Agesipolis I
Encyclopedia
Agesipolis I was the twenty-first of the kings of the Agiad dynasty in ancient Sparta
.
Agesipolis succeeded his father Pausanias
, while still a minor, in 394 BC, and reigned fourteen years. Upon the death of Pausanias, Agesipolis and his brother, Cleombrotus I
, were both placed under the guardianship of Aristodemus, their nearest relative. Agesipolis came to the crown just about the time that the confederacy (partly brought about by the intrigues of the Persian
satrap Tithraustes
), which was formed by Thebes
, Athens
, Corinth
, and Argos
, against Sparta, rendering it necessary to recall his colleague, Agesilaus II
, from Asia; and the first military operation of his reign was the expedition to Corinth, where the forces of the confederates were assembled.
The Spartan army was led by Aristodemus, and gained a victory over the allies. In 390 BC Agesipolis, who had now come of age, was entrusted with the command of an army for the invasion of Argolis
. Having procured the sanction of the Olympic and Delphic gods for disregarding any attempt which the Argives
might make to stop his march, on the pretext of a religious truce, he carried his ravages still farther than Agesilaus had done in 393 BC; but as he suffered the aspect of the victims to deter him from occupying a permanent post, the expedition yielded no fruit but the plunder.
In 385 BC the Spartans, seizing upon some frivolous pretexts, sent an expedition against Mantineia
, in which Agesipolis undertook the command, after it had been declined by Agesilaus. In this expedition the Spartans were assisted by Thebes, and in a battle with the Mantineans, the Theban generals Epaminondas
and Pelopidas
narrowly escaped death. Agesipolis took the town by diverting the river Ophis
, so as to put the low ground at the foot of the city walls under water. The basements, being made of unbaked bricks, were unable to resist the action of the water. The walls soon began to totter, and the Mantineans were forced to surrender. They were admitted to terms on condition that the population should be dispersed among the four hamlets, out of which it had been collected to form the capital. The democratic
leaders were permitted to go into exile.
Early in 382 BC, an embassy came to Sparta from the cities of Acanthus
and Apollonia
, requesting assistance against the Chalkidian League
, who were endeavoring to compel them to join their confederacy. The Spartans granted it, but were not at first very successful. After the defeat and death of Teleutias
in the second campaign (381 BC) Agesipolis took the command. He set out in 381 BC, but did not begin operations until the spring of 380. He then acted with great vigor, and took Toroni
by storm; but in the midst of his successes he was seized with a fever, which carried him off in seven days. He died in the town of Aphytis
, in the peninsula of Pallene
. His body was immersed in honey
and conveyed home to Sparta for burial.
Though Agesipolis did not share the ambitious views of foreign conquest cherished by Agesilaus
, his loss was deeply regretted by that prince, who seems to have had a sincere regard for him. He was succeeded as king by his brother Cleombrotus I
. Paul Cartledge, however, suggests that Agesilaus' grief was partly due to the loss of a malleable "partner in crime".
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
.
Agesipolis succeeded his father Pausanias
Pausanias of Sparta
Pausanias King of Sparta from 409 BC. He was in frequent conflict with the Ephors. Aristotle said that he tried to overthrow them. Army leader Lysander sent a letter to him, requesting help against Thebes, but it was intercepted...
, while still a minor, in 394 BC, and reigned fourteen years. Upon the death of Pausanias, Agesipolis and his brother, Cleombrotus I
Cleombrotus I
Cleombrotus I was a Spartan king of the Agiad line, reigning from 380 BC until 371 BC. Little is known of Cleombrotus' early life. Son of Pausanias, he became king of Sparta after the death of his brother Agesipolis I in 380 BC, and led the allied Spartan-Peloponnesian army against the Thebans...
, were both placed under the guardianship of Aristodemus, their nearest relative. Agesipolis came to the crown just about the time that the confederacy (partly brought about by the intrigues of the Persian
Achaemenid Empire
The Achaemenid Empire , sometimes known as First Persian Empire and/or Persian Empire, was founded in the 6th century BCE by Cyrus the Great who overthrew the Median confederation...
satrap Tithraustes
Tithraustes
Tithraustes was the Persian satrap of Sardis for several years in the early 4th century BC. Due to scanty historical records, little is known of the man or his activities...
), which was formed by Thebes
Thebes, Greece
Thebes is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others...
, Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
, and Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, against Sparta, rendering it necessary to recall his colleague, Agesilaus II
Agesilaus II
Agesilaus II, or Agesilaos II was a king of Sparta, of the Eurypontid dynasty, ruling from approximately 400 BC to 360 BC, during most of which time he was, in Plutarch's words, "as good as thought commander and king of all Greece," and was for the whole of it greatly identified with his...
, from Asia; and the first military operation of his reign was the expedition to Corinth, where the forces of the confederates were assembled.
The Spartan army was led by Aristodemus, and gained a victory over the allies. In 390 BC Agesipolis, who had now come of age, was entrusted with the command of an army for the invasion of Argolis
Argolis
Argolis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.-Geography:...
