History of the Peloponnesian War

During the same summer, on the return from Thrace of the troops which had gone out with Brasidas[*](cf. 4.78.1; 4.80.5.) and which Clearidas[*](cf. xxi 3.) had brought back after the treaty was made, the Lacedaemonians voted that the Helots who had fought with Brasidas should be free and dwell wherever they preferred; and not long afterwards they settled them with the Neodamodes[*](The clans of new citizens formed of Helots emancipated for service in war.) at Lepreum on the borders of Laconia and Elis, for they were by this time at variance with the Eleans.

But as to their men who had been taken on the island and had given up their arms, fearing that these might expect to suffer some degradation because of their misfortune and if they continued in possession of the franchise might attempt a revolution, they disfranchised them, though some of them now held office, and with such a disfranchisement that they could neither hold office nor have the legal right to buy or sell anything. In the course of time, however, they were again enfranchised.