Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

But in terms of actual power, I mean, they're done.

Because it's fallen.

In 362.

I think that's exactly right.

And so we need to doubt that story a little bit.

But obviously, Philip was interested in Greek affairs.

The thing is, when he starts out, he takes over this kingdom in 360 or 359, it's in a total shambles, right?

And specifically, it's in a shambles with regard to the Illyrians and the Thracians and the Thessalians at his borders and the Athenians messing with matters in the North Aegean.

Sparta is a long way away.

And Sparta is not going to become relevant to his immediate interests for a very long time.

I think Philip gets away with not caring about Sparta, essentially.

And that is the whole thing about this quote.

He tried to intimidate them with words because it's too much trouble actually going there, unless they defy him, in which case, fine, I'll go.

But in terms of how important it is to facilitate his rise to power, it's much harder to say because you're dealing with a world in which it's become from unipolar at the start of the fourth century, Sparta is in control, to being very multipolar.

You have all these different states, the Arcadians, the Athenians, the Thebans.

Exactly.

And the Athenians by far are the most powerful Greek state when Philip rises to power.

There's no question.

And so to what extent it matters that it's not Sparta, I'm not entirely sure that we could quantify that in any meaningful way.

But you could imagine, for instance, Sparta winning the Battle of Leuctra, humbling the Thebans, taking over the region again.