. Having procured the sanction of the Olympic and Delphic gods for disregarding any attempt which the Argives
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
might make to stop his march, on the pretext of a religious truce, he carried his ravages still farther than Agesilaus had done in 393 BC; but as he suffered the aspect of the victims to deter him from occupying a permanent post, the expedition yielded no fruit but the plunder.
In 385 BC the Spartans, seizing upon some frivolous pretexts, sent an expedition against Mantineia
Mantineia
Mantineia was a city in ancient Greece that was the site of two significant battles in Classical Greek history. It is also a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat...
, in which Agesipolis undertook the command, after it had been declined by Agesilaus. In this expedition the Spartans were assisted by Thebes, and in a battle with the Mantineans, the Theban generals Epaminondas
Epaminondas
Epaminondas , or Epameinondas, was a Theban general and statesman of the 4th century BC who transformed the Ancient Greek city-state of Thebes, leading it out of Spartan subjugation into a preeminent position in Greek politics...
and Pelopidas
Pelopidas
Pelopidas was an important Theban statesman and general in Greece.-Athlete and warrior:He was a member of a distinguished family, and possessed great wealth which he expended on his friends, while content to lead the life of an athlete...
narrowly escaped death. Agesipolis took the town by diverting the river Ophis
Ophis
Ophis is Greek for "serpent", and may refer to:* The Serpens constellation* Serpent , a figure in the Hebrew bible.* SS Ophis, a cargo ship built in 1919 and which was sunk in 1942 when named Empire Antelope* The River Ophis, in Arcadia, Greece...
, so as to put the low ground at the foot of the city walls under water. The basements, being made of unbaked bricks, were unable to resist the action of the water. The walls soon began to totter, and the Mantineans were forced to surrender. They were admitted to terms on condition that the population should be dispersed among the four hamlets, out of which it had been collected to form the capital. The democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
leaders were permitted to go into exile.
Early in 382 BC, an embassy came to Sparta from the cities of Acanthus
Acanthus (Greece)
Ierissos Modern Greek: or Acanthus was an ancient Greek city on the Athos peninsula. It was located on the north-east side of Akti, on the most eastern peninsula of Chalcidice...
and Apollonia
Apollonia (Chalcidice)
Apollonia was the ancient chief town of Chalcidice in Macedonia, situated north of Olynthus, and a little south of the Chalcidian mountains. That this Apollonia is a different place from Apollonia in Mygdonia, appears from Xenophon, who describes the Chalcidian Apollonia as distant 10 or 12 miles...
, requesting assistance against the Chalkidian League
Chalkidian League
The Chalkidian League was a federal state that existed on the shores of the north west Aegean from around 430 BCE until it was destroyed by Philip II of Macedon in 348 BCE.-History:...
, who were endeavoring to compel them to join their confederacy. The Spartans granted it, but were not at first very successful. After the defeat and death of Teleutias
Teleutias
Teleutias was the brother of the Spartan king Agesilaus II, and a Spartan naval commander in the Corinthian War. He first saw action in the campaign to regain control of the Corinthian Gulf after the Spartan naval disaster at Cnidus in 394 BC, and was later active in the Spartan campaign against...
in the second campaign (381 BC) Agesipolis took the command. He set out in 381 BC, but did not begin operations until the spring of 380. He then acted with great vigor, and took Toroni
Toroni
Toroni is an ancient Greek city and a former municipality in the southwest edge of Sithonia peninsula in Chalkidiki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sithonia, of which it is a municipal unit.-History:...
by storm; but in the midst of his successes he was seized with a fever, which carried him off in seven days. He died in the town of Aphytis
Aphytis
Aphytis was an ancient Greek city in Pallene, the westernmost headland of Chalcidice. Around the middle of the 8th century BC colonists from Euboea arrived. The city became well known for its Temple of Dionysus, which appears to have been built in the second half of the 8th century BC...
, in the peninsula of Pallene
Pallene
Pallene can refer to:* Pallene , one of the seven Alkyonides, daughters of the giant Alkyoneus in Greek mythology* Pallene , a small moon of Saturn, discovered in 2004*Pallini, a town east of Athens, Greece...
. His body was immersed in honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
and conveyed home to Sparta for burial.
Though Agesipolis did not share the ambitious views of foreign conquest cherished by Agesilaus
Agesilaus II
Agesilaus II, or Agesilaos II was a king of Sparta, of the Eurypontid dynasty, ruling from approximately 400 BC to 360 BC, during most of which time he was, in Plutarch's words, "as good as thought commander and king of all Greece," and was for the whole of it greatly identified with his...
, his loss was deeply regretted by that prince, who seems to have had a sincere regard for him. He was succeeded as king by his brother Cleombrotus I
Cleombrotus I
Cleombrotus I was a Spartan king of the Agiad line, reigning from 380 BC until 371 BC. Little is known of Cleombrotus' early life. Son of Pausanias, he became king of Sparta after the death of his brother Agesipolis I in 380 BC, and led the allied Spartan-Peloponnesian army against the Thebans...
. Paul Cartledge, however, suggests that Agesilaus' grief was partly due to the loss of a malleable "partner in crime".