Diaeus " For the genus , see Diaeus ( genus ) " Diaeus of Megalopolis ( Διαῖος ) ( died 146 BC ) was the last general of the Achaean League in Ancient Greece before the League was disbanded by the Romans . He served as the League ' s general from 150 - 149 BC and from 148 BC until his death . Dispute with the Lacedaemonians . Diaeus succeeded Menalcidas of Sparta as general of the Achaean League in 150 BC . Menalcidas , having been charged by Callicrates with a capital offence , saved himself by gaining the support of Diaeus , whom he bribed with three talents . Diaeus was generally condemned for this . So to try to divert public attention away from his own conduct , he sought a quarrel with Lacedaemon . The Lacedaemonians had appealed to the Roman senate over the possession of some disputed land . In response , the Roman senate had said that decisions on all causes , except those of life and death , rested with the great council of the Achaeans . Diaeus decided to ignore the exception included in the Roman response . The Lacedaemonians accused him of lying and the dispute led to war . However , the Lacedaemonians found themselves no match for the Achaeans , and they sought to negotiate . Diaeus , affirming that his hostility was not directed against Sparta as a whole , but against those who had caused the disagreement , arranged for the banishment of 24 of Sparta ' s principal citizens . These men fled to Rome and sought Rome ' s refuge and protection . Diaeus travelled to Rome to oppose their claims , together with Callicrates , who died along the way . The cause of the Spartan exiles was supported by Menalcides , who assured the Spartans , on his return , that the Romans had declared in favour of their independence , while an equally positive assurance to the opposite effect was given by Diaeus to the Achaeans . In truth , the Senate had made no final decision , but had promised to send commissioners to settle the dispute . War with Rome . In 148 BC , war was renewed between the parties despite such action being prohibited by the Romans . However , Diaeus , who was again general of the Achaean league in 147 BC , did seek to obey Rome ' s prohibition by endeavouring to bring over the towns around Sparta by negotiation . When the decree of the Romans arrived , which severed Sparta and several other states from the Achaean league , Diaeus took a leading part in building Achaean indignation and in urging them to the acts of violence which caused war with Rome . In autumn 147 BC , Diaeus was succeeded as general of the Achaean league by Critolaus . But the death of the latter before the expiration of his year in that office once more placed Diaeus in the key position . ( This outcome was based on the law of the Achaeans , which provided in such cases that the predecessor of the deceased should resume his authority . ) The size of Diaeus ' army was increased with emancipated slaves and by the levy of the citizens , which Diaeus enforced strictly , though not impartially . In the resulting action , Diaeus acted unwisely in dividing his forces . He sent some of them to garrison Megara and to check the advance of the Romans . Diaeus himself established his quarters in Corinth , and Metellus , the Roman general , advancing towards Corinth , sent forward ambassadors to offer terms . But Diaeus threw them into prison ( though he afterwards released them for the bribe of a talent ) . Diaeus then had Sosicrates , the lieutenant - general , as well as Philinus of Corinth , tortured to death for having recommended negotiation with the Romans . Cessation of the Achaean League . Being defeated by Lucius Mummius Achaicus before the walls of the city in the Battle of Corinth ( 146 BC ) , Diaeus made no further attempt to defend the city , but fled to Megalopolis , where he slew his wife to prevent her being captured by the enemy and then killed himself by poisoning . His death marked the end of the Achaean League as it was then dissolved by Lucius Mummius .