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'''Agesilaus II''', or '''Agesilaos II''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''{{polytonic|Ἀγησίλαος}}''') ([[444 BC]] – [[360 BC]]), king of [[Sparta]], of the [[Eurypontid]] family, was the son of [[Archidamus II]] and Eupolia, and younger half-brother of [[Agis II]], whom he succeeded about [[401 BC]]. Agis had, indeed, a son Leotychides, but he was set aside as illegitimate, current rumour representing him as the son of [[Alcibiades]]. Agesilaus' success was largely due to his ''eispnelas'' ([[Spartan pederasty|pederastic lover]]) [[Lysander]], who hoped to find in him a willing tool for the furtherance of his political designs; in this hope, however, Lysander was disappointed, and the increasing power of Agesilaus soon led to his downfall.

In [[396 BC]] Agesilaus was sent to Asia with a force of 2,000 [[Neodamodes]] (enfranchized [[Helots]]) and 6,000 allies to secure the [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] cities against a [[Persian Empire|Persian]] attack. On the eve of sailing from [[Aulis]] he attempted to offer a sacrifice, as [[Agamemnon]] had done before the [[Troy|Trojan]] expedition, but the [[Thebes, Greece|Thebans]] intervened to prevent it, an insult for which he never forgave them. On his arrival at [[Ephesus]] a three months' truce was concluded with [[Tissaphernes]], the [[satrap]] of [[Lydia]] and [[Caria]], but negotiations conducted during that time proved fruitless, and on its termination Agesilaus raided [[Phrygia]], where he easily won immense booty since [[Tissaphernes]] had concentrated his troops in Caria. After spending the winter in organizing a [[cavalry]] force (''[[Hippeis]]''), he made a successful incursion into [[Lydia]] in the spring of [[395 BC]]. [[Tithraustes]] was thereupon sent to replace Tissaphernes, who paid with his life for his continued failure. An armistice was concluded between Tithraustes and Agesilaus, who left the southern satrapy and again invaded [[Phrygia]], which he ravaged until the following spring. He then came to an agreement with the satrap [[Pharnabazus]] and once more turned southward.

It was said that he was planning a campaign in the interior, or even an attack on [[Artaxerxes II of Persia|Artaxerxes II]] himself, when he was recalled to [[Greece]] owing to the war between Sparta and the combined forces of [[Athens]], [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], [[Corinth, Greece|Corinth]], [[Argos]] and several minor states. A rapid march through [[Thrace]] and [[Macedon]]ia brought him to [[Thessaly]], where he repulsed the Thessalian cavalry who tried to impede him. Reinforced by [[Phocis|Phocian]] and [[Orchomenus|Orchomenian]] troops and a Spartan army, he met the confederate forces at [[Chaeronea]] in [[Boeotia]], and in a hotly contested battle was
technically victorious, but the success was a barren one and he had to retire by way of [[Delphi]] to the [[Peloponnese]]. Shortly before this battle the Spartan [[navy]], of which he had received the supreme command, was totally defeated off [[Knidos|Cnidus]] by a powerful Persian fleet under [[Conon]] and [[Pharnabazus]].

Subsequently Agesilaus took a prominent part in the [[Corinthian War]], making several successful expeditions into Corinthian territory and capturing [[Lechaeum]] and [[Piraeus]]. The loss, however, of a mora, destroyed by [[Iphicrates]], neutralized these successes, and Agesilaus returned to Sparta. In [[389 BC]] he conducted a campaign in [[Acarnania]], but two years later the [[Peace of Antalcidas]], warmly supported by Agesilaus, put an end to hostilities. When war broke out afresh with Thebes the king twice invaded [[Boeotia]] ([[378 BC]], [[377 BC]]), and it was on his advice that [[Cleombrotus]] was ordered to march against Thebes in [[371 BC]]. Cleombrotus was defeated at Leuctra and the Spartan supremacy overthrown.

In [[370 BC]] Agesilaus tried to restore Spartan prestige by an invasion of [[Mantinea]]n territory, and his prudence and heroism saved Sparta when her enemies, led by [[Epaminondas]], penetrated [[Laconia]] that same year, and again in [[362 BC]] when they all but succeeded in seizing the city by a rapid and unexpected march. The [[battle of Mantinea (362 BC)]], in which Agesilaus took no part, was followed by a general peace: Sparta, however, stood aloof, hoping even yet to recover her supremacy. In order to gain money for prosecuting the war Agesilaus had supported the revolted [[satrap]]s, and in [[361 BC]] he went to [[Egypt]] at the head of a [[mercenary]] force to aid [[Tachos]] against Persia. He soon transferred his services to Tachos's cousin and rival [[Nectanebo II]], who, in return for his help, gave him a sum of over 200 talents. On his way home Agesilaus died at the age of 83, after a reign of some 41 years.

Agesilaus was of small stature and unimpressive appearance, and was somewhat lame from birth. These facts were used as an argument against his succession, an [[oracle]] having warned Sparta against a "lame reign." He was a successful leader in [[guerrilla warfare]], alert and quick, yet cautious--a man, moreover, whose personal bravery was unquestioned. As a statesman he won himself both enthusiastic adherents and bitter enemies, but of his patriotism there can be no doubt. He lived in the most frugal style alike at home and in the field, and though his campaigns were undertaken largely to secure booty, he was content to enrich the state and his friends and to return as poor as he had set forth. The worst trait in his character is his implacable hatred of Thebes, which led directly to the [[battle of Leuctra]] and Sparta's fall from her position of supremacy.

According to [[Plutarch]], he was once asked whether he wanted a memorial erected in his honour. He replied, “If I have done any noble action, that is a sufficient memorial; if I have done nothing noble, all the statues in the world will not preserve my memory.” (In [[Ancient Greek|Greek]]: {{polytonic|Εἰ γὰρ τι καλὸν ἔργον πεποίηκα, τοῦτο μνημεῖον ἐστίν; εἰ δὲ μηδὲν, οὐδ' οἱ πάντες ἀνδριάντες}}.)

His sister [[Cynisca]] became the only woman in ancient history to win at the [[ancient Olympic Games|Olympic Games]].

Quote
- Do not go after any man with nothing left to lose, for he will come back at you with the strength of 10 men.

==External links==
* [http://www.livius.org/ag-ai/agesilaus/agesilaus.htm Agesilaus] from [http://www.livius.org Livius.Org]

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{{succession box|title=[[Kings of Sparta|Eurypontid King of Sparta]]|before=[[Agis II]]|after=[[Archidamus III]]|years=[[401 BC|401]]/[[400 BC]]– [[360 BC]]}}
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{{Plutarch}}

[[Category:Rulers of Sparta]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek generals]]
[[Category:Pederasty in ancient Greece]]
[[Category:444 BC births]]
[[Category:360 BC deaths]]

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