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Home , Aspasia, First Peloponnesian War, Peloponnesian League, Second Sacred War, Spartan hegemony

Peloponnesian War Joint Crisis:

“Return with your shield or on it.” —Spartan mothers

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to WUMUNS 2018! We are Graham Webb and Will McClellan. As your directors, we are honored that you are joining us for the Joint Crisis Committee. As delegates, you will be representing characters from a variety of city-states in either the Peloponnesian or . The Peloponnesian War was a brutal, bloody war that pitted against polis and ideology against ideology. Whether you are a fierce general or an accomplished politician, your choices will irrevocably shape the futures of the Greek city-states. Will you marshal your forces and march to war or use diplomacy to construct alliances and consolidate power? The choice is yours. I, Graham Webb, am currently a junior majoring in Systems Science and Engineering and Chinese Language and Culture. Despite my choice in majors, I have always been fascinated with history and its application in today’s world. I will be leading the Peloponnesian League (Spartan) committee, a group of mighty warriors and veteran generals who were instrumental in shaping . I have participated in Model United Nations since my sophomore year of high school and have seen countless battles, revolutions, trials, and betrayals. I cannot wait to see what you can accomplish together as delegates. Molon labe! I, Will McClellan, am currently a sophomore majoring in Political Science and Economics. I am interested in why democracy came about and the major influences that it had. Antiquity is where it all began; we would not have modern democracy if it were not for the brave who stood up for the right of representation for all people. I will be leading the Delian League (Athenian) committee, a group of established politicians and dealmakers who were incredibly influential in shaping . I have been involved with Model United Nations since my freshman year, and I guarantee that you will have an amazing time. There will be chaos, fighting, trials, and bonding with the many members of your committee. May Athena’s blessings be with you! If you have any concerns, please feel free to email both of us at [email protected] and [email protected]. Good luck!

Respectfully,

Graham Webb and Will McClellan

Contents

Committee Mandate……………….…………..……………………… 5

Historical Background…….……………………………...…………. 5 480 BCE: Battles of and Salamis…………….……. 5 479 BCE: Creation of the Delian League and the Peloponnesian League…………..…….…………….……………………. 7 457–432 BCE: Golden Age of ……………………………….. 8 460–445 BCE: between and Athens…………………..….…….…….…….…….…………………...... …. 9

Topic A: The Athenian Threat………….………………………… 10 Topic B: Military Alliances Abroad...... 11 Topic C: Helot Rebellions…………………………………………… 12 Topic D: Survival of the League…………………………………. 12

City-state Profiles………………………………………………….……. 13 Delegate Positions………………………………………………………. 14

Committee Mandate Fellow Spartans!

The year is 431 BCE. A fragile peace from the First Peloponnesian War hangs over Greece. However, the treacherous Athenians have little respect for the treaty. Their radical democracy constantly challenges our over . Every day the Athenian navy grows stronger and their empire grows larger. At home, the grow restless. Athenian propaganda continuously attempts to incite rebellion, and a solution to the problem must be found. Moreover, in a blatant act of aggression, the Athenians have sided with the remote city of Corcyra, a colony of our valuable ally , deploying their fleet against the Corinthians. With fighting sure to break out, the fate of Sparta and all of Greece rests in your hands. As members of the , you are a collection of Spartan oligarchs from throughout Laconia, many with elite Spartan pledged to your service. Drilled from an early age, they are vastly superior to the Athenian hoplites and surely will be the key to your victory. As warriors and diplomats, you look to further your power, often at the expense of the Helots or the opposing Athenians. As Spartans, it is your primary duty to expand Spartan power and glory across Greece, but who is to say you cannot enhance your own?

Historical Background 480 BCE: The Battle of Thermopylae was one of the most iconic battles in the Battles of entirety of . When notified that the Persians were amassing a massive force, King Leonidas of Sparta marshaled around six thousand hoplites Thermopylae from allied nations along with three hundred Spartan hoplites to face them. and Salamis Because they were outnumbered sixty-two to one and would be annihilated instantly if they allowed the Persians to outflank and surround them, the king marched his troops up to the narrow pass of Thermopylae to try to hold off the Persians.

