Chapter LXXVII

FROM THE SUBJUGATION OF OLYNTHUS BY THE LACEDÆMONIANS DOWN TO THE
CONGRESS AT SPARTA, AND PARTIAL PEACE, IN 371 B.C.

Great ascendency of Sparta on land in 379 B.C.—Sparta is now
feared as the great despot of Greece.—Strong complaint of
the rhetor Lysias, expressed at the Olympic festival of 384
B.C.—Panegyrical oration of Isokrates.—Censure upon Sparta
pronounced by the philo-Laconian Xenophon.—His manner of marking
the point of transition in his history—from Spartan glory to
Spartan disgrace.—Thebes under Leontiades and the philo-Spartan
oligarchy, with the Spartan garrison in the Kadmeia—oppressive
and tyrannical government.—Discontent at Thebes, though under
compression. Theban exiles at Athens.—The Theban exiles at
Athens, after waiting some time in hopes of a rising at Thebes,
resolve to begin a movement themselves.—Pelopidas takes the
lead—he, with Mellon and five other exiles, undertakes the task
of destroying the rulers of Thebes. Coöperation of Phyllidas the
secretary, and Charon at Thebes.—Plans of Phyllidas for admitting
the conspirators into Thebes and the government-house—he
invites the polemarchs to a banquet.—The scheme very nearly
frustrated—accident which prevented Chlidon from delivering
his message.—Pelopidas and Mellon get secretly into Thebes,
and conceal themselves in the house of Charon.—Leontiades
and Hypates are slain in their houses.—Phyllidas opens the
prison, and sets free the prisoners. Epaminondas and many other
citizens appear in arms.—Universal joy among the citizens on
the ensuing morning, when the event was known. General assembly
in the market-place—Pelopidas, Mellon, and Charon are named
the first Bœotarchs.—Aid to the conspirators from private
sympathizers in Attica.—Pelopidas and the Thebans prepare to
storm the Kadmeia—the Lacedæmonian garrison capitulate and
are dismissed—several of the oligarchical Thebans are put to
death in trying to go away along with them. The harmost who
surrendered the Kadmeia is put to death by the Spartans.—Powerful
sensation produced by this incident throughout the Grecian
world.—Indignation in Sparta at the revolution of Thebes—a
Spartan army sent forth at once under king Kleombrotus. He
retires from Bœotia without achieving anything.—Kleombrotus
passes by the Athenian frontier—alarm at Athens—condemnation
of the two Athenian generals who had favored the enterprise of
Pelopidas.—Attempt of Sphodrias from Thespiæ to surprise the
Peiræus by a night-march. He fails.—Different constructions
put upon this attempt and upon the character of Sphodrias.—The
Lacedæmonian envoys at Athens seized, but dismissed.—Trial of
Sphodrias at Sparta; acquitted through the private favor and
sympathies of Agesilaus.—Comparison of Spartan with Athenian
procedure.—The Athenians declare war against Sparta, and contract
alliance with Thebes.—Exertions of Athens to form a new maritime
confederacy, like the Confederacy of Delos. Thebes enrolls
herself as a member.—Athens sends round envoys to the islands
in the Ægean. Liberal principles on which the new confederacy
is formed.—Envoys sent round by Athens—Chabrias, Timotheus,
Kallistratus.—Service of Iphikrates in Thrace after the peace of
Antalkidas. He marries the daughter of the Thracian prince Kotys,
and acquires possession of a Thracian seaport, Drys.—Timotheus
and Kallistratus.—Synod of the new confederates assembled at
Athens—votes for war on a large scale.—Members of the confederacy
were at first willing and harmonious—a fleet is equipped.—New
property-tax imposed at Athens. The Solonian census.—The
Solonian census retained in the main, though with modifications,
at the restoration under the archonship of Eukleides in 403
B.C.—Archonship of Nausinikus in 378 B.C.—New census and
schedule then introduced, of all citizens worth twenty minæ and
upwards, distributed into classes, and entered for a fraction of
their total property; each class for a different fraction.—All
metics, worth more than twenty-five minæ, were registered in
the schedule; all in one class, each man for one-sixth of his
property. Aggregate schedule.—The Symmories—containing the
twelve hundred wealthiest citizens—the three hundred wealthiest
leaders of the Symmories.—Citizens not wealthy enough to be
included in the Symmories, yet still entered in the schedule,
and liable to property-tax. Purpose of the Symmories—extension
of the principle to the trierarchy.—Enthusiasm at Thebes
in defence of the new government and against Sparta.
