Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

128 CHJERON^A.but put down the revolt ofone ofa tribe of the Thraclans and tooktheir towns, which he rechi-istened Alexandria, — thefirst of a long series so called.Philip had gradually insinuated himself intoGreek politics.He got himself elected to the Amphictyonic council,and finally chief of the Amphictyons, Sparta alone dissenting.As captain-general of the Greeks he proposed to invadeAsia, as his son did later.This claim to universal leadershipwas, however, demurred to by the Athenians, under the powerfuleloquence of Demosthenes, and by the Thebans, bothof whom feared Philip's dangerous encroachments in Boeotia.War ensued. The Athenians and Thebans advanced to Chseronaea,in Boeotia, fifty thousand strong. Philip met themwith thirty thousand foot and two thousand horse.SACRFOBANDi^sssss[sssssiSSSSSSssssssALtXANOtR ANDTHESSALIANSChseronaea, Augnst, B. c. 338.PHIUP AND MAC HORStChares and Lysicles commanded the combined Athenian-Theban army. The former was ignorant, the latter rash.Philip had brought with him his son Alexander, then a youthof eighteen, and had intrusted him with the command of theleft wing, aided by older generals, while he himself commandedthe right. For many hours the event of the battlewas doubtful.