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For the first two days of battle, the Spartans managed to hold off wave after wave of Persian infantry using their heavy armor and shields while continuously switching out exhausted hoplites for fresh ones. One particularly effective strategy the Greeks used was to feign retreat, and when the Persians broke formation to chase them, the Spartans would reform and inflict heavy casualties. On the next day, however, a Greek traitor showed King Xerxes of Persia a secret pass to outflank the Spartans. At dawn of the next day, Leonidas realized the betrayal and used his remaining Spartans to fight to the death while the other hoplites escaped. Even though they were defeated, the Greeks managed to inflict twenty thousand casualties and hold off the Persians for three days, managing to buy enough time for the rest of Greece to marshal their troops against the invaders. In addition, the bravery of the Spartans rallied many soldiers to the Greek cause.

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The Battle of Salamis was a naval battle that pitted a Greek coalition navy led by the Athenians against a much larger Persian fleet. After the battle of Thermopylae, the Athenians were forced to evacuate Athens and retreat to the island of Salamis. On the eve of the battle, the Spartans wanted to retreat farther and seal off the Isthmus of Corinth with a giant wall to halt Persian land forces. , the Athenian commander, thought differently. Basing his actions off a prophecy from the of stating that “Salamis will be the death of women’s sons,” he argued that the Athenians should make their stand there, despite the fact that the Persians’ 1,207 outnumbered their 371. To compensate for this, Themistocles ordered the naval vanguard to lure the Persians into the Strait of Salamis on the morning of the battle, where their vast numbers would switch from an advantage to a hindrance. Finally, after the Persians had been baited, the Greeks launched their attack, slamming into the Persian ships and boarding them with their heavily armored hoplites. Using these tactics, the Athenians scored a massive victory, sinking at least two hundred Persian ships. The victory at Salamis by the Greek navy was considered a major turning point in the war and caused the Persians to retreat to Asia Minor.

479 BCE: Even though the Greeks had beaten back the Persian forces, Spartan and Athenian leaders realized that in the end the Greek victory was largely due to luck Creation of the rather than superior strength. With this in mind, the Greeks started to develop Delian League ways to protect themselves from ever allowing the Persians to invade so far into and the Greek territory again. Peloponnesian League 7 The creation of the Delian League by Athens was a way of protecting the majority of the eastern Greek city-states more directly threatened by the Persians. Working as a centralized pseudo-empire with member states paying tribute to Athens, the league was formed after the failed Spartan expedition to . Athens, believing that the Spartans had lost their right to dominate all military matters in the region, formed alliances with many smaller states to help protect against the Persians. After the Persians retreated back to Asia Minor, however, the league formed a general symbiotic relationship with the various nation-states pledging protection to each other until the Golden Age of Athens. The Peloponnesian League was created by Sparta as a series of bilateral military alliances with weaker cities that allowed it to effectively cement its power and control the Helots. Originally created in the sixth century BCE, the Peloponnesian League was the result of many small factors. Perhaps the main one was that Sparta needed to be assured that its Helots, citizens of conquered kingdoms in , would receive no outside help and thus would not be able to rise up and overthrow the Spartans. Helots were an essential cog in the Spartan economy. Because of the ability to use Helots in agriculture, Sparta was able to keep a full-time professional army with warriors that did not have to go back to their farms every summer. In addition to the need to control the Helots, Spartan aggression and military power caused many smaller states to either be forced into the league or join willingly in order to protect themselves. Smaller states in the arrangements lost most of their political freedoms while larger cities like Corinth retained lots of autonomy.

