The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian/Book XIV/Chapter III

Chapter III

 * The Lacedæmonians establish an oligarchy in every city; Dionysius disarms the Syracusans. Alcibiades killed; the manner of his death. Clearchus's tyranny in Byzantium. The battle of Porus against his countrymen the Lacedæmonians. Lysander projects to deprive the Heraclidæ of the sovereign power.

IN Greece, after the end of the Peloponnesian war, the Lacedæmonians, by the general consent of all, had the sovereign command, both at sea and land. Whereupon they created Lysander again high admiral, with power to establish the Hermoste, (as they called them), in every city wherever he came. For, because the Democratists were enemies to the Lacedæmonians, they ordered an oligarchy to be settled in every city, and imposed a tribute upon all they subdued. And although they made no use of money at any time before, yet now they treasured up from the tributes paid in by the cities, a thousand talents every year.

When they had settled the affairs of Greece, as they thought best for the support of their authority, they sent Aristus, a noble person, to Syracuse, under colour of abrogating the tyranny, but in truth, and underhand, to confirm it. For they concluded, that if they were instrumental in to fix him in his new-got empire, they should ever oblige him to be a friend to them. Aristus, after he came to Syracuse, had a private conference with Dionysius concerning these matters; and yet in the mean time encouraged the people with fair promises to restore them to their former liberties: but, instead of that, he betrayed Nicoteles, the general of the Syracusans, and others who trusted in his fidelity, and caused them all to be put to death, by which he strengthened the tyrants, and by so base an act, stained his own reputation, and dishonoured his country.

