Onomarchus
Onomarchus (
Commander of the Phocians
Onomarchus commanded a division of the Phocian army under his brother, Philomelus, in the action at Tithorea, in which Philomelus perished. After the battle Onomarchus gathered the remains of the Phocian army and retreated to Delphi. An assembly of the people was held, in which Onomarchus strongly urged the prosecution of the war—in opposition to the counsels of the more moderate party.
In the winter of 354 / 353 BC, the Phocians decided to make Onomarchus supreme commander,
Campaigning
Onomarchus' campaigning began in 353 BC.[1] He invaded
Following the siege of Chaeronea, his assistance was requested by Lycophron, a tyrant of Pherae who was being attacked by Philip II of Macedon. At first Onomarchus sent his brother Phayllus into Thessaly with an army of 7000 men, but they were defeated by Philip's armies. Onomarchus then marched with his entire force to support Lycophron, defeated Philip in two successive battles, and drove him out of Thessaly.
Onomarchus then returned to Boeotia, whose forces he defeated in a battle and took the city of
Defeat
Onomarchus was defeated in the Battle of the Crocus Field. This battle was fought in c. 352 BC between the armies of Phocis, under Onomarchos, and the combined Thessalian and Macedonian army under Philip II. The Phocians were decisively defeated by Philip's forces.[3][4]
Death
The details concerning Onomarchus' death in 352 BC vary in the written sources.[5] Reportedly, Onomarchus and many of the fugitives plunged into the sea in the hope of swimming to the Athenian ships under Chares which were lying off the shore. The Roman historian,
Onomarchus' body fell into the hands of Philip, who had it crucified as punishment for his sacrilege. Some sources relate that he also killed 3000 Phocian hostages as a punishment for the sacrilege they committed against the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi two years earlier.
References
- ^ ISBN 0520031776.
- ISBN 9781108075183. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
- ISBN 1134857330.
- ISBN 978-0199890002.
- ISBN 978-1405127752.
- ISBN 978-1597975681.
- ISBN 978-1118559338.
- ^ Anthon, Charles (1841). A Classical Dictionary: Containing ... Proper Names Mentioned in Ancient Authors, and Intended to Elucidate ... Points Connected with the Geography, History, Biography, Mythology and Fine Arts of the Greeks and Romans ... an Account of Coins, Weights and Measures. Harper & Bros.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Onomarchus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.