457–432 The Golden Age of Athens, the Age of , was an age of growth and BCE: expansion for Athens after the defeat and expulsion of the Persians. With the Golden Age Persians gone and the city of Athens burned to the ground, many of the eastern city-states realized that the only way they could hope to match the might of the of Athens Persians would be through cooperative alliances. As the time went on, Athens (Pericles, assumed more and more leadership of the league, demanding money from its 461–429 allied city-states to build ships that would then be placed under Athenian control. BCE) More and more of the Delian League began to function like an Athenian empire, and when Pericles moved the treasury of the league to Athens to build the , the smaller city-states under Athenian control knew they had surrendered the last of their power. A few states tried to break away from the league but were swiftly crushed by Athens. With coffers overflowing with tribute money from smaller city-states, Athens began to channel the money inwards to itself. As a result, the city flourished. Much of the success of the age can be directly attributed to the efforts of Pericles. Eventually a great and statesman, he was socially introverted and shy as a youth, preferring to focus on academic studies as a teenager. When he started to wield political and social influence, however, he was taught how to speak publicly by his consort . He was considered one of

8 the first statesmen to apply logic and philosophy to the practical discipline of governing. The Golden Age of Athens was marked by a flourishing of academic knowledge and architecture. It was during this period that the philosopher developed the for using logic to examine problems. When the political climate of Athens changed, however, Socrates was sentenced to death with hemlock. Even though his death was a tragedy to his followers, his teachings inspired many Athenian citizens, most notably , and laid the groundwork for the application of logic in Western philosophy. During its Golden Age, Athens also saw the rise of famous historians. Two of these men, and , were instrumental in recording not only the history of the Peloponnesian Wars but Greek life in general. Their work allowed historians in later periods to help preserve Greek culture and knowledge. Staggering advances in medicine were also made. , considered one of the most outstanding physicians of all time, was the first to define medicine as a distinct field. His contributions are still applicable in modern Western medicine, exemplified by the Hippocratic oath and the Hippocratic corpus. A vast amount of money was channeled into theatres during this time, allowing for tragedies and comedies to be played frequently. As a result of this, many such as and become famous for their works. In addition to all the advances in academic thought and culture, the Golden Age resulted in an architectural boom inside the city. The best example of this was the construction of the Acropolis. Made possible by all the tributary gold, it stood as a shining example of and power in the region. The , a temple to Athena in the Acropolis, was estimated to cost billions of dollars in today’s money.

460–445 BCE: The First Peloponnesian War was a conflict between Athens and Sparta First resulting from the construction of the surrounding Athens and its Peloponnesian port and the expansion of Athenian power. The war took place through minor conflicts and proxy wars like the , one of the first conflicts War between between the two powerhouses where fighting was indirectly conducted through Sparta and smaller city-states. Generally, the Athenians had the advantage in naval Athens engagements while Spartans dominated the peninsula. Eventually, a peace treaty was signed between the two states. Presently, tensions have begun to rise again. In various smaller events, Sparta and Athens have started to square off with each other and directly undermine each other’s spheres of influence. Notably, the Athenians deployed their navy directly in opposition against the Corinthians, a major ally of Sparta. The major impact of the First Peloponnesian War was its peace treaty, the Thirty Years’ Peace. The treaty aimed at preventing more conflict in mainland Greece by forcing Athens to give up all its possessions in the . The Athenians were forced to give up ports in , Pegae, and Troezen. However, the

9 Spartans allowed them to keep Naupactus. The treaty also ruled out an armed conflict between Athens and Sparta if at least one out of the two states wanted arbitration over all-out war. Finally, the treaty formally recognized both the Peloponnesian and Delian Leagues as legitimate leagues, a big victory for Athens’ newly formed empire.

Topic A: The Athenian Threat

The threat that Athens poses to Sparta is clear. As the leader of the Delian League, it is the only city-state that can hope to match the wealth and power of Sparta. Before the Golden Age, it was content with eastward expansion. However, with the rise of Pericles and the construction of the Acropolis in the Athenian city center, it is clear that it hopes to spread its power and democracy across the Greek city-states. As a result, Athens has begun slowly challenging Spartan authority. In Corcyra, the Athenians have sent part of their navy to help the small city-state fight off Corinth. As a member of the Peloponnesian League, the Corinth expects Spartan assistance, and we, the Spartans, are honor-bound to step in and assist them. Corcyra is not the end of Athenian aggression. Recently, Athens has blatantly violated the peace treaty drafted after the First Peloponnesian War.

