Margos First Sole Strategus
For the first twenty-five years of the league between the
cities I have mentioned, a secretary and two strategi for the whole
union were elected by each city in turn. But after this period
they determined to appoint one strategus only, note and put the entire
-- 139 --
management of the affairs of the union in his hands. note The
first to obtain this honour was Margos of Caryneia. In the fourth year after this man's tenure
of the office, Aratus of Sicyon caused his city to
join the league, which, by his energy and courage,
he had, when only twenty years of age, delivered from the yoke
of its tyrant. note In the eighth year again after
this, Aratus, being elected strategus for the
second time, laid a plot to seize the Acrocorinthus, then held
by Antigonus; and by his success freed the inhabitants of the
Peloponnese from a source of serious alarm: and having thus
liberated Corinth he caused it to join the league. note In his
same term of office he got Megara into his
hands, and caused it to join also. These events
occurred in the year before the decisive defeat
of the Carthaginians, in consequence of which
they evacuated Sicily and consented for the first time to pay
tribute to Rome.
Having made this remarkable progress in his design in so
short a time, Aratus continued thenceforth in the position of
leader-of the Achaean league, and in the consistent direction
of his whole policy to one single end; which was to expel
Macedonians from the Peloponnese, to depose the despots,
and to establish in each state the common freedom which
their ancestors had enjoyed before them. note So long, therefore,
as Antigonus Gonatas was alive, he maintained
a continual opposition to his interference, as well
as to the encroaching spirit of the Aetolians, and
in both cases with signal skill and success; although their
presumption and contempt for justice had risen to such a
pitch, that they had actually made a formal compact with each
other for the disruption of the Achaeans.
