Philip of Macedon in 353 or 352 BCE leads an army of twenty thousand infantrymen and three thousand cavalry on a lightning march against the port of Pagasae, seizing it before the Athenian fleet, commanded by Chares, can dock and unload their five thousand hoplites and five hundred cavalry.

Philip decks his army in laurel wreaths to signify that they fight on behalf of Apollo against the sacrilegious Phocians.

Leaving a rearguard, he marches against Onomarchus, while the Athenians, absent beaches where they can offload their troops, can only watch the battle from their triremes anchored offshore.

Onomarchus and six thousand Phocian soldiers die in the Battle of the Crocus Field, with more drowning as they attempt to swim to the Athenian ships; three thousand more are captured.

The Phocians appoint Phayllus leader and withdraw southwards, pursued by Philip.