Licort from Megalopolis ( ancient Greek Λυκορτας ) is an ancient Greek military leader and political figure. Four times - in 185–184, 183–182, 182–181 and 180–179 BC. e. - served as strategist of the Achaean Union . He was the father of a prominent ancient Greek writer Polybius .
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Biography
Licort was a friend of the Achaean strategist Philopemene and shared his patriotic views. The Licort Party defended the policy of the Achaean Union, a moderate and independent from Rome and Macedonia .
Political activities Likorta known since 192 BC. Oe., when he served as chief of the cavalry of the Achaean alliance successfully fought against the Spartan tyrant Nabis .
Likort is mentioned in 189 BC. e. as a member of the Embassy of the Achaeans in Rome regarding the decision of the Senate over the dispute between Achaeans and Sparta . Then manifested his desire to pursue an independent policy.
In 187 BC. e. was one of the three ambassadors to the Egyptian king Ptolemy V Epiphanes about the resumption of the allied relations between the Achaeans and Egypt. The mission was a success, and Likort brought 6,000 copper armor and 2,000 talents from Ptolemy.
In 187 BC. e. Licort, Filopemen and Archon at the Allied Assembly in Argos successfully defended the Union’s right to independently decide matters with Sparta, who did not want to remain in union. In the next, 184 BC. e., already when he was a strategist of the Union, at a meeting in Claytor, Licort reaffirmed the Union’s right to independently conduct a dialogue with Sparta without regard to the Roman senate.
In 183 BC e. from the Achaean alliance disappeared Messenia , in which power was seized by the oligarchic group of the Dinocrat. Likort's first attempt to bring Messinia to obedience ended in vain. However, after the death of Philopemen in the battle with the Messenians, Likort, chosen as a strategist, again invaded Messenia and forcibly incorporated it into the Union. Several cities (in particular, Abia, Turia, Fera), which entered the Union as separate policies, were rejected from Messinia. Then Likort returned Sparta to the Union, for which Asclepius had his statue installed in the Epidavrian temple.
In 180 BC e. Licort and his son Polybius are mentioned as members of the new embassy to Ptolemy Epiphanes. This trip did not take place due to the death of the king.
At the same time, the Licort party in power was replaced by the Democratic Party of Callicrat , which turned the policy of the Achaean Union in such a way as to please the Romans in everything. In the period before the start of the Third Macedonian War, Likort insisted on the neutrality of the Achaeans. After the defeat of the Macedonians, there is no more information about the political activities of Likort. He may have died or was interned in Italy among a thousand other Achaeans, but his son Polybius does not report this in his writings.
Literature
- Polybius General history
- Smith W. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, 1870
- Tyzhov A. Ya. Polybiy and his "Universal History"