Heraclea in Trachis
Encyclopedia
Heraclea in Trachis, also called Heraclea Trachinia, was a colony founded by the Lacedaemonians in the sixth year of the Peloponnesian War
in 426 B.C. It was located four miles west of Thermopylae
, and about 2 miles south of the Malian Gulf
. The object of this colony was to assist the Trachinians, [a tribe of the Malians], in their struggle against the Oetaeans. Thucydides
also tells us that the Sparta
ns thought the town would "lie conveniently for the purposes of the war with Athens
." From Heraclea the Spartans could ready a fleet to annoy Euboea
, and the town would be "a useful station on the road to Thrace
." Accordingly the Spartans sent Leon
, Alcidas
, and Damagon to found the town, and invited any other Dorians that wished to come and settle.
However, soon after the town was founded, things began to go quite badly. The Thessalians, fearful that the new colony would grow powerful and begin to usurp their influence in the area, began to make continuous sorties upon the settlement. This, combined with the harsh and unjust rule of the Spartan governors, soon depleted the town of inhabitants, and discouraged others from joining.
Six years after its founding a battle took place between the inhabitants of Heraclea and the assembled forces of the Aenianes, Dolopes, Malians, and Thessalians who were directly menaced by the colony. The Heracleots were defeated, and the town so reduced that the Boeotians occupied it to prevent it falling into Athenian hands. However, Thucydides tells us that the Lacedaemonians were "nevertheless offended at the Boeotians for what they had done."
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
in 426 B.C. It was located four miles west of Thermopylae
Thermopylae
Thermopylae is a location in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. "Hot gates" is also "the place of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades"....
, and about 2 miles south of the Malian Gulf
Malian Gulf
The Malian or Maliac Gulf is a gulf of the Aegean Sea in the region of Phthiotis in eastern Central Greece. The gulf is named after the ancient Malians who lived on its shores....
. The object of this colony was to assist the Trachinians, [a tribe of the Malians], in their struggle against the Oetaeans. Thucydides
Thucydides
Thucydides was a Greek historian and author from Alimos. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC...
also tells us that the Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
ns thought the town would "lie conveniently for the purposes of the war with Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
." From Heraclea the Spartans could ready a fleet to annoy Euboea
Euboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
, and the town would be "a useful station on the road to Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
." Accordingly the Spartans sent Leon
Leon (king of Sparta)
Leon , was King of Sparta from 590 to 560 BC."Leon" means lion. He was the son of Eurycratides and like him was mentioned in the seventh book of The Histories by Herodotus. He is said to have, like his father, fought to a draw with the Tegeans.He was succeeded on the throne by Anaxandridas II,...
, Alcidas
Alcidas
Alcidas was a Spartan admiral who was first appointed to lead 40 allied ships in the Spartan expedition to Mytilene in 427 BC. This was part of a double movement meant to hinder the Athenians from sending help to Lesbos, the other part being an allied invasion of Attica...
, and Damagon to found the town, and invited any other Dorians that wished to come and settle.
However, soon after the town was founded, things began to go quite badly. The Thessalians, fearful that the new colony would grow powerful and begin to usurp their influence in the area, began to make continuous sorties upon the settlement. This, combined with the harsh and unjust rule of the Spartan governors, soon depleted the town of inhabitants, and discouraged others from joining.
Six years after its founding a battle took place between the inhabitants of Heraclea and the assembled forces of the Aenianes, Dolopes, Malians, and Thessalians who were directly menaced by the colony. The Heracleots were defeated, and the town so reduced that the Boeotians occupied it to prevent it falling into Athenian hands. However, Thucydides tells us that the Lacedaemonians were "nevertheless offended at the Boeotians for what they had done."