In 387 BC the common peace (so-named because it included all the Greek states and not just those engaged in hostilities) had allowed the Spartans with Persian backing to arrange affairs in Greece to suit themselves. In 367 BC envoys from the Greek states attended a conference at Susa, and Pelopidas convinced Artaxerxes that the Thebans were best placed to oversee Persia’s interests in Greece. The resulting treaty, the Peace of Pelopidas, affirmed the independence of Messenia from Sparta, denied Athens the right to Amphipolis and the Chersonese, recognized that Triphylia should belong to Elis and not Arcadia, and ordered Athens to beach her fleet. The following year a conference at Thebes, called to formalise the terms of the peace, ended in failure as the three major states refused to weaken themselves for the benefit of Thebes. Of the two Athenian delegates, one, Timagoras, unwisely agreed to the proposals; the other, Leon (2), objected and on their return Timagoras was condemned and executed.
In early 366 BC Oropus on the Boeotian/Attic border was taken from Athens by some exiles under Themison, the tyrant of Eretria (opposite Oropus, across the Euripus Strait), and handed over to the Thebans. The Athenians marched out in full force against the city but when none of their allies sent help the Athenians retired, leaving Oropus in the hands of the Thebans. Learning of Athens’ discontentment with her allies, Lycomedes persuaded the Arcadian assembly to offer an alliance with Athens, which they accepted.
In 366 BC Artaxerxes sent ambassadors and the Greeks were persuaded to conclude a common peace. Athens was not required to dismantle her navy, and in exchange for accepting Thebes’ hegemony in Boeotia and her ownership of Oropus, the Athenian claim to the Chersonese was to be recognized. Sparta refused to sign because of the Messenian autonomy clause. Arcadia, alienated by Thebes’ proposal to award Triphylia to Elis, made an alliance with Athens.
During these negotiations it was also proposed in Athens to ensure that Corinth could not be a threat to Athens. In the summer the Athenians sent Chares (c.395-324 BC) to Corinth with a fleet of warships. Despite the significant Athenian support against the Theban invasion of the Isthmus in 398 BC, the Corinthians sent this fleet away together with the city’s garrison of Athenian hoplites.
Corinth now sought Sparta’s permission to make peace with Thebes. Sparta (unable to defend her allies) granted that permission to Corinth and any other state wishing to make peace. It is not clear how many states took advantage of this, but in spring 365 BC Corinth, Phlius and Epidaurus made peace with Thebes and Argos. These agreements effectively marked the end of the Peloponnesian League.
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