The Achaean League, also spelled Achaian
League, was originally an alliance between the cities of
Achaea, or Achaia, in
ancient Greece. Later, foreign cities could join as well.
The Achaean League was formed in 280 BC.
Their main goal was to stick together against the Macedonians, the
Spartans, and the Romans. The foreign policy of the Achaean League
was one big juggle.
In 247 BC, the allies of the League
drove the Macedonians out of the city of Corinth.
In 227 BC, the Spartans declared
war.
In 224 BC, the members of the Achaean League went back to the
Macedonians, apologized, and asked for help against the
Spartans. The Macedonians agreed.
But it was an awkward position for the
allies, so in 198 BC, the Achaean League
joined forces with the Romans against Macedon, which at the time united most of the
Peloponnese, including Sparta.
Now, the Macedonians
weren't a threat any longer but the Romans didn't like the Achaean's
love of independence either. Hence, the Romans dissolved the Achaean
League in 146 BC.
The First, the Second, and the Third Achaean League
This was the Second Achaean League.
The First Achaean League was in
its prime during the 5th and 4th century BC. Back then, the threat
of the day came from ruthless pirates and from the Macedonians.
There was a Third Achaean League
set up shortly after the Romans had dissolved the second one. It was
much smaller and stayed in place until the end of the first century
BC.
