History of the Peloponnesian War

While both sides were carrying out these measures and busily equipping themselves for the war precisely as if they were just beginning it, first of all the Euboeans in the course of this winter sent envoys to Agis to discuss revolting from Athens. Receiving their proposals, he summoned from Lacedaemon Alcamenes son of Sthenelaïdas and Melanthus to take command in Euboea, and they came with about three hundred neodamodes,[*](The clans of new citizens formed of Helots emancipated for service in war. Cf. 5.34.1; 7.19.3.) while Agis began arranging for their crossing. But in the meantime the Lesbians also came, they also desiring to revolt;

and as the Boeotians assisted them in their negotiations, Agis was persuaded to delay matters so far as the Euboeans were concerned and began arranging their revolt for the Lesbians, giving them as harmost Alcamenes, who was to have sailed to Euboea; furthermore, the Boeotians promised them ten ships and Agis the same number. These negotiations were carried on without the authority of the Lacedaemonian state;

for so long as he was stationed at Deceleia with his own force Agis possessed full power to send troops anywhere he wished as well as to levy them and to exact money. And at that time the allies hearkened to him far more, one might say, than to the Lacedaemonians in Sparta; for he had a force at his own disposal and his appearance anywhere instantly inspired fear. So he was working in the interest of the Lesbians, but the Chians[*](The oligarchs, as shown by chs. ix and xiv. Chios had hitherto been noted for its loyalty to Athens.) and Erythraeans, who also were ready to revolt, betook themselves, not to Agis, but to Lacedaemon.

And with them went an envoy from Tissaphernes, who was military governor of the coast-lands for King Darius[*](Darius II reigned 423-404.) son of Artaxerxes. For Tissaphernes was also trying to induce the Peloponnesians to come over to Asia, promising to furnish them maintenance.

For the King, as it chanced, had lately demanded of him the tribute from his own province, for which he had fallen into arrears, since he was not able to exact it from the Hellenic cities because of the Athenians. He therefore thought that if he should weaken the Athenians he would be better able to collect his tribute; he also intended at the same time to make the Lacedaemonians allies of the King, and, in accordance with the King's command, either to take alive or to kill Amorges, bastard son of Pissuthnes,[*](Mentioned as satrap at Sardis in 440 B.C. (i. 115) and again in 428 (iii. 31). Soon after the latter date he revolted. Tissaphernes was sent to suppress the revolt and, succeeding, became satrap himself.) who was in revolt in Caria. Accordingly the Chians and Tissaphernes were negotiating in common for the same object.