Nabis, Flamininus, and the Amicitia between Rome and Sparta

Abstract

In 195, on the advice of the majority of Rome's Greek friends, whose freedom the Romans had proclaimed the year before at the Isthmian Games at Corinth, launched a war on Nabis, erstwhile ally of Rome and ruler of Sparta since 207. The reason for Flamininus' change of heart, and even the justification for the war on Nabis in 195, has never been adequately or fully explained. The reason for this, it is argued here, is that the moral dimension of Roman behaviour, despite being the central feature of our ancient source accounts, is largely ignored in modern scholarly discussions, in favour of Realpolitik explanations and explanations based on Flamininus' self-interests and ambitions.