10 With the moving of the treasury to Athens, the Delian League is now the Athenian empire in all but name, and it must be stopped. Athens has also recently completed the building of the Long Walls. Stretching between Athens and a nearby port, these walls allow Athens to indefinitely hold off land-based siege attackers while continuing to resupply its fleet. Such a construction project is clearly militarily focused and should be taken as an act of aggression. The final straw, however, was the execution of two hundred soldiers from our ally Thebes. Sent to capture a small town, they were caught, imprisoned, and ruthlessly butchered. With the merciless killing of our allied soldiers, conflict is all but inevitable. How will Sparta combat this threat? Due to the Long Walls protecting Athens and its port, there is no viable way of starving the city out in a siege using our superior soldiers. To make matters worse, Athenian dominance on the high seas is still unchallenged. With their fleet unchecked, the Athenians will be able to wreak havoc on trade routes and prevent us from attacking many of their colonies. In order to achieve victory, Sparta must find a way to cripple the Athenian fleet in the . But this will not be easy, and without proper intelligence, there is no way of knowing where or when the fleet will be vulnerable. Building an opposing fleet to counter the Athenians directly will also be no easy task. If war between the two city-states breaks out, the Athenians will ensure that no trade resources can be transported by sea, slowing down resource transportation and hindering the construction of any additional ships.

Topic B: Military Alliances Abroad

To the east of Sparta lies the Persian Empire. The Persians have a vastly different form of government than the Greek city-states. At the heart of the empire in Mesopotamia lies Persepolis. The shining city of gold stands as a monument to the vast power of the Persians. Ruled by , the empire consists of many satraps who have pledged fealty to him in return for some degree of autonomy. This could prove useful to the Spartans. Long has Athens attempted to expand its Ionian colonies in Asia Minor, pushing farther and farther into the continent to obtain natural resources. This expansion has not gone unnoticed by the Persians, who resent the Athenian incursion. The bad blood between the two powers could create the potential of a deal with Sparta. Any deal with the Persians will be a double-edged sword. Even though they suffered heavy losses the last time they invaded Greece, the idea of Persian hegemony over the region is still popular within the empire. Sparta must be careful in its negotiation of treaties to simultaneously receive enough meaningful economic and military aid while allowing hegemony over Greece once the dust has settled. Syracuse also presents a valuable opportunity for Sparta. Originally founded in the seventh century BCE, the colony flourished on . Within two

11 hundred years of its founding, it was already settling its own colonies, even rivaling the power of Carthage. Originally a democracy, Syracuse has recently turned into a dictatorship, causing drastic rises in tension with Athens. Syracuse could be a valuable ally in the conflict against Athens. Syracuse has a well- equipped and drilled army, and its navy is a formidable force. If Sparta is willing to open negotiations, Syracuse might be willing to send aid.

Topic C: Helot Rebellions

The Helots are a vital part of the Spartan economy. Initially citizens of the neighboring kingdom of Messenia in the eighth century BCE, the Messenians were conquered and subjugated by the Spartans. Forced to work in the fields and mines of Peloponnesus, they slowly formed into their own lower class within Spartan society. The Helots’ role is vital in Spartan society because it allows the Spartans to be full-time professional warriors. The main problem with most Greek militaries is that the hoplites are farmers first and often do not have time to drill properly. In addition, during drawn-out conflicts, many of the hoplites must return home in order to harvest food so that the city-state does not starve. With bountiful slave labor, however, Sparta does not suffer from this problem. In addition, the Helots provide a valuable militia-type force for the Spartans to deploy if they do not wish to risk their own more elite warriors. In conflicts, the Helots can be used as fodder. Tantalized with the possibility of earning a place in Spartan society, they will fight to the death. With the rise in tensions with the Athenians, however, informants implanted within Helot ranks are returning troubling information. Recently, unknown sources have been spreading pro-Athenian propaganda, enticing the slaves to overthrow their Spartan overlords. If the Spartans are to retain control of their homeland, they must track down the pro-democratic propaganda source and eliminate it. With the recent rise in Athenian tensions, can the Helots be trusted to stay loyal to their Spartan masters?

