Siege of Lamia

The siege of Lamia occurred from 323 to 322 BC between the Macedonians led by Antipater and a coalition of armies mostly from central Greece led by Leosthenes.^[1] The siege gave its name to the Lamian War.

Siege of Lamia
Part of Lamian War
Date 323–322 BC Location Lamia Result Macedonian victory
Belligerents
Greek confederacy	Macedon
Commanders and leaders
Leosthenes †	Antipater
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Leosthenes

After Antipater was defeated at the Second Battle of Thermopylae, he shut himself in the city of Lamia. Leosthenes approached the city and with his army fortified a camp, dug up a deep ditch and constructed a palisade. Initially, Leosthenes would draw up his forces, and approach the city and directly challenge the Macedonians to battle. The Macedonians denied this challenge, prompting Leosthenes to launch daily attacks on the walls with his soldiers.^[2]

The Macedonians defended themselves from the daily attacks and were able to halt the Greeks' attacks, because of the abundance of missiles and protection from the walls. Since Leosthenes was unable to storm the city, he shut off all supplies entering the city, believing this would reduce the army because of hunger. He also built a wall and dug a deep, wide ditch, cutting off all escape routes for the Macedonians.^[2]

The Aetolians all returned to Aetolia, due to national business Leosthenes agreed, Antipater and his men exhausted due to the anticipation of famine. Antipater initiated an attack on the men digging the moat and a struggle occurred. Leosthenes in an attempt to aid his men, was struck in the head by a stone from a sling shot and so he fainted and was dragged to camp. He died three days later.^[3]

References

1. MacGregor, J.M. (2014). The Olynthiac Speeches of Demosthenes. Cambridge University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-107-62017-9. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
2. "LacusCurtius • Diodorus Siculus — Book XVIII Chapters 1‑25". penelope.uchicago.edu.
3. Green, P. (1993). Alexander to Actium: The Historical Evolution of the Hellenistic Age. A Centennial Book. University of California Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-520-08349-3. Retrieved 31 March 2019. Leosthenes was killed during the siege of Lamia by a sling stone from the walls.