League of the Islanders facts for kids
The League of the Islanders (also called the Nesiotic League) was a group of ancient Greek city-states that joined together. These cities were located on the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. Imagine it like a team or a club of islands working together!
This League was first formed around 314/3 BC by a powerful general named Antigonus Monophthalmus. For a while, it was controlled by his family, the Antigonids. Then, around 287 BC, it came under the power of the Ptolemaic Kingdom (the rulers of ancient Egypt). This first League eventually broke apart in the mid-3rd century BC. The Cycladic islands became independent again, though some came under the control of Macedon.
Later, around 200 BC, the League was started again. This time, the powerful island of Rhodes was in charge. This "Second Nesiotic League" lasted until about 167 BC.
Contents
History of the Island League
The story of the League of the Islanders is a bit mysterious. We don't have many old books or writings about it. Most of what we know comes from old stone carvings and inscriptions.
In 314/3 BC, Antigonus I Monophthalmus sent his navy to the Aegean islands. He wanted to protect them from Ptolemy I and make sure they supported him. Even though the League isn't mentioned until 306 BC, experts believe it was created right after this event.
The League's main center was the sacred island of Delos. It was protected by Antigonus. To honor him, they held yearly games called the Antigoneia. After 306 BC, they also held games called Dēmētrieia for his son, Demetrius Poliorcetes.
Even after Antigonus was defeated and died in 301 BC, Demetrius kept control of the navy and the League. But around 287/6 BC, Demetrius was defeated by Seleucus I. Because of this, the islands came under the control of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. The games were then renamed to honor Ptolemy I and his son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus.
When the League Changed Hands
The islands stayed under Ptolemaic control until the middle of the 3rd century BC. The last records about the League are from around that time. This suggests the League fell apart, and the Ptolemies lost their power in the Aegean Sea. This likely happened during one of the big wars, like the Chremonidean War (268/7–261 BC) or the Second Syrian War (260–253 BC).
Historians connect this loss of control to naval battles where the Ptolemies were defeated by the Macedonians and the Rhodians. These battles happened at places like Cos, Ephesus, and Andros.
When Ptolemaic control first weakened, after the battle of Ephesus, the Rhodians stepped in. They made alliances with some islands, like Ios. The Ptolemies might have regained some control for a short time, but their power completely collapsed after the battle of Andros. They lost interest in the Cyclades because they had more important things to deal with elsewhere. So, the Ptolemies left the central Aegean, except for Thera, where they kept a military base.
Many experts believe that after the Ptolemies left, either the Macedonians or the Rhodians took over. However, other historians think that most of the individual Cycladic islands became free and independent for the rest of that century.
The Rise of Rhodes and the Second League
Meanwhile, Rhodes became the most important naval power in the Aegean. They protected their trade routes, especially for grain, and fought against pirates. They also stood up to groups like the Aetolian League, who were secretly supported by King Philip V of Macedon. By 220 BC, Rhodes was seen as the "supreme authority in maritime matters."
In 201 BC, during the Cretan War, Philip V of Macedon took control of the Cyclades. But just one year later, the Rhodians took over most of the islands. Only a few, like Andros, Paros, and Kythnos, remained under Macedonian control.
After more Macedonian defeats, the Cycladic islands, which already had agreements with Rhodes, soon formed a "Second Nesiotic League." This time, Rhodes was the leader. Historians aren't sure why Rhodes did this, but it might have been to stop other powerful groups, like the Kingdom of Pergamon or the Roman Republic, from taking control. Unlike the first League, this second one seems to have been more voluntary.
The Second Nesiotic League is thought to have lasted until Rhodes lost its independence in 167 BC. However, some historians suggest it might have started to break apart earlier. This could be because Rhodes focused more on its lands in Asia and couldn't afford to keep control over the Cyclades.
How the League Worked
We know a lot about how the League worked during the time of the Ptolemies, thanks to many inscriptions. It seems that the main features were already in place when Antigonus was in charge.
The League's rules were different from other Greek leagues of the time. This was because the League didn't exist just for its members. It also existed to benefit the powerful king who was protecting it. We don't know exactly which islands were members, but we know Mykonos, Kythnos, Keos, and probably Ios were members under Antigonus. Later, Naxos, Andros, Amorgos, and Paros were also members under the Ptolemies. The sacred island of Delos played a very important role and was likely a full member.
Leaders and Councils
The League was led by a person called the nēsiarchos (which means "ruler of the islands"). It also had a council called the synedrion. Unlike other leagues, there was no large meeting of all citizens. This was probably because the islands were too far apart for everyone to gather easily.
The League had a strong "federal" character. This means that if you became a citizen of one member island, you automatically became a citizen in all the other member islands too! The League could also grant special rights to people from other places who helped them.
Meeting Places and Money
During the time of Antigonus and the Ptolemies, the League's center was Delos. This is where the yearly festivals were held, and where the synedrion council met. When Rhodes was in charge, Delos was not a member, so the synedrion met on Tenos.
The synedrion was the League's only group that made decisions together. It was like a legislative council with representatives from each member island. They met when needed. The nēsiarchos probably led these meetings.
The synedrion gave awards to people who helped the League. They also collected money from the member islands. This money was used to pay for the League's military and for the common festivals. A treasurer managed these funds. Sometimes, the League and its members even had to borrow money from the Sanctuary of Apollo on Delos to cover their costs. The synedrion could also punish members who didn't pay their share.
The synedrion also appointed people to oversee the festivals and sacrifices. They also appointed judges to settle disagreements between member islands.
The Nesiarchos
The nēsiarchos was chosen by the king who was protecting the League. This leader was usually not from the islands themselves. The nēsiarchos was in charge of carrying out the council's decisions. They also collected money from the islands, commanded the League's military, and kept shipping safe in the Aegean Sea.
Under Rhodian leadership, the nēsiarchos was replaced by a Rhodian archon who was "in charge of the islands and the islands' ships." Sometimes, the powerful king would directly interfere in the islands' affairs, even if it went against local laws. Also, both the Ptolemies and later the Rhodians placed their own appointed governors on some islands to keep control. However, in most places, the traditional ways of governing a Greek polis continued.
