Great ascendency of Sparta on land in 379 B.C.—Sparta is now feared as the great despot of Greece.—Strong complaint of the rhetor Lysias, expressed at the Olympic festival of 384 B.C.—Panegyrical oration of Isokrates.—Censure upon Sparta pronounced by the philo-Laconian Xenophon.—His manner of marking the point of transition in his history—from Spartan glory to Spartan disgrace.—Thebes under Leontiades and the philo-Spartan oligarchy, with the Spartan garrison in the Kadmeia—oppressive and tyrannical government.—Discontent at Thebes, though under compression. Theban exiles at Athens.—The Theban exiles at Athens, after waiting some time in hopes of a rising at Thebes, resolve to begin a movement themselves.—Pelopidas takes the lead—he, with Mellon and five other exiles, undertakes the task of destroying the rulers of Thebes. Coöperation of Phyllidas the secretary, and Charon at Thebes.—Plans of Phyllidas for admitting the conspirators into Thebes and the government-house—he invites the polemarchs to a banquet.—The scheme very nearly frustrated—accident which prevented Chlidon from delivering his message.—Pelopidas and Mellon get secretly into Thebes, and conceal themselves in the house of Charon.—Leontiades and Hypates are slain in their houses.—Phyllidas opens the prison, and sets free the prisoners. Epaminondas and many other citizens appear in arms.—Universal joy among the citizens on the ensuing morning, when the event was known. General assembly in the market-place—Pelopidas, Mellon, and Charon are named the first Bœotarchs.—Aid to the conspirators from private sympathizers in Attica.—Pelopidas and the Thebans prepare to storm the Kadmeia—the Lacedæmonian garrison capitulate and are dismissed—several of the oligarchical Thebans are put to death in trying to go away along with them. The harmost who surrendered the Kadmeia is put to death by the Spartans.—Powerful sensation produced by this incident throughout the Grecian world.—Indignation in Sparta at the revolution of Thebes—a Spartan army sent forth at once under king Kleombrotus. He retires from Bœotia without achieving anything.—Kleombrotus passes by the Athenian frontier—alarm at Athens—condemnation of the two Athenian generals who had favored the enterprise of Pelopidas.—Attempt of Sphodrias from Thespiæ to surprise the Peiræus by a night-march. He fails.—Different constructions put upon this attempt and upon the character of Sphodrias.—The Lacedæmonian envoys at Athens seized, but dismissed.—Trial of Sphodrias at Sparta; acquitted through the private favor and sympathies of Agesilaus.—Comparison of Spartan with Athenian procedure.—The Athenians declare war against Sparta, and contract alliance with Thebes.—Exertions of Athens to form a new maritime confederacy, like the Confederacy of Delos. Thebes enrolls herself as a member.—Athens sends round envoys to the islands in the Ægean.