Topic D: Survival of the League

Sparta is a great military power. Despite this, even Sparta needs allies if it is to attain hegemony over all of Greece. To this end, the Peloponnesian League must survive. This is easier said than done. If conflict breaks out with the Athenians, loyalties will be tested. How will the committee manage the league? Will it assume command of the troops of other city-states for the glory of Sparta and tax them? Or will it give them their freedom to operate as independent military units and provide aid to these units? The choices on how the committee manages these alliances will determine whether the city-states will stay loyal to

12 Sparta. If you do not manage alliances properly, Sparta could end up fighting all its wars by itself.

City-state Profiles

Sparta Sparta is the dominant state in the Peloponnesian League, with the largest military and treasury. As the de facto leader of the league, Sparta exerts a disproportionate influence on the league’s decision-making process. Sparta is located in the southeast of the Peloponnese.

Corinth Corinth is a city on the Isthmus of Corinth, about halfway between Athens and Sparta. Corinth has a trade rivalry with Athens; the two cities have claimed Corcyra and fought over the colony in a large naval battle. Corinth was a major supporter of the combined Hellenic forces during the war against Persia.

Tegea is a city in , in the central part of the Peloponnese. Tegea has resisted Spartan hegemony and was forced into collaboration with Sparta in the sixth century BCE. It is home to a temple to Athena.

Thebes Thebes is the largest city in Boeotia, in continental Greece. Due to its central location and military strength, it holds a commanding position among the Boeotians. A major rival of Athens, the city fought with the Persians under Xerxes in 480 BCE. After the Hellenic forces won the Greco-Persian Wars, they punished Thebes by stripping it of the presidency of the Boeotian League. In 457 BCE, Sparta reversed its anti-Theban policy and returned Thebes to its power in the region.

Elis is a state in the northwest of the Peloponnese. The city of Olympia, the site of the first Olympic festival, is located in Elis, and Elis has authority over the Olympic games. The region is also known for its cattle and horses. Elis is a democracy governed by an assembly of all the citizens and a council of five hundred.

Tiryns Tiryns is a city in the east of the Peloponnese. Tiryns is known for its massive protective walls that surround the city. According to legend, the heavy walls were built by cyclopes; no man or beast could have lifted the stones.

13 Delegate Positions Spartans

Adrastos, Adrastos is one of the old guards in Sparta. During the Greco-Persian Wars, he Spartan was assigned to work with Athenian commanders, allowing him to foster close General relationships with many of the citizens of the city. Because of this, he is one of the few Spartans who has ready access to information from Athens. Unfortunately, this influence with the democracy has come at a cost. In the First Peloponnesian War, fearing his loyalties could lie with the enemy, he was passed over for command of any armies, an incident he has not forgotten. Despite this, when news of Corcyra spread, he was assigned a force of 1,500 Spartan hoplites under his command by the Spartan king Herodotus, despite the protests of his counterpart Titus. Ajax, Ajax is currently one of the youngest Spartan commanders, having outstripped Spartan all his peers while growing up and training. He was immediately assigned a Lieutenant command of one thousand Spartan hoplites, something unheard of for such a young commander. Ajax’s promotion would not have been possible without his close friend Eteonicus’s assistance and influence. Currently, Ajax is one of the few Spartans stationed outside the city; the site of his most recent deployment is near Delphi. As one of the youngest commanders in the oligarchy, many of the generals view him as hotheaded and reckless. This opinion of him is only made worse by his fiery that the only solution to the Delian League is to burn it down. Ajax’s current position near Delphi is both a blessing and a curse. While in a position to strike quickly against Athens, if he overextends his power, he might find himself isolated from the rest of his countrymen.

