The Decisive Battles of World History

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x A major advantage was the way the army was subdivided into

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with the massive Hellenistic phalanx, which while powerful when

lumbering forward for a direct assault, was slow and could not

easily be subdivided or redirected.

x The heart of Philip’s Macedonian army was its phalanx, composed

of a block of 15,000 men armed, just like Alexander’s phalanx, with

the long sarissa. They were supported by about 10,000 cavalry,

missile troops, and skirmishers.

The Generals

x Philip V was an able and experienced general and politician,

sometimes likened to Alexander. By the time of the Battle of

Cynoscephalae, he had held the throne for more than 20 years and

was well regarded as a leader. He had led a number of successful

military campaigns, extending the borders of his empire into the

islands of the Aegean, and had skillfully attempted to create a

coalition of states to oppose the growing power of Rome.

x Titus Quinctius Flamininus also had considerable military

experience before Cynoscephalae and had distinguished himself as

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o One distinguishing feature of Flamininus was that, for a

Roman, he was unusually infatuated with Greek culture. He

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was able to persuade a number of Greek states to join him by

presenting himself as the savior of Greece, who would free it

from Macedonian control.