Battle of Coronea (Athenian Legacy)

The Battle of Coronea occured in Athenian Thessaly in 336 BCE, as part of the The Macedonian War. The invading forces, spearheaded by the Macedonian King, Amyntas was defeated by a Athenian Army, led by the newly crowned King, Alexander.

Background
Following his brief coronation at Athens, Alexander was pressed to continue the war, despite the increasing dissproval of the losing fight. Despite brief skeptisim by Athenian ex-statseman, Alexander fervently believed that his control could only be solidified through a victory. Following the creation of a War Council, and the decision to counter the Macedonian invasion, Alexander assumed personal control of his army and marched towards Thessaly.

By the time Alexander had reached Thessaly, Amyntas had already occupied Larissa, and was storming towards the most southern city of Thessaly. Pharsalus. Alexander rushed towards the city, instead noticing a strategic supply route just a few miles south-east of Pharsalus, known as Coronea. The Athenian Army fortified the position, lighting fires along the intersecting roads, and halting and prospect of a direct assualt on the Athenian army. Instead, Amyntas attempted to march around Alexander, stealing a nigh'ts movement and stealing the highground at Mt. Narthacius.

Battle
The Athenian army, now concluding that it would be forced to strike first, moved south, in the direction towards Thaumaci. This action convinced the Macedonian army that Alexander was retreating to a river destination, where he could be easily outnumbered and destroyed.

The Athenian King was expecting this, dividing his forces into two, each one taking cover beside the mountainous regions of Coronea. When the Macedonian army marched through the town, scouts were dispatched to survey the area, discovering the army and rusing back to camp to release the news. Amyntas scrambled his army into battle lines, having two sections face each side of the Athenian force. With a river protecting him on his right flank and a mountain range defending his left, Amyntas felt comfortable with his position.

At Noon, Alexander ordered his battle plan set in motion, leading the light cavalry south of Coronea positions, away from the battle, where the two sections unified, nearly a mile south. Amyntas responded by twisting his furthest flanks back outwards, preparing to defend a cavalry charge with both Hoplites and a series of elite cavalry. The two sections of the Athenian armies sent forth the center of their army, using a spearheading maneuver to the right side of both Macedonian lines. Amyntas ordered his most Northern units to attempt a flanking attack on the right bending forces, but he realized his position to late.

With the Athenian forces begging to push down on his most southern and center units (that had been defending against Alexander's possible cavalry charge), the center defense line had become weak and distracted, too focused on pulling the strenght away so that the northern most troops could complete their flanking. The move failed, and the Athenian King ordered his cavalry to charge the instant the center began to waver from a combined pressure. The charge was met by a confusing state of disssaray amongst the superiro Macedonian troops, who were cought in a chaotic fight of horse and spear.

Following the charge, the Athenian forces bent back, and fought off the flanking manuever, clearly no longer concerned with the center that had been smashed during the charge. Aymtas scrambled to save his army, marching away as his flanks began to crumble.

Aftermath
Following Alexander's victory at Coronea, Amyntas was forced to abandon both Larissa and Thessaly, with his army unable to find more ground to fight on. The first significant Athenian victory in years soldified the rule of Alexander, and put the young king in a position to defeat his Macedonian couterpart.