| |
The Siege of Lamia occured in 322 between
the Macedonians led by Antipater and a coalition of
armies mostly from central Greece led by Leosthenes. After Antipater was defeated at the
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.
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. 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, he fainted and was dragged to camp and in three
days' time he died.
|
|
