Foreign War
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| Foreign War | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Combatants | |||||||||
| Lyttia, Sparta |
Knossos and foreign mercenaries | ||||||||
| Commanders | |||||||||
| Archidamus III | Phalaikos † | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
| Foreign War |
|---|
| Siege of Lyttos and Siege of Kydonia |
The Foreign War was fought between the forces of Knossos with the help of merecanries under the ousted Phocian leader Phalaikos and the forces of Lyttos who received help from the Spartans (who were founders of their city) under their King Archidamus III. The war took place in 346BC.
Knossos wanted to strength their hegemony of Crete received opposition from the Lyttians. In response the Knossos employed foreign mecenarie under the former Phocian leader Phalaikos. In 346, Knossos declared war against Lyttos. Phalaikos who was given command of the forces of Knossos and of the mecenaries was about to seize Lytttos the Lyttians asked the Spartans for help. The Spartans under King Archidamus rushed to help the Lyttians. The Spartans came in time to saved Lyttos and defeat Phalaikos. Phalaikos then turned against Kydonia. This decision proved fatal for Phalaikos who was slain in the siege and his army was destroyed.
This war proved to be a turing point in Cretan history since it was the first time foreign forces had come to Crete and interfered in Cretan affairs.
