Cynoscephalae (197 BC)

Victory in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) established Rome as the dominant power in the Western Mediterranean. Since Philip V of Macedon had allied with Hannibal during that war, Rome had a score to settle. Rome used complaints from …

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Victory in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) established Rome as the dominant power in the Western Mediterranean. Since Philip V of Macedon had allied with Hannibal during that war, Rome had a score to settle. Rome used complaints from Rhodes and Pergamum about Macedonian aggression as a pretext to invade. The Senate sent Flamininus with two legions and some Greek allies for a showdown with Philip in 197 BC. This would be the first contest between the Roman legion and a true Macedonian phalanx (Pyrrhus’ phalanx had been composed of Epirotes, and Hannibal’s of many nationalities). The two armies were nearly identical in size, with around 23,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry each. The battle would be won by the superior tactical system, not weight of numbers. Still, the hilly Greek terrain at Cynoscephalae did favor the legion. The two armies were marching on opposite sides of a ridgeline and met unexpectedly in the early morning mist. A skirmish began between light troops, and Philip decided to commit his entire army. Philip took command of the right wing and successfully attacked the Roman left. Flaminius seized the initiative and launched an attack spearheaded by elephants on the left flank phalanx, breaking it before it was fully deployed. Each army’s right wing was now victorious. An unknown Roman tribune, ‘seeing what ought to be done’ detached some maniples from the Roman right to strike the flank of the victorious Macedonian right wing phalanx. Philip’s pha- Cynoscephalae – 197 BC lanx was shattered in a textbook example of flexibility versus rigidity. Philip's hopes to unite the Greeks under Macedonian hegemony ended with his defeat.

Thessaly, Greece

The Battle of Cynoscephalae was an encounter battle fought in Thessaly in 197 BC between the Roman army, led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus, and the Antigonid dynasty of Macedon, led by Philip V.

Wikipedia: Battle of Cynoscephalae

Macedonian

Roman

Second Macedonian War