Agesilaus

Family: Lacedaemonians · Role: king · First appears: Book 3, section 3

After the mourning for his brother Agis, Agesilaus contested the kingship with Leotychides and was chosen king. Lysander opposed an interpretation of an oracle that threatened his claim, though their friendship later drew a complaint from Lysander about being humbled. In Asia, Tissaphernes threatened war if Agesilaus did not withdraw; later, Tissaphernes took an oath before commissioners including Herippidas, Dercylidas and Megillus.

Agesilaus turned his army toward Phrygia, taking cities and plunder. Near Dascylium, cavalry sent by Pharnabazus drove back the Hellenic advance guard but withdrew when Agesilaus arrived with infantry. Lacking cavalry for campaigning on open ground, he marched toward the sea, arranged for wealthy inhabitants to equip riders, and gathered his army at Ephesus for training. He appointed Xenocles, Scythes, Herippidas and Migdon to commands, then invaded the district of Sardis, where his forces defeated Persian cavalry and captured its camp. He later agreed to leave Pharnabazus’s territory and avoid fighting him while other enemies remained; in 394 BC, he marched out as promised.

When Epicydidas brought Sparta’s summons recalling him, Agesilaus left Euxenus as governor in Asia with a garrison and led his army back toward Greece. His forces defeated Thessalian cavalry at Mount Narthacius, where Polymarchus of Pharsalus fell. Agesilaus then falsely announced that Peisander, his wife’s brother, had died victorious in a sea-fight. At Coronea, he defeated the Thebans and their allies but was wounded. He later captured the rebuilt walls at Corinth; his brother Teleutias supported the campaign by sea. In 390 BC, Agesilaus again campaigned near Corinth, taking Oenoe and ordering the fate of captives at the Heraion. Sent to assist the Achaeans, he fought the Acarnanians, then withdrew through Aetolia without taking a city.

In 380 BC, Agesilaus besieged Phlius; the following year, he ordered a board to judge its people and establish laws for a new constitution. He subsequently led expeditions against Thebes, ravaged its territory and left Phoebidas as governor at Thespiae. On another campaign in 377 BC, he prevented a faction there from executing opponents including Menon and secured an oath of peace. Later, at Sparta, he refused the Theban ambassadors’ request to change their treaty signature to “Boeotians.” When infirmity disabled him, command passed to his son Archidamus. Agesilaus later ravaged Mantinean territory before retreating to Eutaea and dismissing his troops.