District, ancient Greece, bounded by the Ionian Sea, the Ambracian Gulf, and the Achelous River .
First settled in the 7th6th centuries BC, it developed into a federal state by the late 5th century BC; its capital was Stratus. It later came under Athenian, Theban, and Macedonian rule. Part of Acarnania recovered its independence in 231 BC and began an alliance with Philip V of Macedon. Rome overthrew the Macedonian dynasty in 167 BC, and Acarnania survived until Augustus incorporated many Acarnanians into his new city Nicopolis Actia.