Lysander

Lysander the Lacedaemonian left a great reputation behind him, won more by good fortune than by valour. For it is plain that he brought to an end, in the twenty-sixth year, the war which the Athenians waged against the Peloponnesians; nor is it hidden by what means he accomplished this: it was done not by the valour of his own army, but by the indiscipline of his adversaries, who, because they were not obedient to the word of their commanders, having scattered through the fields and left their ships, fell into the power of the enemy. By this the Athenians surrendered themselves to the Lacedaemonians. Elated by this victory, Lysander — who before had always been factious and bold — so gave rein to himself that by his doings the Lacedaemonians came into the deepest hatred of Greece. For although the Lacedaemonians had constantly given out that this was their cause for war, to break the unbridled domination of the Athenians, yet after Lysander had gained possession of the enemy's fleet at the river Aegospotami, he strove for nothing else than to keep all the states under his own power, while he pretended that he did this for the sake of the Lacedaemonians. For everywhere, having cast out those who had favoured the cause of the Athenians, he had chosen ten men in each several state, to whom he committed the supreme command and authority over all things. Into the number of these no one was admitted unless he was either bound to him by guest-friendship or had assured him by his pledge that he would be wholly his own.

Thus, a power of ten men being established in all the cities, everything was managed at his nod. Of his cruelty and treachery it is enough to bring forward one instance, by way of example, that we may not weary our readers by enumerating more of the same kind. When he was returning victorious from Asia and had turned aside to Thasos, because that state had been of especial fidelity toward the Athenians, just as if those were not wont to be the firmest friends who had been steadfast enemies, he conceived a desire to destroy it. But he saw that, unless he concealed his intention in the matter, it would come about that the Thasians would slip away and take measures for their own safety.

And so they did away with the power of the ten men which had been established by him. Fired with resentment at this, he entered upon a plan to do away with the kings of the Lacedaemonians. But he perceived that he could not do this without the help of the gods, because the Lacedaemonians were accustomed to refer everything to oracles. First he tried to corrupt the Delphic oracle. When he could not, he attacked the Dodonaean. Repulsed from this too, he said that he had undertaken vows which he would pay to Jupiter Hammon, thinking that he would more easily corrupt the Africans. When with this hope he had set out into Africa, the priests of Jupiter greatly disappointed him. For not only could they not be corrupted, but they even sent envoys to Lacedaemon to accuse Lysander, because he had tried to corrupt the priests of the shrine. Accused on this charge, and acquitted by the verdicts of the judges, he was sent to the aid of the Orchomenians and was slain by the Thebans at Haliartus. How truly it would have been judged otherwise concerning him, a speech gave proof, which was found after his death in his house, in which he urges the Lacedaemonians that, the royal power being abolished, a leader for waging war be chosen from among all the citizens — but so written that it seemed to agree with the response of a god, which he, trusting in his money, had not doubted he would have. This is said to have been written for him by Cleon of Halicarnassus.

And at this point the deed of Pharnabazus, the king's satrap, is not to be passed over. For when Lysander, as admiral of the fleet, had done many cruel and avaricious things in the war, and suspected that report of these matters had been carried to his fellow-citizens, he asked of Pharnabazus that he give him a testimonial to the ephors, telling with what scrupulousness he had waged the war and treated the allies, and that he write of this carefully; for his authority in the matter would be great. Pharnabazus generously promised him this: he composed a large book in many words, in which he extolled him with the highest praises. When Lysander had read and approved it, while it was being sealed, Pharnabazus substituted another of equal size and of such likeness that it could not be told apart, sealed, in which he had most carefully accused him of avarice and treachery. When Lysander had returned home, after he had said before the chief magistrate what he wished concerning his exploits, he handed over, by way of testimonial, the book given him by Pharnabazus. When the ephors had read it — Lysander having been removed — they themselves gave it to him to read. So he, unawares, was his own accuser.