Telegonus, Telegonus is commander of the ranged detachment of the Spartan military. Ever Spartan since witnessing the destruction of the Persian arches in the Greco-Persian Wars, General he has worked tirelessly to diversify the Spartan military. Investing much of his personal wealth into developing better military technology to rival the Persians, he has one of the most well-equipped forces of archers in the region. Fighting from a distance is not the Spartan way, however, and some call him cowardly for preferring to use bows. Telegonus is mainly concerned with ensuring that Persians never again return to Greece, and he is violently opposed to any alliances or deals with the empire. With command of four thousand archers, he has significant ranged power. Despite this, he must work with other generals to ensure his forces have the proper protection.

Pyramus, Pyramus is one of the wealthiest citizens in Sparta. His family has long managed Spartan the vast majority of the Spartan mines in the region, giving him access to a large Security pool of resources and gold. This position of power is not without its drawbacks. Minister Since Helot slaves provide labor for the mines, Pyramus is ultimately responsible for making sure that the Helot population does not revolt against him. This

14 enormous responsibility gives him much power within the Spartan court, but those who are at the top have the farthest to fall. Pyramus’s position is highly desired by many of the generals and politicians, resulting in several recent attempts on his life. In addition, since he responsible for policing Sparta and the surrounding area, most of his three thousand hoplites are tied up guarding him or ensuring Helot suppression.

Eteonicus, Eteonicus was at one point the most powerful Spartan commander in the city. Spartan During the First Peloponnesian War, while commanding a force of four thousand General hoplites, he was instrumental in many military victories against the Athenians. Having grown up in poverty, Eteonicus is a relative outsider in the court. His humble beginnings are at odds with many of the powerful social and political dynasties. In an effort to diversify the court, he was critical in Ajax gaining his command, and the two have been close compatriots ever since. From there his power and influence only grew more and more in the following years. Eteonicus believes that the Helots inside Spartan territory should be ruled with an iron fist.

Phrixus, Phrixus is another prominent member of the old elite. Having served with King Spartan Leonidas before his sacrifice at Thermopylae, Phrixus was one of the few Cavalry commanders left alive after the Greco-Persian War. As a result, he was given command of Sparta’s cavalry detachment. While not as powerful as Spartan General hoplites in direct combat, his three thousand cavalrymen are well versed in hit- and-run and raiding tactics. Having used these tactics against Athens in the First Peloponnesian War, he is experienced in the Athenian fighting style and has extensive geographical knowledge of the area around the city. Despite having a cavalry-focused force, Phrixus is one of Eteonicus’s main competitors in the upcoming election for First General. If he wins, he will be the first commander to have a combination of infantry and cavalry. Ciro, Spartan Ciro is one of the few Spartan naval commanders. In possession of five naval Naval triremes during the Greco-Persian Wars, he was one of the few who saw the Commander importance of naval combat when he witnessed the Battle of Salamis. Since then, he has invested much of his personal wealth and influence to expand his command. As a direct result of his actions, he now commands twenty naval triremes. Currently stationed in Pylus, his ships must be careful not to directly engage the Athenian fleet, or they will most certainly be destroyed. Cycnus, Cycnus is without a doubt the most influential merchant in Sparta. With a large Spartan fleet of merchant ships capable of trade, he has built up a large amount of Minister of personal wealth. In addition to his wealth, however, he has a prolific information Finance network across Asia Minor, Italy, Carthage, and Sicily. Upon hearing of increasing hostilities between Sparta and Athens, Cycnus commissioned the construction of five naval warships, which have just recently been completed, to help secure his fleet and to aid in the fight against Athens.

15 Peleus, Peleus is one of the two most influential priests residing in Sparta and one of the Spartan biggest devotees of Poseidon. As such he has a large following of religious zealots Priest within the city. Educated in Athens as a young man, Peleus fell out of favor with the democratic society and moved to Sparta. He quickly gained favor with the Spartan kings due to his particular talent for interpreting the gods’ wills. Because of his affinity for the god of the sea, he is an ardent supporter of increasing the size of the Spartan navy in order to achieve naval dominance throughout the region. Within Sparta, Peleus, and Calisto, another influential priest, are fierce rivals. Both compete to curry the favor of the Gerousia and the Spartan kings.

