Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 627

[Chapter 46 The Spartan Controversy Over Contract Renewal]

The Spartans knew that the location of the Kalkidic peninsula in northern Greece was very important. It was shaped like a harpoon and was nicknamed “Poseidon’s Trident”. In the middle of the route, and the messenger said, ‘Orintus is actively sending people to contact Thebes and Athens’, so the council of elders almost unanimously passed the resolution of “rescue Macedonia”.

In fact, there is another important point. The kings and elders of Sparta tacitly understood and did not say it: that is, they need Macedonia, an ally in the north, to cooperate with the Spartans to squeeze Thebes in central Greece from the south to the north. At the same time, Macedonia’s huge army source and powerful cavalry are exactly what Sparta needs.

After the decision to send troops was made, Agesilaus stood up and said solemnly: “I think we’d better make another important decision before we send troops to Calgidic.”

He said this .

As soon as the words came out, the expressions of the elders in the venue changed. They all knew what the important thing Agsilaus said, because the agreement with Dionia’s ten-year covenant expired in a few months. Yes, these days, the council of elders has discussed the issue of “whether to continue to conclude a covenant with Dionia”, and the result is a heated debate.

The radical elders headed by the young Spartan king Agesipolis believed that after the end of the Corinthian War, Sparta had become the hegemon of the Greek mainland again, and there was no need to worry about Dionia becoming a problem.

On the contrary, Sparta must restrain the expansion of Dionia, and cannot allow it to conquer the region of Apulia, which is separated from the Peloponnesus by the Adriatic Sea, because this will affect the Spartan territory. Security poses a threat, after all, this is a “Greek” kingdom that ignores Sparta’s authority and dares to threaten Sparta.

The conservative elders headed by Agesilaus and others (and they are only relatively stable on issues involving Dionia) believed that although Sparta relied on the “king peace treaty” to re-dominate the situation in mainland Greece, However, compared with before the Corinthian War, Sparta not only weakened its national strength, but also declined its prestige. City-states such as Thebes and Athens could come out to oppose Sparta at any time.

Before the complete suppression and integration of the Greek mainland city-states is truly completed, not only should we not provoke this powerful kingdom, but also prevent Dionia from actively interfering with Sparta’s authority to exercise the “Great King’s Contract” executor in mainland Greece. So it is very necessary to renew the contract!

“King Agsilaus, the agreement with Dionia will not expire until January next year. There are four months. Let us consider this important issue clearly, there is no need to rush it. Make a decision.” Agesiporis’ uncle, the former regent Praxitas said calmly: “After all, it is too important, it is related to the development of Sparta in the next ten years, we must be careful!”

“It is precisely because of the importance of this covenant that it is not only related to the development of Sparta in the next ten years, but also to the war we are about to launch, so I want everyone to make a decision as soon as possible!” Agesilaus Said sternly.

“What we have waged against the Chalkidik Alliance is not a war,

but a battle, and as long as our troops set foot on the territory of the Chalkidik Peninsula, what awaits the Olympians will be a disastrous defeat. “Agesipolis, who is already 30 years old, said confidently. In the past ten years, he has grown from a young new king to a Spartan king recognized by the Spartan warriors. He has experienced many battles, especially leading the army. The destruction of Mandinia has won him a lot of praise. Standing among a group of elders in their sixties and seventies, his youth is particularly conspicuous.

Compared with the high-spirited Agasipolis, Agsilaus, who is in his 50s, is not only crippled, has gray hair, but also has a slightly bent back. He said in a calm tone: “War is unpredictable, otherwise in ten Years ago, we did not expect that just a battle to help our ally Phokis turned into a ten-year war, and Sparta had to rely on our former enemy, Persia, to end that battle. A war that has consumed us too much…”

Agesilaus’ words caused the elders to fall into memory, and then sighed from time to time.

“Now our fighters are going to leave the Peloponnesus and go to the northern Greek region where we have never fought – the Kalkidic Peninsula. I heard that the situation there is very complicated. The two populous regions of Thessaly, and even Thebes and Athens are connected to them, will our intervention lead to a new war? This must arouse our vigilance!” Agesilaus’ words made the elders They are thoughtful.

“Since the expedition to Kalkidic may have such terrible results, then King Agsilaus, why did you support this expedition just now.” Praxitas sneered at Agathilaus’ insincere words.