Military training—the Sacred Band.—Epaminondas.—His previous
character and training—musical and intellectual, as well as
gymnastic. Conversation with philosophers, Sokratic as well as
Pythagorean.—His eloquence—his unambitious disposition—gentleness
of his political resentments.—Conduct of Epaminondas at the
Theban revolution of 379 B.C.—he acquires influence, through
Pelopidas, in the military organization of the city.—Agesilaus
marches to attack Thebes with the full force of the Spartan
confederacy—good system of defence adopted by Thebes—aid from
Athens under Chabrias. Increase of the Theban strength in
Bœotia, against the philo-Spartan oligarchies in the Bœotian
cities.—Second expedition of Agesilaus into Bœotia—he gains no
decisive advantage. The Thebans acquire greater and greater
strength. Agesilaus retires—he is disabled by a hurt in the
leg.—Kleombrotus conducts the Spartan force to invade Bœotia.—He
retires without reaching Bœotia.—Resolution of Sparta to equip
a large fleet, under the admiral Pollis. The Athenians send
out a fleet under Chabrias—Victory of Chabrias at sea near
Naxos. Recollections of the battle of Arginusæ.—Extension
of the Athenian maritime confederacy, in consequence of the
victory at Naxos.—Circumnavigation of Peloponnesus by Timotheus
with an Athenian fleet—his victory over the Lacedæmonian
fleet—his success in extending the Athenian confederacy—his
just dealing.—Financial difficulties of Athens.—She becomes
jealous of the growing strength of Thebes—steady and victorious
progress of Thebes in Bœotia.—Victory of Pelopidas at Tegyra
over the Lacedæmonians.—The Thebans expel the Lacedæmonians out
of all Bœotia, except Orchomenus—they reorganize the Bœotian
federation.—They invade Phokis—Kleombrotus is sent thither
with an army for defence—Athens makes a separate peace with
the Lacedæmonians.—Jason of Pheræ—his energetic character and
formidable power.—His prudent dealing with Polydamas.—The
Lacedæmonians find themselves unable to spare any aid for
Thessaly—they dismiss Polydamas with a refusal. He comes to terms
with Jason, who becomes Tagus of Thessaly.—Peace between Athens
and Sparta—broken off almost immediately. The Lacedæmonians
declare war again, and resume their plans upon Zakynthus and
Korkyra.—Lacedæmonian armament under Mnasippus, collected from
all the confederates, invades Korkyra.—Mnasippus besieges the
city—high cultivation of the adjoining lands.—The Korkyræans
blocked up in the city—supplies intercepted—want begins—no hope
of safety except in aid from Athens. Reinforcement arrives from
Athens—large Athenian fleet preparing under Timotheus. Mnasippus
is defeated and slain—the city supplied with provisions.—Approach
of the Athenian reinforcement—Hypermenês, successor of Mnasippus,
conveys away the armament, leaving his sick and much property
behind.—Tardy arrival of the Athenian fleet—it is commanded not
by Timotheus, but by Iphikrates—causes of the delay—preliminary
voyage of Timotheus, very long protracted.—Discontent at Athens,
in consequence of the absence of Timotheus—distress of the
armament assembled at Kalauria—Iphikrates and Kallistratus
accuse Timotheus. Iphikrates named admiral in his place.—Return
of Timotheus—an accusation is entered against him, but trial is
postponed until the return of Iphikrates from Korkyra.—Rapid
and energetic movements of Iphikrates towards Korkyra—his
excellent management of the voyage. On reaching Kephallenia,
he learns the flight of the Lacedæmonians from Korkyra.—He
goes on to Korkyra, and captures by surprise the ten Syracusan
triremes sent by Dionysius to the aid of Sparta.—Iphikrates in
want of money—he sends home Kallistratus to Athens—he finds
work for his seamen at Korkyra—he obtains funds by service
in Akarnania.—Favorable tone of public opinion at Athens, in
consequence of the success at Korkyra—the trial of Timotheus
went off easily—Jason and Alketas come to support him—his
quæstor is condemned to death.—Timotheus had been guilty
of delay, not justifiable under the circumstances—though
acquitted, his reputation suffered—he accepts command under
Persia.—Discouragement of Sparta in consequence of her defeat at
Korkyra, and of the triumphant position of Iphikrates.—Helikê
and Bura are destroyed by an earthquake.—The Spartans again send
Antalkidas to Persia, to sue for a fresh intervention—the Persian
satraps send down an order that the Grecian belligerents shall
make up their differences.—Athens disposed towards peace.—Athens
had ceased to be afraid of Sparta, and had become again jealous
of Thebes.—Equivocal position of the restored Platæa, now that
the Lacedæmonians had been expelled from Bœotia.—The Thebans
forestall a negotiation by seizing Platæa, and expelling the
inhabitants, who again take refuge at Athens.—Strong feeling
excited in Athens against the Thebans, on account of their
dealings with Platæa and Thespiæ. The Plataic discourse of
Isokrates.—Increased tendency of the Athenians towards peace
with Sparta—Athens and the Athenian confederacy give notice to
Thebes. General congress for peace at Sparta.—Speeches of the
Athenian envoys Kallias, Autokles, Kallistratus.—Kallistratus
and his policy.—He proposes that Sparta and Athens shall divide
between them the headship of Greece—Sparta on land, Athens at
sea—recognizing general autonomy.—Peace is concluded. Autonomy of
each city to be recognized: Sparta to withdraw her harmosts and
garrisons.—Oaths exchanged. Sparta takes the oath for herself and
her allies. Athens takes it for herself: her allies take it after
her, successively.—The oath proposed to the Thebans. Epaminondas,
the Theban envoy, insists upon taking the oath in the name of
the Bœotian federation. Agesilaus and the Spartans require that
he shall take it for Thebes alone.—Daring and emphatic speeches
delivered by Epaminondas in the congress—protesting against the
overweening pretensions of Sparta. He claims recognition of the
ancient institutions of Bœotia, with Thebes as president of
the federation.—Indignation of the Spartans, and especially of
Agesilaus—brief questions exchanged—Thebes is excluded from the
treaty.—General peace sworn, including Athens, Sparta, and the
rest—Thebes alone is excluded.—Terms of peace—compulsory and
indefeasible confederacies are renounced—voluntary alliances
alone maintained.—Real point in debate between Agesilaus and
Epaminondas. 72-174