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The Battle of Coronea (also known as the First Battle of Coronea) took
place between the Athenian-led Delian League and the Boeotian League in 447
during the First
Peloponnesian War. In 457 the Athenians had taken control of Boeotia at the
Battle of Oenophyta, and
spent the next ten years attempting to consolidate the League's power. In 454
Athens lost a fleet attempting to aid an Egyptian revolt against Persia;
fearing revolts by the other members of the Delian League, Athens
moved the treasury to their city from Delos in 453, and signed the Peace of Callias
with Persia around 450. The Delian League was essentially an Athenian
empire, and while Athens was usually successful at holding their possessions in
the Aegean Sea, they were less successful on land. By 447 some of the men
exiled from Boeotia after the Athenian victory there in 457 had returned home
and began to take back some of the Boeotian towns. The Athenians under
Tolmides, with 1,000
hoplites plus other troops from their allies, marched into Boeotia to take back
the recaptured towns. They captured Chaeronea, but were attacked and defeated
by the Boeotians at Coronea. The Athenians were forced to give up control of
Boeotia. Boeotia was allowed to leave the Delian League in return for allowing
the Athenians to leave Boeotia safely. The defeat led to revolts on Euboea and
in Megara, which in turn led to further conflict with Sparta, contributing to
the Peloponnesian War.
Opponents:
Boeotian city-states versus Delian League
Commanders and leaders
Boeotians - Sparton
Athenians -Tolmides †
Strength:
Athenians - Unknown
Boeotians - 1000 hoplites, others?
Casualties and losses: Unknown - Unknown
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