Calisto, Calisto is the other influential priest within Sparta, considered the favorite of Spartan Zeus. Calisto’s role within Spartan society is to obtain blessings and boons from Priest the fickle gods of Olympus. Known to be exceptionally skilled at this, he has become the most reliable person to curry favor. To obtain favor, however, there must always be a sacrifice. Calisto was initially born into a wealthy family, however, at the age of eighteen he renounced his wealth and donated it to the poor in the city. That philanthropy bought him much loyalty from the lower class of Spartans. He and Peleus are in constant competition with each other to gain the most power and political influence inside the city. Herodotus, Herodotus is one of the two kings ruling over Sparta. Equipped with an elite fifty- Spartan man personal guard, Herodotus also has the ability to issue personal edicts that King can only be overruled by two-thirds vote of the rest of the oligarchs or the other Spartan king. As the king of Sparta, Herodotus supports the aggressive expansion of the Peloponnesian League and Spartan power in the region and believes that it is the gods’ mandate for Sparta to rule over Greece. This piety has made him particularly friendly towards the Spartan priests Calisto and Peleus. In addition, Herodotus deeply distrusts Athens and its democracy and believes that armed conflict is the only solution to crushing the Delian League. Pelagia, Pelagia is one of the most skilled diplomats in the Spartan court. Born to a Spartan wealthy family, Pelagia was extensively educated as a child. When his father and Foreign mother passed away, they left him the family wealth, a small fortune. His natural Minister talent for the arts caused him to rise quickly through the ranks of Spartan society, culminating with his appointment as foreign minister. Having spent the majority of his time travelling outside the city, Pelagia has extensive contacts in Athens and its city-state allies as well as the rest of the Peloponnesian League. In addition, he has some informants in the Persian court, clueing him into their motives. Because of this, however, he is a known to have Persian sympathies.

Avernus, Avernus is a Spartan tasked with keeping the two Spartan kings’ power in Spartan check. Because of this, the can vote to put a Spartan king on trial if they have tangible evidence of corruption. Having traveled abroad in the Western half Ephor of the Mediterranean, he has good relations with the Carthaginian and Syracusan courts. Carthage is a vast untapped empire of trade wealth for Sparta to exploit with trade routes that range from Africa to Italy to Spain. After completing his

16 mandatory training inside Sparta, Avernus spent much of his time traveling across the Carthaginian lands, seeing firsthand that Carthage has a navy that could perhaps even rival that of Athens. Avernus is very wary of the power that the Spartan kings hold and has been known to oppose them on many issues. Tellus, Tellus is a Spartan ephor keeping an eye on the two Spartan kings. The goal of the Spartan ephors in Spartan society is to keep the Spartan kings in check. Because of this, Ephor the ephors can vote to put a Spartan king on trial if they have tangible evidence of corruption. Tellus has spent all his life inside Sparta and as a result knows little about the world directly outside Greece. Incredibly nationalistic, he has a “Sparta first” policy and believes that it does not need the help of any other nations. Titus, Spartan Titus is the second of the two Spartan kings. Equipped with an elite fifty-man King personal guard, Titus has the ability to issue personal edicts that can only be overruled by two-thirds vote of the rest of the oligarchs or the other Spartan king. Titus believes the main threat to Sparta is Persia and has adamantly refused any help from the empire in the past, believing that it only seeks to sign lopsided deals against the Spartans. Titus grew up suppressing minor Helot riots in the past and believes the only way for Sparta to remain prosperous is to increase security in the area.

Corinthians

Heraklesr, Heraklesr is currently the most influential priest in Corinth; devoted to Ares, he Corinthian is a known advocate for armed conflict. Within the city, he holds tremendous Priest sway over the population and is the responsible for determining Corinth’s position in the Peloponnesian League. Heraklser believes in Helot freedom in the league and has been a staunch supporter of giving the slaves citizenship status within Sparta, an opinion that directly pits him against many who only believe in further oppression. Thesus, Thesus is the commander of the Corinthian army and currently controls 1,500 Corinthian hoplites. He is a close friend of Heraklesr, and the two work closely together to General best represent Corinth’s interests. Thesus is an ardent supporter of the Peloponnesian League and believes that every action taken should be done together. Thesus also has a deep distrust of the Persian Empire and in the past has refused to negotiate with any emissaries.

