Onomarchus

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Onomarchus (

Phocians in the Third Sacred War, brother of Philomelus
and son of Theotimus. After his brother's death he became commander of the Phocians and pursued a warmongering policy until his final defeat.

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,

Thessalians
to abandon their allies and take up a neutral position. Thus, disencumbered from his most dangerous antagonists, he was more than a match for his remaining foes.

Campaigning

Onomarchus' campaigning began in 353 BC.[1] He invaded

Amphissa to surrender, ravaged the Dorian Tetrapolis, and finally turned his arms against Boeotia, where he took Orchomenus and laid siege to Chaeronea
, but was compelled to retreat without effecting anything more.

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

Thessalian cavalry
decided the victory in favour of Philip.

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,

Pausanias
states that he died from the darts of his own soldiers.

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