Machanidas () was a tyrant of Sparta near the end of the 3rd century BC. He was defeated and slain by Philopoemen.
Accession
Machanidas was in a band of
Taranto mercenaries, perhaps a leader, in the pay of the
government. The history of Lacedaemon at this period is obscure. The means by which he obtained the tyranny are unknown. He was probably at first associated with Pelops, son and successor of Lycurgus on the double throne of Sparta. He either eclipsed or expelled Lycurgus.
Livy refers to Machanidas as "the tyrant of the Lacedaemonians".
[ tyrannus Lacedaemoniorum, Livy 27.29.9] Like his predecessor, Machanidas had no hereditary or other justification for taking the crown. However, unlike Lycurgus he respected neither the
ephors nor the laws, and ruled by the swords of his followers.
Ancient Argos and the
Achaean League found him a restless and relentless neighbor, whom they could not resist without the aid of Macedonia.
Roman Republic in the 11th year of the Second Punic War, was anxious to detain Philip V and employed him as an ally.
Aetolian War
Towards the close of the
Aetolian War, in 207 BC, while the Greek states were negotiating the terms of peace, and the
ancient Elis were making preparations for the next Olympic festival, Machanidas projected an inroad into the sacred territory of Elis. The design was frustrated by the timely arrival of the king of
Macedon in the
Peloponnesus, and Machanidas withdrew to Sparta.
Fall
In 207 BC, after eight months of preparation,
Philopoemen, captain-general of the cavalry of the Achaean league, delivered Greece from Machanidas. The Achaean and Lacedaemonian armies met between
Mantineia and
Tegea. In the Battle of Mantinea the
Taranto mercenaries of Machanidas routed and chased from the field the Tarentine mercenaries of Philopoemen. The Tarentines pursued them into defeat. The Achaeans became entrenched behind a deep ditch. Machanidas was killed by Philopoemen while jumping his horse over the ditch. The Achaeans set up a statue of brass at
Delphi, representing Philopoemen giving the death-wound to Machanidas.
