Acarnania (redirected from Acarnanians)

Acarnania (ăk'ərnā`nēə), region of ancient Greece, between the Achelous River and the Ionian Sea. The chief city was Stratos. The Acarnanians sided with Athens during the Peloponnesian War, and Athens helped Acarnania to uphold its independence against Corinth and Sparta in the 5th cent. B.C. Later (390–375 B.C.) Sparta controlled the region. The persistent struggle with the Aetolians cost Acarnania its independence until 231 B.C. When the Byzantine Empire broke up (1204), Acarnania passed to Epirus and in 1480 to the Turks. In 1832 it became part of Greece.

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Acarnania

District, ancient Greece, bounded by the Ionian Sea, the Ambracian Gulf, and the Achelous River. First settled in the 7th–6th centuries BC, it developed into a federal state by the late 5th century BC; its capital was Stratus. It later came under Athenian, Theban, and Macedonian rule. Part of Acarnania recovered its independence in 231 BC and began an alliance with Philip V of Macedon. Rome overthrew the Macedonian dynasty in 167 BC, and Acarnania survived until Augustus incorporated many Acarnanians into his new city Nicopolis Actia.