The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe

Metrophenis believed that the Dionysian Senate was deliberately stalling and fooling him, believing that they had already prepared for peace talks with Crotone. His journey to Thurii was a waste of effort... How dare the newly formed Dionysian alliance fool and disrespect Locri!

Therefore, despite his frail body, he attended the triumphal procession. As Locri's envoy, he was housed by the Senate in an inn not far from the Senate chamber. Since he already lived in the city and was a VIP, he was naturally allowed to observe the triumphal procession. Originally, he had intended to meet with the Dionysian consul at the end of the procession to vent his dissatisfaction and, on behalf of Locri, to issue a moderate threat to the Dionysian consul, who had recently allied with Crotone, to force Locri to make changes that would benefit Locri. But after watching this magnificent and lively military triumphal ceremony, the likes of which he had never witnessed before, he was overwhelmed by the vast military strength, high morale, and enthusiastic atmosphere of the people of Dionysia. He realized that this was an alliance where everyone, from senators to civilians, admired heroes and was warlike. They would not be underestimated, and would not easily compromise. So he began to back down...

After seeing off the last group of freedmen, the people poured into the square. Davos' speech brought the triumphal ceremony to a successful conclusion: "People of the Dionysian Alliance, on behalf of the Senate, I thank you!

When a powerful enemy invaded, you did not fear, you did not retreat, but worked together and bravely fought! Soldiers fought bravely on the front lines, fearless of sacrifice, striving to be heroes; while you, in the rear, tirelessly transported supplies, dodging surprise attacks from enemy fleets, bearing the grief of lost loved ones, supporting our frontline battles!

Today we are victorious. This is the result of the joint efforts of all citizens, prospective citizens, freedmen, and their families of the Dionysian Alliance! We offer this victory as a comfort to the warriors who died on the battlefield, and may their spirits safely reach the Elysian Paradise of Hades! I, Archon Davos, also want to use this victory to tell you that the days of humiliation for the Dionysian Alliance are over, and a brighter future awaits you! Long victory to the Dionysian Alliance! ..."

"Long victory to the Dionysian Alliance!!!"

"Long victory to the Dionysian Senate!!!"

"Long victory to Archon Davos!!!"

"Long victory to Davos!!!"

At that moment, cheers erupted from the square, and the entire city of Thurii erupted in joy!

On the anniversary of King Agis's death, after a period of preparation, the Spartan Council of Elders finally decided to elect a new king to avoid a prolonged vacancy of the throne and the resulting political instability.

On that day, the 29 elders of Sparta's council hall arrived early for the meeting. Two candidates for the throne were also present: Leotychides, son of the former Spartan King Agis, and Agesilaus, Agis's brother.

The rotating speaker, Cleostidas, announced: "The sacred king selection meeting begins! First, the candidates will state their reasons for being king."

The young and energetic Cleostidas stood up first and shouted to his uncle: "Agesilaus, the ancient law clearly stipulates that 'the king's son should inherit the throne first, not his brothers. If the king happens to have no heirs, his brothers may take the throne.' If you don't want to lose face, you'd better leave as soon as possible."

Agesilaus did not face his nephew, but turned to the crowd, his attitude respectful, his tone low but affirmative, and said: "Dear elders, the successor to the throne is... It should be me, Agesilaus, the only biological brother of Agis!"

Leotychides jumped up and down, yelling to interrupt his uncle: "Agesilaus, don't think that you can play dumb just because you are a cripple! Listen, the sacred Spartan law has already stipulated that as the only son of Agis, I should be the king. Don't mess around anymore!"

Agesilaus turned around and looked at the exasperated Leotychides with a bit of contempt on his face: "Yes, the law stipulates so, but the prerequisite is that you are indeed the son of Agis! But I have heard the man you call father say more than once, 'You are not his biological son!'"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Since he was a child, similar rumors have always reached Leotychides' ears, becoming a nightmare that haunts him and also a taboo for him when he grows up. At this moment, his face suddenly turned red, he jumped up from his seat, rushed over, grabbed Agesilaus, and roared angrily: "Damn cripple! Don't think that I won't beat you just because you are my uncle!"

He tried his best to suppress his anger, and his teeth chattered: "Listen, my mother knows the truth better than my father! Until today, she has been saying, 'I am the king's son! I am the son of Agis!'..."

