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Onomarchus was a Phocian
general in the Third Sacred War, brother of
Philomelus and son of Theotimus. After his brother's death he became commander
of the Phocians and pursued a warmongering policy until his final defeat.
Onomarchus commanded a division of the Phocian army under his brother,
Philomelus, in the action at Tithorea, (Battle of
Neon) in which
Philomelus perished. After the battle Onomarchus gathered the remains of the
Phocian army and retreated to Delphi. An assembly of the people was held, in
which Onomarchus strongly urged the prosecution of the war — in opposition
to the counsels of the more moderate party. In the winter of 354 / 353, the
Phocians decided to make Onomarchus supreme commander, in place of Philomelus.
As far as the funding of his campaign was concerned, Onomarchus went a step
further than his brother and predecessor, who had 'borrowed' from the sacred
treasures of Delphi, keeping, however, scrupulous records. He actually
confiscated the property of all those states who were opposed to Phocis and
made full use of the accumulated wealth of the shrine. Using the treasures of
Delphi he was able to assemble and maintain a large body of mercenary troops,
in addition to bribing many of the hostile states, allowing him to influence
the Thessalians to abandon their allies and take up a neutral position. Thus,
disencumbered from his most dangerous antagonists, he was more than a match for
his remaining foes.
Onomarchus' campaigning began in 353. He invaded Locris, took the town of
Thronium, compelled Amphissa to surrender, ravaged the Dorian Tetrapolis, and
finally turned his arms against Boeotia — where he took and laid siege to
Chaeronea — but was compelled to retreat without effecting anything more.
Following the siege of Chaeronea, his assistance was requested by Lycophron, a
tyrant of Pherae who was being attacked by Philip II of Macedon. At first
Onomarchus sent his brother Phayllus into Thessaly with an army of 7000 men,
but they were defeated by Philip's armies. Onomarchus then marched with his
entire force to support Lycophron, defeated Philip in two successive battles,
and drove him out of Thessaly. Onomarchus then returned to Boeotia, whose
forces he defeated in a battle and took the city of Coroneia. He was recalled
once more to the assistance of Lycophron, against Philip, who had again invaded
Thessaly. Onomarchus hastened to support his ally with an infantry of 20,000
men and a cavalry of 500 (another source suggests 3000 horse. Philip, however,
outnumbered him: a pitched battle ensued, in which the superiority of the
Thessalian cavalry decided the victory in favour of Philip. Onomarchus was
defeated in the Battle of the Crocus Field. This battle was fought in c. 352
between the armies of Phocis, under Onomarchos, and the combined Thessalian and
Macedonian army under Philip II. The Phocians were decisively defeated by
Philip's forces. The details concerning Onomarchus' death in 352 vary in the
written sources. Reportedly, Onomarchus and many of the fugitives plunged into
the sea in the hope of swimming to the Athenian ships under Chares which were
lying off the shore.
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