The Battle of Gortyn was fought in 429 BC during the Peloponnesian War. The Spartan general Milanion conquered western Crete from the Athenians after a pitched battle on the plain of Messara, sabotaging Athenian control of the Aegean Sea.
Background[]
In 429 BC, the Spartan general Milanion was sent to invade the pro-Athenian Cretan kingdom of Messara with an army from Laconia. After many skirmishes, the Spartans had the Athenian general Makarias and his forces cornered near the Daidalos Fort on the Messara plain, sufficiently weakening the Athenians before planning to fight a decisive battle against them. Meanwhile, the Spartan mercenary Kassandra further weakened Messara by assassinating its king, Sylon the Kneeling. She then rode out to the dusty plain of Messara and volunteered her services to Sparta in exchange for drachmae, and she and Milanion then led their forces into battle.
Battle[]
The Spartans and Athenians met on the open Messara plain, and the Spartans had the upper hand from the start of the battle. The Athenian-hired mercenary Prokne the Poet searched out Kassandra after she wrought havoc on the Athenian infantry, but Kassandra killed her after a drawn-out fight. She then ran across the battlefield, picking off the Athenian captains to weaken their soldiers' resolve. She killed a total of five captains before the Athenian army fell apart, and Sparta proceeded to occupy the whole of Messara.