ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 626 Macedonia’s request for help
Crotokatax thought for a while, and couldn't help straightening his chest, as if he was proud of his mission, but then he asked: "However, many cases are very complicated. How about trying to be as fair and just as possible in the final ruling?”

Davos was satisfied with his son's diligence and questioning, and quickly answered: "Then you need to study more, think more, experience more, and listen more, in order to become a wise and firm judge."

Crotokatax was moved and thoughtful.

Davos was having a serious conversation at the moment, and then asked: "I can see that you have great admiration for Lysias."

"Yes, father." Crotokatax said happily: "Mr. Lysias has a wealth of knowledge and a wise mind. He not only has deep attainments in rhetoric and debate, but also his teaching It’s also lively, interesting and engaging.”

"Lysias is a well-known scholar throughout Greece and the pride of the Kingdom of Dionia." Davos said calmly, and then changed the topic: "What do you think of Kunogora Tower?"

"Lord Cunogorata is your father's best helper. Everyone says, 'The Senate cannot do without him.' His departure is a great loss to our kingdom!" Crotokatax said with a heavy expression. said.

"So from the perspective of governing the kingdom, do you prefer Cunogorata or Lysias?"

Davos' question once again stumped Crotokatax. He pondered for a moment, but still did not answer.

"Son, you didn't answer this question according to your preferences, which means you have begun to realize it!" Davers nodded with relief and said: "Cunogorata does not have the profound knowledge of Lucias, nor does Lucias The reputation of the whole of Greece, but he has been diligently governing Dionia for more than ten years, and has made great contributions to the prosperity of the kingdom! There are many more ordinary public officials like Cunogorata in Dionia , they contributed their own strength to the strength of the kingdom in obscurity. It is because of them that the Kingdom of Dioria today can create a platform for famous Greek scholars such as Lysias to display their talents, so that they can contribute to the kingdom. Create a more splendid culture, attract backward barbarians to join, and make people's lives better!..."

Crotokatax pondered for a while, looked at his father, and said seriously: "I know, Master Kunogorata and Teacher Lysias are equally important, but people like Master Kunogorata are equally important. Citizens are the cornerstone of the kingdom, without them there would be no Kingdom of Dionia!"

"Cornerstone!" Davos praised: "It's a very vivid metaphor. It seems that you already understand it. When attending a funeral, you should have such a mentality!"

"Speaking of debate, it's a good thing." Davers advised again: "You can exercise your thinking, understand the truth, and persuade the other party. But don't indulge in it too much, and eventually become a debate for the sake of debate, just empty talk people, but remember 'A practical deed is worth a thousand words'!"

"Yes, father." Crotokatax replied respectfully again.

"You two, father and son, are just chatting. You must be thirsty." Kristoya and Cynthia went to wash a basket of grapes and apples at some point and put them on the stone table: "Come and eat some fruit!"

"Let's go, don't keep your mother waiting, otherwise you will be scolded." Davos said jokingly.

Crotokatax smiled.

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At the end of the Corinthian War, Sparta tried its best to surrender to Persia and won the support of Persia. At the end of the war, Sparta and the Anti-Sparta Alliance signed the "Contract of Kings" to force its two most important enemies ——Argos and Thebes each dismantled their own regional alliances, and at the same time allowed Athens to retain the right to rule the islands in the northern Aegean Sea. The three important major states in mainland Greece were either unable or unwilling to cooperate with Sparta The rebellion made Sparta the overlord of Greece again.

Of course, this approach of embracing Persia and regaining the throne did not convince other city-states. People in many city-states were spreading a saying: "Persia is turning Sparta into the Sparta of the Persians."

The Spartans certainly heard these gossips, although Agesilaus forcefully defended himself, declaring: "It is Sparta who is trying to turn Persia into Spartan Persia."

However, Sparta's prestige among the Greek city-states has declined significantly, even among its allies.

In order to restore its image as a hegemon, Sparta had to take action. It targeted the city-state of Mandinia in the Arcadia region of the central Peloponnese Peninsula, accusing this former subordinate ally of non-compliance in all aspects. and allegiance to Sparta, so it was forced to tear down the city walls and return allegiance to Sparta.

After being sternly rejected by the Mantinians, King Aghipolis of Sparta led an army to invade Mantinia.After failing to storm the city, he ordered his soldiers to block a river flowing through the city of Mantinnia upstream, which eventually flooded Mantinnia and completely destroyed the city.

