ARATUS OF SICYON ,271-213 B.C.) Greek politician. He set up a democracy in Sicyon (251) and brought it into alli ance with the Achaean League (q.v.) of which he became the moving spirit, being elected general in alternate years. From when he captured from Antigonus the fortress of Corinth, the League aimed at replacing Macedonian ascendancy in the Pelo ponnese by free democracy; Megalopolis joined in 234, Attica was freed in 229, and the League reached its zenith in 228 with the accession of Argos. But Aratus could not brook a rival, and rather than admit the supremacy of Cleomenes III. of Sparta (see CLEOMENES) he undid his own work and called in Antigonus Doson. Cleomenes was defeated (221), but the League became subject to Macedonia. Aratus was a skilful diplomatist but an unsuccessful general.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. See Plutarch, Aratus, Cleomenes; Freeman, History Bibliography. See Plutarch, Aratus, Cleomenes; Freeman, History of Federal Government (new ed. 1893) ; W. Tarn, Antigonus Gonatas