Achaean League

The Achaean League was a significant historical confederation of Greek city-states that held political importance during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. The Greeks referred to themselves as "Achaean" based on their belief that they were the descendants of the mythological figure Achaeus, who was said to be the son of Poseidon. In the works of Homer, the term "Achaeans" is used as a general name for the Greeks who participated in the Trojan War.

Prior to the league's rise to prominence, there had been various associations of Achaean cities for centuries. However, the Achaean League gained prominence when it was organized under the leadership of Aratus of Sicyon, approximately between 250 and 225 BC.

During this time, the League became a real military force in the Peloponnesus, driving the Macedonians from Corinth and challenging Sparta, that had become active again after a long decline. Subsequent to Aratus, in 222 BC, the Achaeans had to enlist Macedonian aid against Spart, but it wasn't long before the Achaeans and the Aetolians (who made up another league) were allied with the Romans against Philip V of Macedonia. The Achaeans didn't side with Antiochus III and the Aetolians in the war against Rome (192-188 BC), but they did attempt to shake off the Roman yoke during the Third Punic War (149-146 BC). It was at the conclusion of this war that Corinth was destroyed and the Achaean League ceased to be of any importance.

At the height of its power, the Achaean League was a federation of city states. The citizens of the League participated in a popular assembly that had legislative and elective powers, though policy was often made by another body, the synod. This was a representative group in which each city state had only one vote. The federal council was composed of delegates from the member states; the number of delegates from each state was based upon the size of its population. Like the Aetolian League, the Achaean League had a general, a secretary, treasurer and minor officials, all elected by the assembly.

See Antigonids