Battle of Potidaea

Overview

The Battle of Potidaea was fought in 432 BC between Athens and a combined army from Corinth and Potidaea, along with their various allies. Along with the Battle of Sybota, it was one of the catalysts for the Peloponnesian War.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Potidaea, fought in 432 BCE, was one of the direct catalysts for the Peloponnesian War. Athens engaged a combined force from Corinth and Potidaea, along with their respective allies, in a confrontation that, alongside the Battle of Sybota, helped precipitate the broader conflict between Athens and the Peloponnesian alliance. The involvement of Corinth — a major Peloponnesian power — in direct armed opposition to Athenian forces represented an escalation that could not be contained within a local dispute, pushing the tensions between Athens and Corinth toward the general war that followed. The battle reflects the breakdown of the mechanisms restraining inter-polis conflict in the years immediately before the Peloponnesian War formally commenced.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)