The Cretan War (205–200 BCE) is fought by King Philip V of Macedon, the Aetolian League, several Cretan cities (of which Olous and Hierapytna are the most important) and Spartan pirates against the forces of Rhodes and later Attalus I of Pergamum, Byzantium, Cyzicus, Athens and Knossos.The Macedonians had just concluded the First Macedonian War and Philip, seeing his chance to defeat Rhodes, forms an alliance with Aetolian and Spartan pirates who begin raiding Rhodian ships.

Philip also forms an alliance with several important Cretan cities, such as Hierapynta and Olous.

With the Rhodian fleet and economy suffering from the depredations of the pirates, Philip believes his chance to crush Rhodes is at hand.

To help achieve his goal, he forms an alliance with the King of the Seleucid Empire, Antiochus the Great, against Ptolemy V of Egypt (the Seleucid Empire and Egypt are the other two Diadochi states).

Philip begins attacking the lands of Ptolemy and Rhodes's allies in Thrace and around the Sea of Marmara.In 202 BC, Rhodes and her allies Pergamum, Cyzicus, and Byzantium combine their fleets and defeat Philip at the Battle of Chios.

Just a few months later, Philip's fleet defeats the Rhodians at Lade.

While Philip is plundering Pergamese territory and attacking cities in Caria, Attalus I of Pergamum goes to Athens to try to create a diversion.

He succeeds in securing an alliance with the Athenians, who immediately declare war on the Macedonians.

The King of Macedon cannot remain inactive; he assails Athens with his navy and with some infantry.

The Romans warn him, however, to withdraw or face war with Rome.

After suffering a defeat at the hands of the Rhodian and Pergamese fleets, Philip withdraws, but not before attacking the city of Abydos on the Hellespont.

Abydos falls after a long siege and most of its inhabitants commit suicide.

Philip rejects the Roman ultimatum to stop attacking Greek states and the Romans declare war on Macedon.

This leaves the Cretan cities with no major allies, and the largest city of Crete, Knossos, joins the Rhodians.

Faced with this combination, both Hierapynta and Olous surrender and are forced to sign a treaty favorable to Rhodes and Knossos.