Faced with Sparta’s increasing imperialism Athens began to seek new alliances. Some states already had treaties with Athens, as did Chalcis (Euboea) and Chios, whereas other states such as Byzantium Methymna and Mytilene only concluded them in 378/7 BC. An inscribed ‘prospectus’ for the alliance was found in Athens. Known as the Decree of Aristoteles and dating to 377 BC the states involved were all to have autonomy; Athens was not permitted to own land in any of the states who were members, or to inflict upon them a garrison or a cleruchy; and each member could also choose its own constitution, not necessarily a democracy. This decree appears to try to promise that this confederacy would not turn out the same way as the fifth century BC Athenian League.
In 376 BC sixty-five triremes under Pollio, cruising round Aegina, Ceos (=Kea) and Andros blocking the corn supply of Athens, were intercepted near Naxos by an Athenian fleet of forty-three triremes under Chabrias. The left wing of the Athenian fleet was overwhelmed, but an aggressive counterattack by Phocion (c.402-c.318 BC) won the day. This was an important victory as it ended the blockade on Athens and won over most of the Cyclades for Athens, including Delos.
In 375 BC the alliance divided its forces into two fleets, one under the command of Chabrias winning new adherents along the Thracian coast; and the other under Timotheus (d.354 BC), son of Conon, sailing around the Peloponnese to the Ionian Sea at the head of sixty ships to win over Cephalonia, Acarnania, Corcyra, and Alcetas-I, king of Epirus. When Sparta sent Nicolochus with a fleet of fifty-five ships, Timotheus defeated him off Alyzia, opposite Leucas.
Jason (r.c.385-370 BC), probably a son of Lycophron-I, became tyrant of Pherae in Thessaly by 385 BC. Shortly after his accession Jason helped a man called Neogenes to become tyrant of Histiaea, at the north end of Euboea. Neogenes was unpopular and the Spartan expelled him so when in 377 BC the other cities of Euboea joined the Athenian Alliance, Histiaea resisted. By the end of 375 BC Jason commanded a strong force of cavalry and a band of 6000 mercenaries, and the only obstacle to him unifying Thessaly was Polydamas of Pharsalus, a close friend of Sparta.
In the spring of 374 BC Thebes invaded Phocis, and Jason delivered an ultimatum to Polydamas. Phocis and Polydamas appealed to the Spartans, who sent a large army under Cleombrotus to support Phocis but were too widely committed to consider adding Jason to their list of enemies. Polydamas had to submit to Jason and thus the way was clear for Jason to be elected tagos – the commander-in-chief of all Thessaly.
Having achieved her objective in the war Athens, alarmed by these activities in the northeast, opened negotiations with Sparta for peace on terms of the status quo, i.e. the Second Athenian Alliance was to be recognized; Thebes, to be included in the peace, would be have to join that alliance. Peace on these terms was concluded in July 374 BC.
The peace did not last long. Timotheus on his way back to Athens landed some democratic exiles on Zacynthus, where they established a base from which they proceeded to attack the city. Sparta protested but the Athenians Assembly decided to support the Zacynthian democrats. Sparta had no option but to continue the war.
In 374/3 BC Sparta sent expeditions to Zacynthus and Corcyra. Lacking money to equip a fleet for their relief, Athens sent six hundred mercenary peltasts overland into Epirus from where they were ferried across to Corcyra. Timotheus won over Jason, Amyntas III allied himself with Athens, and many states joined the Athenian Alliance.
In 373 BC Sparta sent a further sixty ships under Mnasippus to Corcyra. He ravaged the country and blockaded the city by land and sea. It appears his discipline was poor: the posts of the besiegers were imperfectly guarded and soldiers were dispersed throughout the country. The Corcyraeans, observing this, made a sally in which some soldiers were slain and others made prisoners. In the battle which ensued close to the gates of the town, the Corcyraeans were victorious and Mnasippus was slain. Receiving news of the approach of an Athenian fleet under Iphicrates the Spartans abandoned the siege.
In 373/2 BC Thebes resumed her attacks on the autonomous pro-Spartan Boeotian cities. Thespiae and Tanagra were subjugated and became part of the Boeotian League. Plataea was razed and its citizens allowed to leave but they were welcomed by Athens and were granted equal rights. This action increased the annoyance of Thebes, already upset by Athens’ seizure of Oropus some years earlier. Jason withdrew from the Athenian alliance but remained in alliance with Thebes.
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