And the So, The Hello, I'm Ryan Stitt and and welcome back to the History of Ancient Greece, episode 112, the Corinthian War.

Where we last left off in 396 BC, the Spartan King Agassilius II had led an

expeditionary force to the western coast of Asia Minor in order to support the

Asiatic Greeks against his Saffernes.

The Persian satrap of Lydia and Caria.

In total, he had about 15,300 men at his disposal,

more than double what Thibron and Dairkiladis.

The previous Spartan commanders in Asia Minor each commanded.

For the first time, a Spartan general was leading troops sufficient enough for a major Asian campaign, though nowhere near enough to accomplish

the Spartan goal of liberating the Asiatic Greeks. However, Agnes

Alayas did not immediately attack Tissophernes. Instead, he first took the

fight to Hellaspontine Frigia, the dominion of another Persian say trap, Farnabassus. He achieved very little

there and spent the winter of 396-395 BC at Ephesus, preparing his army, both in resources and in training, for a major

campaign the following spring.

As the spring of 1995 BC came, Agisiloleus let it be known that his next target would be the

rich land around the Lydian capital city of Sardis.

This was not a Greek city and was roughly 50 miles or 75 kilometers from the coastline.

So was his intent no longer to just liberate the Greek cities from Persian control, but now to conquer Persian territory for Sparta?

Or was he just trying to play mind games with Tisifernies once again?

Well, Tisifernies at least believed that the announcement was a ruse because if Agnesaleus really

intended to attack Sardis he would not have said so and thus give away his strategy.

Instead, to Sifernis anticipated that Agisilaeus would finally attack Caria this time.

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