Agesilaus likewise alleged, that the
bastardy of Leotychides was witnessed to by Neptune, who threw Agis
out of bed by a violent earthquake, after which time he ceased to
visit his wife, yet Leotychides was born above ten months after
this.
Agesilaus was upon these allegations declared king, and soon
possessed himself of the private estate of Agis, as well as his
throne, Leotychides being wholly rejected as a bastard. He now
turned his attention to his kindred by the mother's side, persons
of worth and virtue, but miserably poor. To them he gave half his
brother's estate, and by this popular act gained general good-will
and reputation, in the place of the envy and ill-feeling which the
inheritance might otherwise have procured him. What Xenophon tells
us of him, that by complying with, and, as it were, being ruled by
his country, he grew into such great power with them, that he could
do what he pleased, is meant to apply to the power he gained in the
following manner with the Ephors and Elders. These were at that
time of the greatest authority in the State; the former, officers
annually chosen; the Elders, holding their places during life; both
instituted, as already told in the life of Lycurgus, to restrain
the power of the kings.
Pages:
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927