SPARTSKÝ ODPOR VOČI MACEDÓNSKEJ HEGEMÓNII V GRÉCKU POČAS ALEXANDROVEJ PERZSKEJ KAMPANE V ROKOCH 334 – 331 PR. KR. A BITKA PRI MEGALOPOLE

To this day, the expedition of Alexander the Great against Persia is perceived in military knowledge as one of the most fascinating events not only in the ancient history but human history in general. The personality and deeds of the young king became legendary during his life already, with stories motivated mostly by glorification but sometimes also dehonestation of his personality. In the traditional view of his unprecedented success, the defeat of Persia, which used to be a clear power “number one” and Alexander’s progress through Asia, might seem somehow linear, clear, “textbook”, and therefore also distant. In my contribution, following analysis of the available sources, I would like to stress that this was not so clear-cut and Alexander was, remotely from his home background, mainly through his otherwise competent regent Antipater, confronted with a rough situation because the Spartan King Agis III concocted a rebellion against the Macedonian dominion. However, this was only the peak of the events unfolding following Alexander’s fast progress along the coast and inland of Asia Minor - the Persians and collaborating Greeks prepared significant obstacles to Alexander and his forces. The importance of Agis’ rebellion was accentuated mainly by Ernst Badian and his study on the personality and resistance of this Spartan King continued to be the basis for other researchers. Through summing up the findings, this article is aimed at contributing to the understanding and interpretation mainly of the chronological ambiguities of the so called Agis’ War and the Battle of Megalopolis itself, which is based on inconsistent testimonies of the main sources (Diodoros, Justinus, Curtius Rufus, Addianos).