Agesilaus

Agesilaus, son of Archidamus II., was put upon the throne of Sparta in preference to his nephew, Lysander (398 B.C.). To check the designs of the King of Persia he led an army into Asia, but in the moment of victory was recalled, owing to the league formed by Athens and Thebes against Lacedaemon. At Chaeronea (394 B.C.) he defeated the allies, but his illness allowed the Thebans to achieve some successes. These he retrieved after recovering his health. His military policy entailed many losses on his country, but his courage, skill, and high moral character won him the confidence of his subjects. He died in 360 B.C., at the age of eighty-four.