# The Achaeans — The Federalist Papers character guide

> The Achaeans in The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Achaeans

**First appearance:** 0011-ix-the-union-as-a-safeguard-against-domestic-faction-and-insurrection

## Who they are

Ancient Greek confederation, referenced as a model for federal union.

## Relationships

### [Philip of Macedon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/characters/philip_of_macedon)

_rivalry_

Philip of Macedon is used as a historical example of a tyrant who exploited the disunity of the Achaean league to subjugate them.

### [Cleomenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/characters/cleomenes)

_rivalry_

Cleomenes waged war against the Achaean League, leading to Spartan intervention and eventual Macedonian domination.

### [Alexander Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/characters/alexander_hamilton)

_social_

Hamilton uses the Achaean League as a historical example of a successful federal republic that preserved local autonomy.

## In the story

### [IX: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/ix-the-union-as-a-safeguard-against-domestic-faction-and-insurrection)

Mentioned as another historical confederacy.

### [XVI: The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xvi-the-same-subject-continued-the-insufficiency-of-the-present-confederation-to-preserve-the-union)

Cited as an example of a confederacy that avoided the principle of legislating for states in their collective capacities.

### [XVIII: The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xviii-the-same-subject-continued-the-insufficiency-of-the-present-confederation-to-preserve-the-union)

Another Greek league that ultimately collapsed due to internal divisions and foreign interference.

### [The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xx-the-same-subject-continued-the-insufficiency-of-the-present-confederation-to-preserve-the-union)

Referenced as a historical example of a confederacy, though not detailed in this excerpt.

### [XXXVII: Concerning the Difficulties of the Convention in Devising a Proper Form of Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xxxvii-concerning-the-difficulties-of-the-convention-in-devising-a-proper-form-of-government)

Cited as another historical confederacy whose erroneous principles offer lessons for the Convention.

### [XLV: The Alleged Danger from the Powers of the Union to the State Governments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/xlv-the-alleged-danger-from-the-powers-of-the-union-to-the-state-governments)

Cited as an example of a confederacy that did not degenerate into a consolidated government.

### [LXIII: The Senate Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxiii-the-senate-continued)

Referenced as an example of a confederacy with a stable council.

### [LXX: The Executive Department Further Considered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/chapters/lxx-the-executive-department-further-considered)

Cited as an example of a confederacy that abolished one of two praetors after an experiment with plurality in the executive.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/characters/the_achaeans
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_federalist_papers_se/characters