Ancient Greece, Late Classical Period, Decline of Sparta: Peace of Callistratus (371 BC)

In summer 371 BC the Athenians, increasingly uncomfortable with their Theban allies, sent envoys to Sparta to discuss peace and invited the Theban to send envoys too. Xenophon says of the Athenian envoys that Callias (3) gave an absurd and self-glorifying speech; Autocles criticised Sparta’s conduct and Callistratus (fl.362-361 BC) argued that Athens and Sparta should be on the same side. 

Peace was agreed on the terms that governors were withdrawn and forces demobilised, and the cities to be autonomous. The boeotarch Epaminondas (c.418-362 BC) caused a drastic break with Sparta when he insisted on signing not for the Thebans alone, but for all the Boeotians. Agesilaus insisted that the cities of Boeotia should be independent. Epaminondas countered that if this were to be the case then the cities of Sparta’s perioikoi should be too. Agesilaus excluded the Thebans from the treaty and then, against the advice of the other Spartans, urged an immediate invasion of Boeotia.