This atrocity heard by the Hittites really shocked many city-states in mainland Greece. The horrific and bloody memories of the Spartans in the past came to mind again, especially when the city-states on the Peloponnese Peninsula no longer took the initiative to provoke Sparta. authoritative behavior.

But only becoming the overlord of the Peloponnese cannot satisfy the desires of the Spartans. There has always been a huge shadow in the hearts of the Spartan kings and elders, that is the Kingdom of Dionia.Although Dionia and Sparta are now an alliance, both parties are very clear that this alliance is not out of long-term friendship but short-term interests, and the Kingdom of Dionia is still growing, which urges The Spartans had to integrate more power from the mainland of Greece in order to compete with this powerful kingdom rising in the Western Mediterranean, so they set their sights on the north of the Peloponnese Peninsula.

At exactly this time, a group of envoys came from the Spartan territory. This group of envoys came from the wild mountains in the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea.

Macedonia is a weak and backward country far away from the core area of ​​Greek culture and located on the northern border of mainland Greece.Both ordinary Greek people and famous scholars believed that this was a country of barbarians and despised them.But the Macedonians are so fond of Greece that not only their kings have always claimed to be descendants of the Argos royal family (in the ancient times, many Greek city-states united and chose the Argos as their leader, because Argos Argos has a glorious past. Since the return of the descendants of Heracles, almost all important Greek kings came from Argos, such as the Mycenaean king Agamemnon. This is why the Argives often boast that they are better than Argos. The reason why the Badans were noble), the Macedonian people often regarded the Greeks who came to settle in the Macedonian territory as distinguished guests.

However, the respect of the Macedonians for Greece was not taken seriously by the Greek states, because although its territory was vast and its population was large, the Illyrians, Dadarians, and Thracians lived next to it. , the wandering Celts still live in the northernmost part. These races are not only ferocious, but also numerous in number. Years of invasion and harassment have made the Macedonians tired of coping. Their country has also been in war for a long time and cannot get good treatment. develop.

In the ninth year of the Kingdom of Dionia (384 BC), someone in the Macedonian royal family colluded with the Illyrians and launched a larger-scale invasion, driving King Amyntas of Macedon out of Macedonia.Before fleeing Macedonia, in order to protect Macedonian towns from being plundered and to gain the support of the Greeks, the king signed an agreement with the Chalcidic League, Macedonia's neighbor to the southeast, to unite Macedonia's low plains and coastal areas. His town was given to the escrow of the Chalcidic League.

The Chalcidic League was originally an alliance composed of some Greek city-states on the Chalcidic Peninsula. The alliance stipulated that members should be completely equal, trade with each other, help each other, and jointly resist foreign enemies.However, with the addition of some Macedonian towns, the power of the Chalcidic Alliance was strengthened, and it benefited Olintus, a powerful country located in the center of the Chalcidic Peninsula, a lot.

The people of Olintus began to hope to establish a larger alliance that included the entire Chalcidic Peninsula and its surrounding areas. Of course, this alliance must be led by Olintus.

And a year later (that is, ten years in the Kingdom of Dionia), Macedonian King Amyntas regained the throne with the help of Thessaly and the Calcidicks.After Amyntas secured his throne, he wanted to take back the land he had given away, but was rejected by the Chalcedic League city-states headed by Olintus.

At this time, the Thessalians also helped Amyntas appeal to the Tarcidics.Although the two countries, Thessaly and Macedonia, have border conflicts from time to time, the Thessaly people are very clear: once the power of their neighbor Macedonia is too weakened to resist the fierce Illyrians, it will be against Thessaly and Karl. The Kiddick Alliance is not in a good position.

The Thessalians' persuasion caused some city-states in the Chalcidic League to begin to waver, especially two of the city-states, Arcantus and Apollonia. They were worried that Olintus' power would grow rapidly in the long run, and thus Dominated the entire Chalcidic Alliance, so he secretly sent someone to suggest to Amyntas: Ask Sparta to intervene.

So, Macedonian envoys came to Sparta.

In this regard, the Spartan Council of Elders held a meeting to discuss it.

The Macedonian envoys persuaded the Spartans with little effort.Because of the painful lessons of the Corinthian War, Sparta opposed any form of alliance and alliance between Greek city-states. They even wrote this opinion into the "Great King's Peace" and forced Argos and Thebes to break up the alliance. But now they have Come out a kalkidik confederation.

(End of this chapter)