Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 46: Spartan’s controversy over contract renewal

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The Spartans knew that the Kalkidijk peninsula in North Greece was very important. It was shaped like a harpoon and was nicknamed "Poseidon’s Trident". In the middle of this important route, and I heard the messenger say, “Olintus is actively sending people to contact Thebes and Athens”, so the Council of Elders passed the “Rescue Macedonia” resolution almost unanimously.

In fact, there is another important point. The kings and elders of Sparta were tacitly aware and did not say: that is, they need Macedonia, an ally in the north, to cooperate with the Spartans. The strategic activity space of the two powers of Thebes and Athens, while the huge army of Macedonia and the mighty cavalry were exactly what Sparta needed.

After making the decision to dispatch troops, Agsilius stood up and said solemnly: "I think we'd better decide another important thing before sending troops to Kalkidijk. "

As soon as he said this, the expressions of the elders in the venue changed. They all knew what Agsilius was talking about, because the ten-year covenant agreement with Dionia was just a few months away. Months are due. In the past few days, the Council of Elders has discussed the issue of "whether to continue to conclude an alliance with Dionia", and the debate has been fierce.

The radical elders headed by the young Spartan king Agcypolis believed that after the Corinthian War, Sparta had become the overlord of Greece again, and there was no need to worry about Dionia becoming a trouble. On the contrary, Sparta must restrain the expansion of Dionia and not allow it to conquer the region of Apulia separated from the Peloponnese by the Adriatic Sea, because this would affect the Spartan territory. Security poses a threat. After all, this is a "Greek" kingdom that ignores the authority of Sparta and dares to threaten Sparta.

The conservative elders headed by Agsilius and others (and only relatively stable on issues involving Dionia) believed that although Sparta relied on the "Great King's Treaty" to re-dominate the Greek mainland However, compared with before the Corinthian War, Sparta has not only weakened its national power, but its prestige is also declining. The city-states such as Thebes and Athens may come out against Sparta at any time. Before the complete suppression and integration of the city-states of the mainland of Greece are truly completed, not only should not provoke this powerful kingdom, but also prevent Dionia from actively interfering with Sparta’s authority as the executor of the "Great King Contract" in Greece. Therefore, the renewal is very necessary!

"King Agsilius, the agreement with Dionia will not expire until January next year. It will take a full four months. Let us consider this important issue clearly. There is no need to do so. Make a decision in a hurry.” Agcipoli’s uncle and former regent Praxitas said calmly: “After all, it is too important. It is related to the development of Sparta ten years later. 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 ten years after, but also to the war we are about to launch, so I want everyone to make a decision as soon as possible!" Silaus said sternly.

"What we are fighting against the Kalkidik Alliance is not a war, but a battle. As long as our army sets foot on the land of the Kalkidik Peninsula, what is waiting for the Olympians is only one. A disastrous defeat.” Agcypolis, who is already 30 years old, said confidently. In the past ten years, he has grown from an immature new king to a Spartan king recognized by the Spartan fighters. He has gone through a lot of battles, especially It was the army that destroyed Mandinia and won him a lot of praise. Standing among a group of elders in their 60s and 70s, his youth is particularly conspicuous.

Compared with the high-spirited Agcypolis, Agassilos, who is more than 50 years old, has lame feet, gray hair, and a slightly bent back. He said in a calm tone: "War is unpredictable. Otherwise, we did not expect that ten years ago, it was just a battle to help the allied state Fokies, which eventually turned into a war that lasted for ten years, and Sparta had to rely on our former enemy, Persia, to end. The war that consumed too much of our energy..."

The words of Agsilius made the elders fall into memories, and then sighed from time to time.

"Now our warriors have to stay away from the Peloponnese and head to the Kalkidik Peninsula in North Greece where we have never fought before. I heard that the situation there is very complicated. There are not only internal city-state battles, but also involved Going to the two populous areas of Macedonia and Thessaly, and even Thebes and Athens have connections with them. Will our intervention trigger a new war? This must arouse our vigilance!" Agsilaos The words made the elders think.

"Since the expedition to Kalkidik may produce such terrible results, then King Agsilius, why did you support this expedition just now." Praxitas sneered at Agsilius's insincere.