Agesilaus still retorted unhurriedly: “I support the expedition, because it is in the interest of Sparta. If the Calgidic alliance is allowed to grow and unchecked, then other Greek city-states will It has formed alliances as an example, which will not only make the ‘contract of the great king’ invalid, but also shake the prestige of Sparta in mainland Greece. Besides, winning over Macedonia and conquering the Greek city-states on the island of Calgidic will help us occupy the leading The passage of the Black Sea, in order to threaten Athens from being afraid to oppose Sparta in the future. But for the sake of safety, we should continue the alliance agreement with Dionia before going out to ensure that when the war in northern Greece expands, Dio will Nia won’t step in.

And even if we conquer Chalkedek, there are also Argos, Athens, Thebes…these city-states resent us and want to get back to what we were after the Peloponnesian War Prosperity, Sparta still needs time, so I don’t want… in Sparta to strive to develop During this time, a ‘Persia’ similar to the Corinthian War appears in the Western Mediterranean, and Sparta is in a dilemma! Dionia renews the contract. Judging from the previous ten years, the Dionias are still keeping their promises…”

“We want to renew the contract, but Dionia may not agree to renew the contract with us.” Praxita Si said coldly.

“That’s not just enough to detect that Dionia harbors ill will towards Sparta, and we can take precautions in advance.” Agesilaus replied calmly.

“Let’s take the initiative to go to the colony to renew the contract with Dionia, which will damage the prestige of Sparta! Why not ask Dionia to send someone to Sparta to renew the contract?!” Agasipolis was a little unwilling said.

Agesilaus looked at the Spartan king who was side by side with him, a faint smile appeared on his face, and persuaded in the tone of an elder: “There is an old saying in Sparta, ‘Gorgeous clothes are better than beautiful clothes. The sturdy coarse cloth is durable.’ Since we have all taken the initiative to seek peace with Persia, the mortal enemy of Greece for decades, and have caused infamy, why should we care about going to Greater Greece! During the Corinthian War, we did not take the initiative to ask for peace with Dai Did Onia sign the agreement! Everything we do is for the strength of Sparta, and personal honor and disgrace is nothing!”

Agesilaus’ remarks made the elders nodded again and again, Agesippo Reese was powerless to refute.

Although Agesilaus took the throne in a dangerous and dangerous position, and his biggest supporter Lysander died in battle within a few years, he was not only not neglected in the Council of Elders, but after more than ten years of management , but its influence in the country is increasing day by day, especially in the council of elders.

Because these Spartan elders were brave warriors when they were young, but now they are old men in their 60s and 70s. Instead of taking risks, most of them prefer to be safe.

And Agesilaus is a king who likes to use tactics more than fists. He was the first to propose to seek peace with Persia. Therefore, when the council of elders voted on this matter, the overwhelming majority was in favor of “immediately” Go to Dionysus to negotiate a contract extension”.

The messenger candidate was also quickly selected. He was Cleethorpes, who was responsible for signing the covenant with Dionia.

……………………………………

In the central Sikelian town of Sicily, Kepharoition, many tribal leaders of the Sikelians gathered again.

Sitting at the top was the leader of the Tanikian tribe, Akris, who glanced at the crowd and said loudly: “Leaders, there is news from Turii that Laodysian, Lexi Peratus and others have been arrested. The Dionysians were arrested, and it is said that they will be tried soon, and the things we have done before must have been known by the Dionysians, maybe they are preparing an army and want to declare war on us!”

As soon as the words fell, there was a big commotion in the crowd.

The leaders couldn’t hide the shock on their faces. One of the leaders stood up and asked anxiously, “Leader Arconis, did you get the exact news? Or did you hear rumors?”

“If I say the exact news, you What will you do? Chief Zemathis!” Arconis stared at him viciously like a beast that wanted to eat people.

“Of course… Of course, someone will be sent to explain to the Dionysian Senate…” Zemathis said sternly.

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“Explain what?!” Another leader, Apides, who was closely related to Arconis, said scornfully: “Explain why you annexed other tribes and took the wives of other leaders to be your concubine. ?!”

Disdainful laughter came from the leaders next to him.

“It’s useless to ask Dionysus for mercy!” Arconis slapped the armrest violently, stood up with a “huh”, looked at the leaders, and said loudly, “Look at the way Dionia treated aliens in the past. Come on! Lucania is annexed! Bruti is annexed! Messapi is about to be annexed! Puchetti is annexed! And now they’re annexing Downey! Dionysus will never allow aliens to exist independently! says Perhaps in the eyes of the greedy King Dionia, we Sikelians have long been his next target of annexation! We violated the covenant, attacked and devoured other tribes, and already gave him an excuse to start a war, maybe Dionia’s troops are on their way to Sicily!…” The

leaders were in an uproar again, and everyone chatted uncomfortably.

A leader immediately asked loudly, “Arconis, what should we do?!”