Polypidas sent General by the Lacedemonians against the Olynthians. A great Plague in Carthage. The Beotian War. Cadmea retaken. A Confederacy of the Cities against the Lacedemonians. Cleombrotus attempts to Surprize the Pireum at Athens. The Athenians Seize Actea in Eubea. Agesilaus enters Beotia. The Sea-fight at Naxus.
AFter the end of the Year, Pytheas was Created Chief Magistrate of Athens; and six Military Tribunes bore the consular Authority at Rome, Titus Quintius, Lucius Servilius, Lucius Julius, AquiliusDecius, Lucretius Anchius, and Servius Sulpitius. At that time was Solemnized the Hundred Olympiad at Elis; in which Dionysiodorus the Tarentine bore away the Prize. In the mean time Agestpolis King of Lacedemon died in the fourteenth Year of his Reign; and his Brother Cleombrotus succeeding him, Reign'd Nine Years. But the Lacedemonians Constituted Polybidas General, and sent him forth against the Olynthians. He swore all his Souldiers to be true and faithful to him, and gain'd many Victories, managing the War with the Valour and Conduct that became a good General. At length improving his good Fortune and frequent Sucesses, he drove the Olynthians within their Walls, and pinning them up, so Terrifi'd them, that he forc'd them to Submit to the Lacedemonians as their Sovereign Lords. As soon as the Olynthians were Enroll'd among the Confederates of the Spartans, many other Cities sought to come under the same Protection. And now the Power of the Lacedemonians was in its greatest Strength, as being Lords of all Greece, both by Sea and Land; For the Thebans were overaw'd by a Garrison; the Corinthians and Argives were tyr'd out with Wars one with another; the Athenians for their Covetousness and Cruelty exercis'd among those they had Subdu'd, were despis'd by all the Grecians. On the other hand all were afraid of the Lacedemonians, because they were very Populous, expert Soldiers, and unweari'd in their Attempts: Insomuch that the greatest of the Princes in those times (I mean the King of Persia, and Dyonysius the Tyrant of Sicily) Courted the Spartans and were ambitious of their Alliance.
Afterward when Nico govern'd at Athens, and Six Military Tribunes were Created Consuls at Rome; Lucius Papyrius, Caius Cornelius, Lucius Manlius, Caius Servilius, Valerius Aulius, and Quintius Fabius, the Carthaginians enter'd with an Army into Italy, and Restor'd the Hipponiats to their City, whence they had been Expuls'd, and kindly receiv'd all the Exiles that came in to them from all Parts.
Not long after a great Plague happen'd in Carthage, which Raging more and more, swept away abundance of the Inhabitants; insomuch that they were in great danger to have lost their Sovereignty. For the Africans slighted and deserted them, the Inhabitant; of Sardinia (supposing they had now a fit opportunity) Revolted, and rose up in Arms against them. Moreover, a Remarkable Judgment of God fell upon Carthage at this time, for the City was all on a sudden in an uproar, fill'd with Tumult, Fear, and Horrour; and many running Arm'd out of their Houses (as if an Enemy had entr'd the Place) Fought, Wounded and Killd one another in the Streets. At length the Gods being Appeas'd by Sacrifices; and they deliver'd out of their sad Afflictions, they presently Subdu'd the Africans, and Recover'd Sardinia.
After these things, when Nausinicus chief Governor of Athens, and four Military Tribunes, Marcus Cornelius, Servilius Quinctius, Marcus Furius and Lucius Quinctius were Cloth'd with the Consular dignity at Rome, the Beotian War (so call'd) broke out, between the Beotians and the Lacedemonians upon the Accounts following. The Lacedemonians against all Law and Justice forcibly detain'd the Citadel of Cadmea, and had forc'd many Persons of Quality to fly out of their own Countrey: The Exiles therefore upon a private Consult among themselves (by the help of the Athenians) return'd in the Night into their City, and in the first place kill'd all those they judg'd sided with the Lacedemonians, surprizing them in their Houses, when they were asleep; then they stirr'd up all the Common People to appear for their Liberties, upon which the whole City of Thebes readily came in to their assistance; and getting into a Body, clapt about Cadmea at break of Day. In the mean time the Lacedemonian Garrison that was in the Citadel, which consisted of no fewer than Fifteen hundred Men, sent a Messenger to Sparta to inform them of the Insurrection in Thebes, and to desire Aid with all speed. However