After this, when the people of Syracuse had left the city in the time of harvest, to gather the fruits, Dionysius enters every one of their houses, and takes away all the arms he could find: and presently after draws another wall about the castle, builds shipping, and takes into pay a number of strangers, and prepares whatever was necessary for the supporting of his dominion; having experienced that the Syracusans would endure any thing rather than slavery. While these things were acting here and there, Pharnabazus, Darius's lord-lieutenant, to gratify the Lacedæmonians, surprised Alcibiades and killed him. But in regard Ephorus gives an account of other things to be the causes of his death, I conceive it may not be altogether unprofitable, if we relate what this author hath recorded concerning the manner of Alcibiades losing his life. In his seventeenth book he says, that Cyrus secretly compacted with the Lacedæmonians to make war against Artaxerxes, which coming to the ears of Alcibiades, he forthwith hastened away to Pharnabazus, and informs him of the intrigue, and desires from him a passport to go to Artaxerxes, judging it fittest for him to give the first information of the conspiracy to the king. But that when Pharnabazus heard this, he was resolved to be the first discoverer himself, and therefore forthwith sent a messenger in whom he could most confide, and by him laid all open before the king. That when Alcibiades saw that Pharnabazus would not furnish him with letters to make way for him to the king's palace, he made a journey to the lieutenant and governor of Paphlagonia, and desired his assistance to get to the king: and that Pharnabazus fearing lest the king should come to understand the truth, sent some to lie in wait for Alcibiades in the way, and to murder him: and that these finding him in his inn at Phrygia, raised up a pile of wood round his lodging in the night, and set it on fire; and that Alcibiades, endeavouring to save himself, in the midst of the flames, partly by the fire, and partly by darts cast at him by his enemies, there perished. About the same time Democrates the philosopher died, being ninety years of age. And Lasthenes, the Theban, who won the prize this olympiad, is said to run a race on foot with a running-horse, from Coronea to the walls of Thebes, and won the match. In Italy the Volsci set upon the Roman garrison at Verugine, took the city itself, and killed many of the garrison-soldiers. After the affairs of this year, Euclides became chief magistrate of Athens. And four military tribunes bore the consular dignity at Rome, Publius Cornelius, Numerius Fabius, Lucius Valerius, and Terentius Maximus. During the time of their government, the affairs of Byzantium were put in an ill posture, by reason of their intestine seditions, and their wars with the Thracians their neighbours. Not being able to put an end to their civil discords, they desired a governor from the Lacedæmonians; to which end Clearchus was sent to them, who, after the whole power was put into his hands, got together a great number of mercenaries, and acted more like a tyrant than a governor. For first, having invited the magistrates to a feast, after a public sacrifice, he caused them all to be put to death. Presently after, when there was none left to govern the city, he strangled thirty of the chief men of Byzantium, and seized upon all their goods to his own use. He likewise put to death some of the richest of the citizens under colour of pretended crimes, and others he banished. Having thus enriched himself, he inlisted vast numbers of foreign troops, and confirmed and strengthened himself in the sovereignty. When the cruelty and power of the tyrant was spread abroad, the Lacedæmonians at first sent messengers to him to advise him to lay down his government: but when he flatly refused, they sent an army against him under the command of Panthedas; but when Clearchus hear of his coming, he marched away with his forces to Selymbria, of which he had before possessed himself. For by reason of his cruelty in Byzantium he foresaw, that not only the Lacedæmonians, but the citizens, would be his enemies; and therefore concluding that he could with more safety march out against his enemies from Selymbria, he brought all his money together with his army, thither. When he came there, and heard of the approach of the Lacedæmonians, he drew out to meet them, and at a place called Porus they engaged. The battle was doubtful a long time, but at length the valiant Spartans prevailed, and the tyrant's army was miserably destroyed. Clearchus with a few escaped to Selymbria, and was there awhile besieged, but afterwards in a great fright he fled out of the town in the night, and sailed over to Ionia, where, becoming familiar with Cyrus the king of Persia's brother, he was made general of his army. For Cyrus, being made chief of all the princes and governors of the sea-coasts, and being of a high and aspiring spirit, determined to make war against his brother Artaxerxes; looking therefore upon Clearchus to be a fellow of a bold and daring spirit, ready for any adventure, he furnished him with money, and ordered him to raise an army of as many foreigners as he could, hoping he had now got a fit companion to assist him in the execution of those bold attempts he had taken in hand. As for Lysander the Spartan, after he had settled all the cities subject to the Lacedæmonians, according to the orders and directives of the Ephori, some to be governed by a decemvirate, other by an oligarchy, because of great note and reputation at Sparta: for by his conduct he had put an end to the Peloponnesian war, and thereby had gained for his country the sovereign command, both by sea and land, without controul. Being puffed up with this success, he designed to put an end to the reign of the Heraclidæ, and to that end endeavoured so to contrive the matter, as to procure a decree—That any Spartan whatsoever should be capable of being elected king. Thereby he hoped that the regal power would presently be conferred upon himself, for the great and noble services that he had done. But considering that the Lacedæmonians were led much by the answers given by the oracle, he resolved to bribe the prophetess of Delphos with a large sum of money; for, he concluded, that if he were favoured by the oracle, his business was done according to his heart's desire. But when he saw that by his continual and repeated promises of reward, day by day, he could not prevail, he addressed himself upon the same account to the priest of the oracle at Dodona, by one Pherecrates, of the family of Apolloniatus, who was familiarly acquainted with the officers of that temple.

But being disappointed here likewise, he took a journey to Cerene, under colour to pay a vow to Jupiter Ammon, but in truth to no other purpose than to bribe that oracle. To that end he carried with him a great sum of money to bring over the priests of that temple to his interest; for Lybis, the king of that country, had been his father's guest, and for the great love and friendship there was between them, the brother of Lysander, was called Lybis. But notwithstanding all his hopes to prevail, by his interest in the king and the fullness of his purse, he was not only frustrated of his hope there, but the priests of the oracle sent ambassadors to Sparta, and accused Lysander for his offering of bribes to corrupt the oracle. Upon which, when he returned to Lacedæmon, he was called to answer to the charge: but he so subtilely managed his cause, that he came off clear: and nothing was discerned concerning his prospect to abolish the government of the Heraclidæ. But a little after his death, when some notes of accounts were sought for in his house, there was found a speech eloquently penned, which he had framed to persuade the people—That the kings might be chosen out of any of the families of Sparta.