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Chaeronea, 338 B.C. This battle brought Philip hegemony over most of Greece. Having been defeated by the Greeks under Onomarchos, the Macedonians decide to have another go at it a decade and a half later. In 339 B.C. Philip sets off for central Greece. With the undeniable threat from Macedon thrust into their faces the Thebans and Athenians formed an alliance to stop Philip. The Greeks initially tried to stop the Macedonian advance by blocking the passes leading to Greece. Philip managed to force these passes and came into the Greek heartland with between 30-32,000 infantry and a little above 2,000 cavalry. The Greeks took up a strong defensive position between the Acropolis, which was on their left and a marsh on their right. As the Macedonians advanced towards the Greeks the Hypaspists, on the Macedonian right and under the command of Philip charged the Athenians on the Greek left. As the engagement developed the Macedonians withdrew. The Athenians mistook this retreat for a rout and surged forward creating a hole in the line in their excitement. This would prove to be a fatal mistake. Alexander, commanding the cavalry on the Macedonian left, charged through this gap. Turning his companion cavalry around he charged the Thebans on the right of the Greek line in their rear. The Macedonian light cavalry then charged into the right flank of the Thebans. Surrounded the Theban line broke. Only the Sacred Band would remain and 84% of them would be killed for their efforts, the remainder falling wounded. Philip is said to have wept at the destruction of this elite unit after the battle. With their right gone it was only a matter of time before the Athenians followed suit and when Philip returned to the attack that is exactly what happened. The Athenians broke and fled, leaving about 1000 dead and 2000 captured. Now little stood in the way of Macedonian hegemony over all of Greece. Location: Central Greece Warhammer Ancient Battles Order of Battle: Macedonians: Characters: Philip 18 Hypaspists Cavalry: 12 Companion Cavalry About 2300 pts Greeks Characters: Chares 50 Athenian Allied Hoplites Light Infantry: 20 Peltasts About 2250 pts
Notes: The Greek forces are not what one would expect to do with their hoplite army. The 50 strong Athenian hoplite Phalanx may seem like putting too many eggs in one basket but it is only a suggestion to get things to happen the way they actually did happen. The other oddity is the Sacred Band. While this unit should be smaller for the proper ratio to other troops to make it of the correct size would be to get rid of it in effective terms. Chaeronea would be no fun without the Sacred Band.
Bibliography: Alexander of Macedon by Peter Green
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