Lydiadas of Megalopolis

Lydiadas of Megalopolis was an ancient Greek tyrant of his city Megalopolis in Arcadia. He came to power around the year 245 BC, but after ten years he decided to step down, leading his city to join the Achaean League. As a reward the Achaeans elected him to the post of strategos, that is (commanding general) of the League, for three terms in 234/33, 232/31 and 230/29 BC. In 227 BC he lost the elections against Aratus of Sicyon, but was chosen as hipparch, and in this position he fell at the gates of his city during a cavalry charge against the Spartan king Cleomenes III.

Probably a son of Eudamus from Caphyae,^[1] Lydiadas was raised as a citizen of Megalopolis. Almost nothing is known of the steps by which he rose to power, but the sources represent him as a man of an ambitious yet generous character, who was misled by false rhetorical arguments to believe that a monarchical government be the best for his fellow-citizens.^[2] So far as we are able to judge, his elevation appears to have taken place about the time that Antigonus Gonatas made himself master of Corinth (244 BC) ^[3] Pausanias mentions him as one of the commanders of the forces of Megalopolis at the battle of Mantineia (c. 249 BC) against the Spartans under Agis ^[4]

From his being associated on that occasion with another general, Leocydes, we may infer that he had not then established himself in the absolute power. If he came to power around 245 BC, he had held the position for power about ten years, when the progress of the Achaean League and the fame of its leader Aratus of Sicyon led him to form projects more worthy of his ambition. After the fall of the tyrant Aristippus of Argos, instead of waiting till he should be attacked in his turn, Lydiadas determined voluntarily to abdicate the sovereignty, and permit Megalopolis to join the Achaean League as a free state. This generous resolution was rewarded by the Achaeans by the election of Lydiades to the prestigious post of strategos or commander-in-chief of the confederacy the following year 233 BC.

His desire of fame, and wish to distinguish the year of his command by some brilliant exploit, led him to project an expedition against Sparta, which was, however, opposed by Aratus, who is said to have already begun to be jealous of his favour and reputation. Lydiades, indeed, threatened to prove a formidable rival; he quickly rose to such consideration in the league as to be deemed second only to Aratus himself, and notwithstanding the opposition of the latter, was elected strategos a second and third time, holding that important office alternately with Aratus. The most bitter enmity had by this time arisen between the two. Each strove to undermine the other in the popular estimation. But though Lydiades was unable to shake the long-established credit of Aratus, he himself maintained his ground, not withstanding the insidious attacks of his rival, and the suspicion that naturally attached to one who had formerly borne the name of tyrant.

In 227 BC the conduct of Aratus, in avoiding a battle with Cleomenes III of Sparta at Pallantium, gave Lydiades fresh cause to renew his attacks, but they were again unsuccessful, and he was unable to prevent the appointment of Aratus for the twelfth time to the office of strategos, in 226 BC. Lydiadas was elected hipparch and had to serve under the command of his rival. The two armies under Aratus and Cleomenes met at a short distance from Megalopolis, and though Aratus would not consent to bring on a general engagement, Lydiades, with the cavalry under his command, charged the right wing of the enemy and put them to the rout, but being led by his eagerness to pursue them too far, got entangled in some enclosures, where his troops suffered severely, and he himself fell, after a gallant resistance. His body was left on the field, but Cleomenes had the generosity to honour a fallen foe, and sent it back to Megalopolis, adorned with the insignia of royal dignity.^[5]

References

1. cf. Syll.3 504
2. Plutarch Aratus 30 ; Pausanias VIII 27,12.
3. Droysen, Hellenism, vol. II p. 372.
4. Pausanias VIII 10,6 and 10,10.
5. Polybius II 44,51 ; Plutarch Aratus 30, 35, 37, Cleomenes 6 ; Pausanias VIII 27,12-15.

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Lydiades (1)". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.