A C H 



by Polybius ar.d Livj-, the luprcme mi^^illrates of the 

 Achscans. Their number was ten ; they woe chofen by 

 the general afTembly, and their ofRce w-as to aflill the prae- 

 tor, who was not allowed to - propofe any meal'ure to the 

 ancmbly, which had not been prcvioully approved of by 

 the majority of th'.fe demiurgi. In fome extraordinary 

 cafes they were allowed to fummon the general afTenibly. 

 Such was the fundamental conflitution of the Aehxans ; 

 and they had alfo ftveiallaws, whicli wore relipiouny obferved 

 as long as the republic continued in a (louriihing condition. 

 Their peace and profperity, however, were interrupted by 

 the jealoufy of neighbouring ftates ; and particularly by the 

 Lacedaemonians, who, about the year before Chrift 227^ 

 commenced a war againil them, which, from the name of 

 C'.eomcncs their king, was called the Cleomenic ■tt'.'?.-. 

 The Achxanj, under the command of Aratus, were fuc- 

 ceflively defeated, and reduced t<_ fuch a Hate of diftrcfs, as 

 to be under a neceflity of engaging Antigonus, king of 

 Macedon, to affiil them. In a variety of fubfequent con- 

 tefts, the AchTan; behaved with uncommon bravery, and 

 Philopoemen diftinguilhed himfelf above the reft. Clco- 

 menes was defeated ; and Anligonus received the thanks of 

 the deputies of each city comprehended under the Achian 

 league ; and, by a decree of the council afTembled at Argos, 

 was declared proteclor of Achaia. The Aehxans after- 

 wards took part with the Meffenians againft the iEtolians ; 

