Achaean War

By History And Culture Media

5/4/2025

The Achaean War (146 BCE): Rome’s Final War in Greece and the Destruction of Corinth

Introduction: What Was the Achaean War?

The Achaean War (146 BCE) was the last major conflict between the Roman Republic and the Greek city-states. Fought between Rome and the Achaean League, the war culminated in the destruction of Corinth, one of the wealthiest cities in Greece. This decisive confrontation marked the end of Greek independence and the full incorporation of Greece into the Roman world.

Background: Rome’s Growing Influence in Greece

By the mid-2nd century BCE, Rome had already defeated the Macedonian Kingdom and asserted control over much of mainland Greece. However, Greek resistance persisted, especially among members of the Achaean League, a confederation of city-states in the Peloponnese.

Tensions rose when:

Rome ordered the dissolution of the Achaean League.
Greek cities like Corinth strongly resisted what they saw as Roman overreach.
Political factions within the League pushed for open defiance.

Despite Rome’s previous military dominance in the region, many Greeks still dreamed of restoring independence.

Causes of the Achaean War

Rome’s demand that certain cities, including Sparta, be removed from the League
Growing Greek nationalism and anti-Roman sentiment
The Achaean League’s refusal to accept Roman commands and expulsion of Roman envoys
Strategic importance of stabilizing the eastern Mediterranean

Key Events of the Achaean War

Rome Declares War

In 146 BCE, after failed negotiations, Rome declared war on the Achaean League. A Roman army under Lucius Mummius was dispatched to crush the revolt.

Battle of Corinth

The decisive battle took place near Corinth, the League’s most powerful and defiant city:

Roman forces easily defeated the Greek army, which was poorly equipped and disorganized.
The Greek commander Diaeus fled and later committed suicide.
The defeat was swift, signaling the end of Greek military resistance.

Destruction of Corinth (146 BCE)

After the battle, Lucius Mummius ordered:

The complete destruction of Corinth.
The massacre or enslavement of the population.
The looting of art and treasures, many of which were taken to Rome.
The city was burned to the ground, and its ruins left as a warning.

Aftermath and Impact

1. End of the Achaean League

The Achaean League was dissolved, and its cities came under direct Roman control. This ended centuries of Greek political autonomy.

2. Greece Becomes a Roman Province

While full provincial status was not immediate, in the aftermath of the war:

The region became part of Rome’s sphere of influence.
In 27 BCE, Greece was formally organized as the Roman province of Achaea under Augustus.

3. Cultural Loss and Symbolism

The destruction of Corinth stood alongside the fall of Carthage—both in 146 BCE—as symbolic acts of Roman dominance and ruthlessness. It also represented the final chapter of Greek resistance against Roman rule.

Legacy of the Achaean War

The Achaean War ended Greek independence and marked the full Romanization of the Hellenistic world. While Greece lost its political freedom, its culture, philosophy, and art would profoundly influence Rome for centuries to come.

The war also signaled a new Roman policy of direct intervention and annexation, replacing the earlier approach of indirect control and alliance.

Conclusion

The Achaean War (146 BCE) was short but historically significant. It brought a brutal end to Greek autonomy and firmly established Roman supremacy in the eastern Mediterranean. The destruction of Corinth was a turning point that symbolized the irreversible shift from Hellenic freedom to Roman imperial rule—a transformation that would shape the classical world for generations.