Battle of Corinth (146 BC)

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The Battle of Corinth was a battle by the Roman Republic in 146 BC, that resulted in the complete and total destruction of the Greek state famous for its fabulous wealth.

[edit] Overview

The roman consul Mummius, with 23,000 infantry and 3,500 cavalry (probably two legions plus Italian allies) with Cretans and Pergamenes, advanced into the Peloponnese against the revolutionary government of the Achaean League. The Achaean general Diaios camped at Corinth with 14,000 infantry and 600 cavalry (plus probably some survivors of another army beaten earlier). The Achaeans made a succesful night attack on the camp of the Roman advance guard, inflicting heavy casualties. Encouraged by this success they offered battle the next day but their cavalry, heavily outnumbered, did not wait to receive the Roman cavalry charge but fled at once. The Achaean infantry however held the legions until a picked force of 1000 Roman infantry charged their flank and broke them. Some Achaians took refuge in Corinth, but no defense was organized because Diaios fled to Arkadia, and Corinth was sacked with unusual thouroughness by the Romans.

While there is archeological evidence of some minimal habitation in the years afterwards, Julius Caesar refounded the city as Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis in 44 BC shortly before his assassination.

With Greece under Rome's control, a new chapter was added to Rome's history called the Greco-Roman Era.