Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/473

 CHAP. XIII. REVOLUTIONS OF SPARTA. 467 people, satisfied to have obtained lan^ls, appeared to care very little for political liberty. This situation did not continue long. Cleomenes wished to extend the democratic rule to all Peloponnesus, where Aratns, at the very same time, Avas laboring to establish liberty and a well-regulated aristocracy. In all the cities, the popular party agitated in the name of Cleomenes, hoping, like Sparta, to obtain an abolition of debts and a dis- tribution of lands. It was this unexpected insurrection of the lower classes that obliged Aratua to change all bis plans. He thought he could count upon Macedo- nia, whose king, Antigonus Doson, was then acting on the plan of attacking the tyrants and the popular party everywhere, and therefore introduced him into Peloponnesus. Antigonus and the Achasans conquered Cleomenes at Sellasia. The Spartan democracy were again overthrown, and the Macedonians re-established the ancient government (B. C. 222). But the oligarchy could no longer support itself. Disturbances continued a long time; one year, three ephors, who were favorable to the popular party, mas- sacred their two colleagues ; the following year the five ephors belonged to the oligarchs. The people took arms and killed them all. The oligarchy vanted no kings ; the people were in favor of kings ; one was nominated and elected outside the royal family — a thing that had never been known before at Sparta. This king, named Lycuigus, was twice dethroned, once by the people, because he refused to divide the lands, and a second time by the aristocracy, because they suspected him of wishing to make the partition. It is not known how he closed his reign ; but after him there was a tyrant, Machanidas, at Sparta — a certain proof that the popular party had gained the ascendency.