Corinthian Congress
The Corinthian Congress of 338/337 BCE was a gathering of Greek states convened by Philip II after his victory at Chaeronea. It established a Common Peace and the alliance usually called the Corinthian League. Sparta did not join.
The League secured Macedonian predominance without merging the poleis into one state. They retained their institutions and sent representatives to the federal council, the synedrion. Philip acted as hegemon, the leader of the alliance and its military operations.
Bust of Philip II of MacedonMembers undertook to keep the peace and refrain from attacking one another. The surviving oath forbids overthrowing the kingship of Philip and his descendants or the constitutions in force when the Peace was sworn. Royal authority therefore does appear in the League’s documents.
The League’s synedrion should not be confused with the Delphic Amphictyony: these were distinct bodies. The alliance also provided the framework for preparations against Persia under Philip; after his death Alexander assumed the leadership.
Silver tetradrachm of Philip II from the Archaeological Museum of ThessalonikiRelated topics
Literature and sources
- Frolov, E. D., The Corinthian Congress of 338/7 BC and the Unification of Hellas, in Borza, Yu. N., Istoriya antichnoi Makedonii (do Aleksandra Velikogo).
- St. Petersburg: Faculty of Philology of St. Petersburg State University; Nestor-Istoriya,2013-592 p —
- ISBN 978-5-8465-1367-9
- Kholod M. M. Shadow of the Heronean Lion: the assertion of Macedonian domination in Greece in 338 BC / / Problems of Ancient History. Collection of scientific articles dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Professor E. D. Frolov. Edited by A. Y. Dvornichenko, Doctor of Historical Sciences, St. Petersburg,2003. ISBN 5-288-03180-0
Interested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions.
