100.
The Macedonians were unable to defend themselves against the onset of so vast a host;
they therefore retired into their strongholds and forts, which at that time were few.
[2]
For those which now exist were built by Archelaus the son of Perdiccas, who, when he
became king, made straight roads and in various ways improved the country.
In his force of cavalry and infantry and in his military resources generally he
surpassed all1 the eight kings who preceded him.
[3]
The Thracian army, leaving Doberus, invaded first of all the country which had formerly
been the principality of Philip, and took Eidomenè by storm.
Gortynia, Atalantè, and some other towns came to terms out of regard for
Amyntas the son of Philip, who accompanied the expedition.
They also besieged but failed to take Europus; they next advanced into that part of
Macedonia which lay on the left of Pella and Cyrrhus.
[4]
Farther south into Bottiaea and Pieria they did not penetrate, but were content to
ravage the territory of Mygdonia, Grestonia, and Anthemus.
[5]
The Macedonians had no idea of facing them with infantry, but sent for additional
cavalry from their allies in the upper part of the country, and, although a handful of
men, dashed in amongst the great Thracian host wherever they pleased.
No one withstood their onset; for they were excellent horsemen and well protected with
coats of mail.
But hemmed in as they continually were by a multitude many times their own number, they
ran into great danger.
At last, feeling that they were not strong enough to encounter such superiority of
force, they desisted.
1 The Macedonians retire into their strongholds. Their cavalry oppose the invaders, but are compelled by their inferiority of numbers to desist.
Thucydides translated into English; with introduction, marginal analysis, notes, and indices. Volume 1. Thucydides. Benjamin Jowett. translator. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1881.
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