Agsilius still retorted in an unhurried manner: "I support the expedition because it is in the interest of Sparta. If the Kalkidik alliance is allowed to grow without control, then other Greek city-states They will use it as an example to form alliances, which will not only make the'Great King’s contract' invalid, but also shake the prestige of Sparta in Greece. Moreover, it will be beneficial to us to win over Macedonia and conquer the Greek city-states on Kalkidijk. Occupy the waterway leading to the Black Sea in order to threaten Athens not dare 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 North Greece expands , Dionia will not intervene in.

And even if we conquered Kalkidik, as well as Argos, Athens, Thebes... these city-states are dissatisfied with us. If they want to restore their prosperity after the Peloponnesian War, Sparta It will take time to reach Sparta, so I don’t want to... During this period of hard work in Sparta, a "Persia" similar to the Corinthian War appeared in the Western Mediterranean, and it was in a dilemma with Sparta! And once the contract with Dionian is renewed, from the previous ten years, the Dionian is still trustworthy..."

"We want to renew our contract, but Dionia may not agree to renew our contract." Praxitas said coldly.

"That doesn't happen to detect Dionia's malice towards Sparta, and we can also prevent it in advance." Agcilius replied calmly.

"Let us take the initiative to go to the colony to renew the contract with Dionia, which is detrimental to the prestige of Sparta! Why not ask Dionia to send someone to Sparta to renew the contract?!" Agcypolis Some said unwillingly.

Agcilius looked at the king of Sparta who was alongside him, with a faint smile on his face, and persuaded him in the tone of an elder: "Sparta has an old saying,'Gorgeous His clothes are not as durable as sturdy coarse cloth. "Since we have all taken the initiative to make peace with Persia, a deadly enemy of Greece for decades, and have provoke infamy for this, why bother to go to Great Greece! Didn't we take the initiative during the Corinthian War? Asked to sign an agreement with Dionia! Everything we do is for the strength of Sparta, and personal honor and disgrace are what counts!"

The elders nodded again and again at what Agcylaus said, but Agcypolis was unable to refute it. Although Agsilus was on the throne in a dangerous and dangerous way, his biggest supporter Lysander died within a few years, but he was not ignored in the Council of the Elders, and after more than ten years of management , The 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 all 60 or 70-year-old old men. Rather than taking risks, most of them prefer to be safe.

And Agsilius is a king who likes to use strategy rather than fists. He was the first to propose peace to Persia. Therefore, when the Council of Elders voted on this matter, most of them In favor of "going to Dionia immediately to discuss the renewal of the contract".

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

……………………………………

In the Westkel town of Kefaluoitian in the center of Sicily, many leaders of the Westkel tribe met again.

The leader of the Tanikian tribe, Akoris, was sitting at the top. He scanned the crowd and said loudly: "Everyone, there is news from Turiyi, Lao Dixian, Lacey Peratus, etc. People have been arrested by the Dionians, and it is said that they will be tried soon. The things we did before must also be known to the Dionians. Maybe they are preparing the army and want to declare war on us!"

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

The leaders could hardly hide the shock on their faces. One leader stood up and asked anxiously: "Leader Arconis, did you get the exact news? Or was it a rumor?"

"What would you do if I said it was the exact news? Chief Zemmathes!" Akonis widened his eyes, staring at him viciously like a man-eating beast.

"Of course...Of course, someone was sent to explain to the Dionian Senate..." Zemacis whispered.

"Explain what?!" Another leader, Apides, who is close to Aconis, said contemptuously: "Explain why you want to annex other tribes and grab the wives of other leaders to be your own Concubine?!"

There was a disdainful laugh from the leaders nearby.

"It's no use begging Dionia for mercy!" Arconis slammed the armrest, stood up with a "whoop", looked at the leaders, and said loudly: "Look at Dionia's treatment of foreign races in the past. Human means! Lucania is annexed! Bruti is annexed! Mesapi is forced to be annexed! Puchetti is annexed! Now they are annexing Dauni! Dionia will not allow alien independence at all Existence! Maybe in the eyes of the greedy King Dionian, we West Kells have long been his next annexation target! We violated the covenant, attacked and embezzled other tribes, and gave him an excuse to start war. , Maybe Dionia’s troops are being dispatched to Sicily!..."

The leaders were in an uproar again, and everyone whispered in anxiety.

A leader immediately asked loudly: "Aconis, what should we do?!"