Agesilaus

Family: Sparta · Role: king and commander · First appears: Lycurgus

Born to Eupolia, Agesilaus was the younger brother of Agis and uncle to him by their mother’s side. When Agis died, Lysander supported Agesilaus against Leotychides, securing his succession to the Spartan throne; Agesilaus obtained the kingdom by having judgment of bastardy procured against Leotychides. In the reforms associated with Agis and Cleombrotus, he was among those placed in the ephorate, while debts were canceled by burning the bonds; when Leonidas was restored, Agesilaus escaped as Agis and Cleombrotus fled to sanctuaries.

Lysander, attracted by Agesilaus’s orderly temper, became his friend and patron, urging an expedition into Asia and hoping that he would destroy the Persians and reach greatness. Agesilaus kept Lysander among his counselors, gave him command and the government of cities, and later appointed him carver at his table, but Lysander also formed a faction against him. In Asia, Agesilaus fought Tisaphernes, defeated him, and set many cities in revolt; he was attended by Spithridates, whose son Megabates he greatly favored, and he maintained both enmity and respect toward Pharnabazus. He kept Xenophon with him and made much of him, while Apollophanes helped bring about his meeting with Pharnabazus. On receiving the scytala, he left the wars in Asia and returned to Sparta.

At Thebes, Agesilaus supported Phoebidas after his breach of the peace and defended Sphodrias, whom he saved from execution to gratify his son Archidamus, despite Sphodrias’s wrong against the Athenians. His incursions into Boeotia drew blame from Antalcidas, and he later received the attack of Epaminondas when the Thebans crossed the Eurotas. He favored Pisander for the naval command, though Teleutias was his half-brother and others were more experienced; he also gained the confidence of Agesipolis, sent Cleombrotus on his behalf, and was helped by Chabrias’s persuasion. With his wife Cleora, he had Archidamus, Eupolia, and Prolyta; he induced his sister Cynisca to enter a chariot in the games. In Egypt he served Tachos as captain of the mercenaries, then received kindness and substantial gifts from Nectanabis, who invited him to winter there and fought among the Greek troops.