Battle of Cynoscephalae
197 BCE · Cynoscephalae (modern Thessaly, Greece) · World · Ancient
The rolling hills made it hard for the Macedonian pike phalanx to keep formation, and the Roman legions exploited the gaps to break through from the flank and rear.
Belligerents
Rome
- Commanders
- Titus Quinctius Flamininus
- Strength
- Roman legions of about 26,000
Macedon
- Commanders
- Philip V
- Strength
- Macedonian phalanx army of about 25,500
Background
In the Second Macedonian War, Rome sent troops at the request of Greek city-states to check the expansion of Philip V.
Course of the battle
- Encounter battle in the hillsThe two armies met and fought in rolling hill country
- Phalanx formation loosensThe Macedonian phalanx's formation began to loosen on the rough ground
- Flank envelopment breaks the lineThe Romans exploited the gaps to envelop the phalanx from the flank and rear and break through
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 197 BCE |
|---|---|
| Place | Cynoscephalae (Thessaly, modern Greece) |
| Result | The rolling hills made it hard for the Macedonian pike phalanx to keep formation, and the Roman legions exploited the gaps to break through from the flank and rear. |
| Winner | Rome |
| Casualties | Macedonian casualties and prisoners numbered more than 10,000. |
| Territorial change | Macedon was forced to accept harsh peace terms, and Rome proclaimed the "freedom of the Greeks," establishing itself as arbiter in Greece. |
Impact
It proved the superiority of the Roman legion over the Macedonian phalanx on difficult terrain, and Rome thereafter became deeply involved in Greek affairs.
See the world in 197 BCE on the map →