Prior to the age of Theseus, Attica was divided into petty states, each with a council-house of its own. According to the testimony of Thucydides, from the time of Cecrops to Theseus the population of Athens had always inhabited independent cities, with their own guild-halls and magistrates; and at such times as they were not in fear of any danger they did not meet with the king to consult with him, but themselves severally conducted their own government, and took their own counsel.[161] [161] Thucydides, _The History of Peloponnesian War_. The _basileus_ or war-chief exercised no civil functions,[162] and his services were never called into requisition except in times of danger. [162] Morgan, _Ancient Society_, p. 250. Theseus upon receiving the office of military chieftain “persuaded” the people in the adjacent country to remove to the city.[163] According to Plutarch he “settled all the inhabitants of Attica in Athens and made them one people in one city.”[164] He persuaded them to abolish their independent city governments and to establish in their stead, at Athens, a council-house which would be common to all. Thus, under his direction, the Attic peoples coalesced, or were united under one government. Theseus, we are told, divided the people into three classes, irrespective of gentes, on the basis of property and social position. The chiefs of the several gentes with their families, and the citizens who through their great wealth had become influential, constituted the first class; the second class were the husbandmen, and the third the mechanics. All the principal offices both of the government and the priesthood were in the hands of the nobles or the moneyed and aristocratic classes. Thucydides refers to the fact that “when Greece was becoming more powerful, and acquiring possessions of money still more than before, tyrannies were established in the cities.”[165] [163] Thucydides, book ii., 14. [164] _Theseus._ [165] Book i., 13. Upon this subject Mr. Rawlinson says: