Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/291

 DISTURBED STATE OF SIKYON. 269 united forces against each city successively, were strong enough to overthrow the newly-created democracies, and to expel the The- ban harmosts. Thus restored, the Achaean oligarchs took decided and active part with Sparta ; ] vigorously pressing the Arcadians on one side, while the Lacedaemonians, encouraged by the recent Tearless Battle, exerted themselves actively on the other. The town of Sikyon, closely adjoining to Achaia, was at thia time in alliance with Thebes, having a Theban harmost and gar- rison in its acropolis. But its government, which had always been oligarchical, still remained unaltered. The recent counter-revolu- tion in the Achaean cities, followed closely by their junction with Sparta, alarmed the Arcadians and Argeians, lest Sikyon also should follow the example. Of this alarm a leading Sikyonian citizen named Euphron, took advantage. He warned them that if the oligarchy were left in power, they would certainly procure aid from the garrison at Corinth, and embrace the interests of Sparta. To prevent such defection (he said) it was indispensable that Sikyon should be democratized. He then offered himself, with their aid, to accomplish the revolution, seasoning his offer with strong protestations of disgust against the intolerable arro- gance and oppression of Sparta : protestations not unnecessary, since he had himself, prior to the battle of Leuktra, carried on the government of his native city as local agent for her purposes and interest. The Arcadians and Argeians, entering into the views of Euphron, sent to Sikyon a large force, under whose presence and countenance he summoned a general assembly in the market-place, proclaimed the oligarchy to be deposed, and pro- posed an equal democracy for the future. His proposition being adopted, he next invited the people to choose generals ; and the persons chosen were, as might naturally be expected, himself with five partisans. The prior oligarchy had not been without a pre- vious mercenary force in their service, under the command of Lysimenes ; but these men were overawed by the new foreign force introduced. Euphron now proceeded to reorganize them, to place them under the command of his son Adeas instead of 1 Xen. Hellen. vii, 1, 23. For a similar case, in which exiles from many different cities, congregat- ing in a body, became strong enough to carry their restoration in each citj successively, see Thucyd. i, 113.