarnania, and divided the country between them.

Reconstitution and Later History

Following the extinction of the Aeacid dynasty in Epirus, the Acarnanian League was reconstituted in 230 BCE in the northern part of the country, with Leucas as its capital. Only Anaktorion, Palairos, Thyrreion, and Medion were members. Allied with the Illyrians, Macedonians, and the Achaean League during the Social War (220–217 BCE), the Acarnanians recovered Phoitia and Oiniadai. However, in the First Macedonian War (214–205 BCE) and the Second Macedonian War (200–197 BCE), Oiniadai was lost again, and the Acarnanians capitulated to the Roman Republic but were allowed to govern themselves.

Roman Influence and Final Incorporation

After the Roman–Seleucid War, Oiniadai was returned to the League. Despite their loyalty to Rome, the League lost Leucas after the Third Macedonian War (171–168 BCE), which became an autonomous state, but Thyrreion became a member. The Acarnanian League continued to exist even after Roman power was firmly established over Greece in 146 BCE. It was only after the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE that the League was incorporated into the Roman province of Achaea.

Arcarnanian League Settlements

Ancient Settlement	Latitude	Longitude	Year Founded	Estimated Population (Ancient)	Modern Location	Key Points
Stratos	38.8050	21.1361	c. 5th century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Near Agrinio, Greece	Capital of the Acarnanian League, important political and military center.
Leucas (Leucadia)	38.8333	20.7000	c. 8th century BC	5,000 - 10,000	Lefkada, Greece	Major city and port, important for trade and naval power.
Anactorium	38.9500	20.9333	c. 7th century BC	3,000 - 5,000	Near Vonitsa, Greece	Significant for its strategic location at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf.
Alyzia	38.7500	20.9333	c. 7th century BC	2,000 - 4,000	Near Kandila, Greece	Known for its temples and cultural significance.
Thyrreion	38.7500	20.8333	c. 7th century BC	2,000 - 4,000	Near Agios Nikolaos, Greece	Important military stronghold, played a role in various conflicts.
Oeniadae	38.4500	21.2667	c. 5th century BC	3,000 - 6,000	Near Katochi, Greece	Significant for its harbor and fortifications, played a key role in regional conflicts.
Palairos	38.7333	20.9167	c. 7th century BC	2,000 - 4,000	Palairos, Greece	Known for its strategic location and fortifications.
Medeon	38.8833	21.3167	c. 7th century BC	2,000 - 4,000	Near Katouna, Greece	Played a role in regional military and political affairs.
Limnaea	39.0000	21.0833	c. 5th century BC	2,000 - 4,000	Near Lake Amvrakia, Greece	Important for its defensive position and proximity to the lake.
Coronta	38.9000	21.1000	c. 5th century BC	2,000 - 4,000	Near Amfilochia, Greece	Known for its strategic location and fortifications.
Argos Amphilochicum	39.0000	21.1667	c. 5th century BC	3,000 - 5,000	Amfilochia, Greece	Significant for its role in regional politics and military conflicts.
Astacus	38.6167	21.0667	c. 7th century BC	3,000 - 5,000	Near Astakos, Greece	Important port city, played a role in trade and military activities.
Echinus	38.8500	21.3500	c. 5th century BC	2,000 - 4,000	Near Fyti, Greece	Known for its strategic location and defensive capabilities.

Sources

Schwahn, Walther (1931). "Sympoliteia". Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft. Band IV, Halbband 7, Stoa-Symposion. col. 1171–1266.