Lorgas, Lorgas is in charge of the Corinthian navy. With twenty triremes under his Corinthian command, he also has a small merchant fleet. Originally a trader, Lorgas built up Admiral a reputation as a respectable merchant, leading to enormous success in his business. After the First Peloponnesian War, he was appointed admiral, but he still is heavily invested in his business. His position as a prominent merchant puts him in direct competition over trade routes with Cycnus.

17 Tegeans

Dimitris, Dimitris is the military head of Tegea. With one thousand hoplites, he is Tegean responsible for the defense of the city. Because of this, he is known to be cautious General about using his hoplites only for defensive measures. As one of the newest members of the council, he has a considerable amount of gold and managed to use his wealth and cunning to buy his way into power. Dimitris believes in authority through absolute rule and is an ardent supporter of cracking down on the Helots in the area.

Telemachus, Telemachus is the political head of Tegea. Extremely afraid of the gods, he has recently expelled all priests from the city. In addition, because of his paranoia, he Tegean has a deep distrust of religious figureheads. A fervent purist, he despises Politician corruption and has often butted heads with the other influential figure in Tegea, Dimitris. Telemachus is sympathetic to the recent Helot uprisings and believes the Helots should be freed from Spartan control.

Thebans

Achelous, Achelous is a Theban general in command of 1,500 hoplites. He is known to Theban harbor a deep hatred of Athens and is very vocal about his positions around General Thebes. In the First Peloponnesian War, all of Achelous’s family were slaughtered by Athenian soldiers, an issue left unaddressed in the peace treaty that ended the war. As a result, Achelous will stop at nothing to see the downfall of the city. Leander, Leander is one of the most prominent priests in the city. His opinion is very well Theban Priest respected, and many of his proclamations within the city itself are taken as truth. Leander fiercely believes in city-state rights within the league and is very wary of Spartan hegemony in the region. Born into a powerful family within Thebes, he hosts many feasts and parties and has social connections inside the city and the surrounding area.

Elians

Konstantinos, Konstantinos is the governor of the city of Elis. Leading a small force of 250 Elian hoplites and two Greek triremes, he is a competent amphibious warfare Governor commander. Konstantinos rose from obscurity to power in the First Peloponnesian War. One of the few commanders to score naval victories against Athens, he was given command of a large combined fleet. At the climax of the war, however, Konstantinos made a disastrous attack on Athens’ port and lost most of his force. Stripped of his command, he was exiled to the city of Elis. When he arrived, the previous governor had a mysterious case of food poisoning

18 and passed away. Now Konstantinos wields shaky authority within the city but has control over its allegiances and actions. Though Elis is currently backing Sparta, there are strong Athenian sympathies in the city, and if Konstantinos is too careless with his power he could instigate a revolt within the city.

Lycomedes, Lycomedes is an old general from the Greco-Persian Wars. One of the few who Elian served with King Leonidas at the infamous Battle of Thermopylae, he retreated General his forces on the last day. Although he ensured the survival of his thousand hoplites, many inside the city branded him a coward. One by one those voices disappeared, and it is rumored that Lycomedes is very well connected within the city’s secretive inner circles. In addition to his cunning, Lycomedes is a ruthless tactician. Known for his lack of mercy, he has won countless skirmishes and just his name strikes fear into the hearts of Athenians. Lycomedes’ power is only rivalled by Agamedes, one of his long-standing rivals and the official figurehead of the city.

Agamedes, Agamedes is the political head of Elis. A fierce rival with Lycomedes, he despises Elian armed conflict and is an advocator for diplomatic solutions. Born into a powerful Politician family and wielding a vast amount of wealth, he quickly rose within the political ranks because of his candor and gravitas. Recently, rumors began circulating in the city that he was an Athenian sympathizer, damaging his political reputation. The rumors seem to be coming from a mysterious source inside the city. Unfortunately, Agamedes’ connections and power within the city do not reach to its shadow side and he thus has not been able to confront his opponents.

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