PHILOPOEMEN (253–184 B.C.)  , Greek general, was born at Megalopolis, and educated by the academic philosophers Ecdemus and Demophanes or Megalophanes, who had distinguished themselves as champions of freedom . Avoiding the fashionable and luxurious gymnasia, he devoted himself to military studies, hunting and border forays . In 233–2 Philopoemen skilfully evacuated Megalopolis before the attack of Cleomenes III., and distinguished himself at Sellasia (222) . The next eleven years he spent as a condottiere in Crete . Elected commander of the League's cavalry on his return, he reorganized that force and defeated the Aetolians on the Elean frontier (210) . Appointed to the chief command two years later, he introduced heavy armour and close formation for the infantry, and with a well-trained army beat Machanidas of Sparta, near Mantinea . The new " liberator " was now so famous that Philip V. of Macedon attempted to poison him . In 202–1 Philopoemen drove Nabis, the Spartan tyrant, from Messene and routed him off Tegea . After another long sojourn in Crete he again received the command against Nabis . Though unsuccessful at sea, he almost annihilated Nabis's land force near Gythium, but was prevented by the Roman Flamininus from taking Sparta . In 190 Philopoemen protected Sparta, which meanwhile had joined the League and thereupon seceded, but punished a renewed defection so cruelly as to draw the censure of Rome upon his country . At Messene he likewise checked a revolt (189), but when that city again rebelled, in 184, he was captured in a skirmish and promptly executed .

His

body was recovered by the Achaeans and buried with great solemnity . Philopoemen's great merit lies in his having restored to his compatriots that military efficiency without which the Achaean League for all its skilful diplomacy could never stand . Towards Rome he advocated a courteous but independent attitude . In politics he was a democrat, and introduced reforms of a popular character (see ACHAEAN LEAGUE) . Polybius' Histories (x.–xxiii.) are our chief authority . These and a special treatise on Philopoemen (now lost) were used by Plutarch (Philopoemen), Pausanias (viii . 49-51), Livy (xxxi.–xxxviii.), and indirectly by Justin (xxx.–xxxiv.) .