"Quiet! Quiet! The council hall is a sacred place. Fighting is not allowed, otherwise you will be expelled!" Speaker Kleostidas warned.

Agesilaus brushed his nephew's hand aside, his demeanor growing calmer. He spoke solemnly, "Respected elders, you may remember the year an earthquake struck Sparta. Agis left his wife and led his guards to provide relief, a journey that lasted nearly a year. Poseidon's wrath filled the Spartans with awe, and the deity also provided the strongest evidence that Leotychides was not Agis's son! Because of the time! Leotychides was born ten months after Agis left his wife!"

His words struck the elders, and some grew more serious.

"Nonsense!" Leotychides erupted in rage again, but the guards, already prepared, restrained him, and he could only roar.

"Well, that concludes the candidates' presentations," Speaker Cleostidas said quickly. "Do the elders have anything to say?"

Diopettis stood up and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, before convening this meeting, I, authorized by Pausanias, traveled to Delphi on behalf of the Council of Elders and sought the oracle from Apollo. He warned us, 'Spartans, beware of a king becoming crippled!' Therefore, I believe Apollo has warned us that allowing Agesilaus to become king would bring danger to Sparta."

He passed the parchment scroll around, and several elders nodded as they read it.

Diopetti glanced triumphantly at Lysander, who sat in front of him, and then made a reassuring gesture to Leotychides.

Agesilaus maintained a composed expression, but his hands were clenched behind his back. Seeing the elders occasionally glancing at his feet, he instinctively pulled his left foot back.

At this time, Lysander stood up. His great influence immediately focused everyone's attention: "As everyone knows, the oracle of Apollo in Delphi has always been profound and difficult to understand. If you only understand it literally, you will often come to the wrong conclusion! Back then, the King of Lydia received the oracle that 'a great country will perish' and thought that Persia would be defeated. In the end, his kingdom was destroyed. If the Athenians had really built a wooden wall according to the literal meaning before the Persian invasion, they would not have been able to defeat Persia in the naval battle...

So we should understand this oracle more deeply! If the king we elect is not the true bloodline of Agis, then our proud dual-king system, the sacred bloodline inherited from Hercules, will be missing a leg!!"

It should be said that Lysander's words were thought-provoking, and coupled with his influence, it caused the elders to whisper and talk non-stop.

Leotychides glared at Lysander, but he dared not curse him as he had previously with Agesilaus. Although his power had been deliberately weakened by the Council of Elders in the years following the Peloponnesian War, he remained a hero to the Spartan people, possessing a formidable appeal that no heir to the throne could bully.

Pausanias, the other Spartan king, showed no clear preference for either of Agis's two successors, but he harbored deep hatred and wariness for Lysander, who had once attempted to destabilize the "two kings." Therefore, he often opposed anything Lysander supported. However, according to tradition, the other king could attend the meeting to elect a new king, but he did not have the right to make suggestions or vote. Since Sparta's two kings were meant to maintain checks and balances, the kings had to avoid suspicion. Pausanias could only signal his support to Heripidas, a trusted elder.

The elder had to stand up hastily and stammered, "Sparta is now the overlord of Greece, but if... the king of Sparta is... um... a person with a physical disability, it will only cause other city-states to secretly ridicule Sparta, thereby reducing their awe of Sparta. What's more, we Sparta has never had a physically disabled king! Never!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lysander immediately took over and said, "Yes, Agesilaus is a cripple. But he fought bravely and was upright. He has always been respected by our elders and people. He is a traditional and pure Spartan warrior who has not disgraced the reputation of the royal family! But please take a closer look at Leotychides, who do you think he looks like?"

Leotychides was strong and handsome, and his appearance was more inherited from his mother, but under the guidance of Lysander's words and the influence of rumors, the more the elders looked at him, the more they thought he looked like the handsome and romantic Athenian - Alcibiades.

Seeing the others' bewildered expressions, Diobetti grew anxious and hurriedly said, "Those rumors about Leotychides' birth are nothing more than rumors spread by certain individuals to achieve their own ends. There's no solid evidence! And... and in history, we honest Spartans have never had a first-place heir inexplicably lose the throne due to false rumors!"