1.
While the war in Asia was in progress, there was
1 no peace in Aetolia either,
2 the trouble having been begun by the Athamanian people.
[
2]
Athamania at that time, after the expulsion of Amynander,
3 was held by royal garrisons under the prefects of Philip, and they, by their arrogant and lawless administration, had created a longing for Amynander.
[
3]
Amynander, who was then an exile in Aetolia, was inspired by the letters of his partisans, who described to him the state of affairs in Athamania, with the hope of recovering his kingdom.
[
4]
His agents, too, sent with his reply to the chiefs at Argithea —for this is the capital of Athamania —announced that if he perceived clearly enough the sentiments of his countrymen he would obtain the aid of the Aetolians and proceed to Athamania. They said that he had no doubt that he would easily come to an agreement with the chosen persons
4 who comprise the council of the people and with the praetor Nicander.
[
5]
When
[p. 5]he learned that they were ready for any event,
5 he at once informed his friends on what day he would arrive in Athamania at the head of an army.
[
6]
At first there were four who had conspired against the Macedonian garrison. Each of these chose six assistants to aid in carrying out their plan; then, lacking confidence by reason of their small number, which was better suited to concealment than to action, they added a number equal to that which they had first enlisted.
[
7]
Their number having thus become two and fifty, they divided themselves into four sections; one proceeded to Heraclea, one to Tetraphylia, which was the usual storehouse of the royal wealth, the third to Theudoria, the fourth to Argithea.
[
8]
It had been agreed upon among them all that at first they should move about quietly in the market-place as if they were engaged in transacting private business; that on the appointed day they should summon the whole population to drive the Macedonian garrisons from the citadels.
[
9]
When this day came and Amynander with a thousand Aetolians was at the frontiers, according to agreement the Macedonian garrisons were expelled from the four places at once, and a despatch was sent in all directions to the other towns, summoning them to free themselves from the headstrong rule of Philip and to return to their hereditary and lawful sovereign. On all sides the Macedonians were expelled.
[
10]
The town of Theium, since the despatch had been intercepted by Xeno, the prefect of the garrison, and the citadel had been seized by the king's troops, held out for a few days against the besiegers;
[
11]
finally
[p. 7]it also was delivered to Amynander, and all Athamania
6 was in his hands except the fortress of Athenaeum, lying on the borders of Macedonia.