 and being overpowered by them, recuiTed to Philip of 

 Miccdon, who promifed to aflill; them with the whole force 

 of his kingdom. A confederacy was formed, and war, called 

 from this icircum.flance the confederate war, was proclaimed 

 againft the common enemy. This war having terminated 

 firft in a treaty between Philip and the Achaeans on one fide, 

 and the ^Etohans, Lacedaemonians, and Eleans, on the 

 other, and foon after in a peace ; the Aehxans returned to 

 their ancient manner of hfe, rebuilt their cities, temples, and 

 altars, reftored their worlhip, and repaired the various 

 damages which they had fuftained during the progrefs of 

 the war. Philip, however, foon changed his conduft to- 

 wards the Achxrins, and diilurbL-d that tranquillity which he 

 had been the inftrument of eftabliliiing. As they refufed 

 to concur with him in his purpofe of fubjefting the Mefleni- 

 ars, who were members of the Achsean body, he afcribed 

 their rehictance io Aratu'?, whom he contrived to remove 

 by poifon, whilft he was prxtor of the Achaeans fi;r the 

 feventeenth time. When Aratus perceived the danger of 

 his fituition, he faid to an intii'atj fiiend who attended 

 him, " Behold, my dear Cephalion, the efFcft of fricnd- 

 " fhip with kings." This diftingui.'hed magiftrate doled 

 his life at iEgium, in the 57th year of his age, and was in- 

 terred with extraordinar)' pomp and folemnity at Sicyon, 

 the place of his nativity ; ar.d the part of the city in which 

 he was buried, was from that time called Aratium, in 

 honour of his memory. The Aehxans alfo decreed, that 

 divine honours Ihould be paid him, and appointed a pricft 

 for that purpofe. The conduft of Philip incenfed the 

 Aehxans, and when a favourable opportunity occurred 

 they teftilied their difpleafure. In the mean while they 

 concurred with him in carrying on the war with the iEto- 

 Jians, who had formed an aUiance with the Romans. Phi- 

 lopoemen gaintd new honours ; and in the year before 

 Chrift 210, was appointed, for the firft time, commander 

 in chief of the Achxan forces. After a veiy decifive viftoiy 

 over the Lacedxmonians, the jEtohans fued for peace, and 

 obtained it ; and the Romans alfo concluded a treaty of peace 

 and amity with Philip and his allies. This peace was not 

 of long duration. The Romans declared war againft Philip, 

 who was joined by the Aehxans and Lacedxmonians. It was 

 not long however before the Achaeans formed an allisnce wiUi 



A C H 



the Romans, to whom they maintained a fteady attachment 

 during the whole couife of this war. At the conclufion of 

 it, tliey were put into pofteftion of Corinlli ; the Greeks 

 were declared free by the Romans ; and the Aehxans 

 amongll others, were delivered from every kind of ftrvitude, 

 and allowed to govern thcmfelves by their own laws. Soon 

 after the departure of the Romans, Nabis, who had been 

 left in poileinon of Lactdxmon, began to raife infurrec- 

 tions in the maritime cities, which were garrifoned by the 

 Aehxans ; and thefe hoftilities obliged them to have re- 

 courfe to the Romans, and to declare war againft Nabis. 

 The whole management of this war was committed to 

 Philopcrmen. After a defeat by fea, and a very fortu- 

 nate efcape, this illuftrious general obtained a complete vic- 

 to.y over Nabis by land ; and was thus enabled to unite the 

 powerful city of Laced.xmon to the Achxan commonwealth 

 in the year before Chrift 191 : by which means the Aehxans 

 eclipfed all the other States of Greece. Philopoemen, with 

 a dilintertftednefs and patriotifm that fei-vtd to eftabhih his 

 reputation move than all his militai-y exploits, refufed to ac- 

 cept a prefent of 120 talents, the produce of the palace 

 and furniture of Nabis, which the Lacedxmonians offered 

 him as a token of their gratitude. Recommending the ap- 

 plication of this money to t'v purpofe of conciliating the 

 difcontented, he faid to thofe who urged his acceptance of it, 

 " it is much more advilabie to ftop an enemy's mouth than 

 " a friend's ; as for me, I ihall always be your friend, and 

 " you iliall reap the benefit of my friendfhip without ex- 

 " pence." The Achxan republic, by the addition of La- 

 cedxmon, and the protedion of Rome, was now become 

 verv formidable. But internal difputes about the place of 

 holding their affemblies, which were transferred by Philo- 

 poemen from iEgium to Argos, and the more important 

 quarrel with the Lacedxmonians, and their attempt to fecede 

 from the Achxan league, produced an interruption of their 

 tranquillity, and expofcd them to new dangers. Lacedx- 

 mon, indeed, was reduced by the Aehxans ; and Philopoe- 

 men ordered them to demolifti their walls, difband their 

 mercenaries, drive out all the flaves whom the tyrants had 

 fet at liberty, receive the exiles, and renounce the laws of 

 Lvcurgus, and for the future govern themfelves only by- 

 thofe of Achaia. At this time the Achxan league was in 

 great repute all over the Eaft, and the friendlhip of a ftate 

 10 powerful was couited by all the princes ofAfia. The- 

 ancient alliance with Ptulcmy, king of Egypt, and with Se-i 

 leucus, king of Syria, was renewed. But the Romars be- 

 came jealous of their increafing power, and interfered with 

 their internal government. The city MefTene withdrew 

 from tiie Achxan league ; and philopccmen, in his endea- 

 vour to reclaim the rebels, was defeated, taken prifoner, 

 and put to death. When he held the cup of poifon in his 

 haiid, he enquired whether Lycoitas and the Megalopolitari 

 youth, who had accompr.nied him as volunteers, had got 

 into a place of fafety ; and being informed, that they had 

 all made their efcape ; he rephed, " That is enough ; I 

 " die content." Upon his death the glory of Achaia be- 

 gan to decline ; fo that Philopcemen was not improperly 

 called the laft of the Greeks, as Brutus was aftervv.irds 

 ftyled the laft of the Romans. MefTene was afterwards re- 

 ftored to the Achxan league ; and the Rom.ms imperioufly 

 urging the rcadmiflion of the Lacedxm.onians, the Aehxans 

 were obliged to fubmit. In the year before Chrift 169, 

 when a war broke out between the Romans, and Perfcus king 

 of Macedon, the Aehxans declared for the Romans, and 

 Polvbius was fent to the Roman general with the refolutioa 

 of the Achxan diet. However, feveral of the Aehxans 

 favoured Perfeus ; and a thoufand of them were fummoned 

 to appear before the Roman fenate. Thefe perfons were 



kept 



