The rise of Macedonia did not result in the immediate elimination of Greek social and political traditions. The citizens of Greek city-states continued to believe in the ideal of the polis, and the outward forms of Greek government often remained in place. Nonetheless, the Greek world had changed. Increasingly, power was concentrated in the hands of kings and autocrats, even if a pretense was sometimes maintained that this was not the case. In this document, the Roman historian Plutarch describes the lifestyle and policies of Cleomenes III (r. 235–222 B.C.E.), a Spartan king who sought to reorganize the Spartan state, claiming greater power for himself in the process. As you read it, pay particular attention to Cleomenes’s use of Sparta’s past to justify his current rule. How and why did he seek to connect himself to older traditions?
For of all the armies otherwise of the Grecians, or kings in all Greece, there was no army only but his, that was without players, minstrels, fools and jugglers: for his camp only was clean of such rabble and foolery, and all the young men fell to some exercise of their bodies, and the old men also to teach them. And if they chanced to have any vacant time, then they would pleasantly be one merry with another, in giving some pretty fine mock after the Laconian14 manner. And what profit they got by that kind of exercise, we have written it at large in Lycurgus’ life. But of all these things, the king himself was their schoolmaster and example, showing himself very temperate of life, and plain without curiosity, no more than any private soldier of all his camp: the which were great helps unto him in his enterprises he made in Greece. For the Grecians having cause of suit and negotiation with other kings and princes, did not wonder so much at their pomp and riches, as they did abhor and detest their pride and insolency: so disdainfully they would answer them that had to do with them. But contrarily when they went unto Cleomenes, who was a king in name and deed as they were, finding no purple robes nor stately mantles, nor rich-embroidered beds, nor a prince to be spoken to but by messengers, gentlemen ushers, and supplications, and yet with great ado: and seeing him also come plainly appareled unto them, with a good countenance, and courteously answering the matters they came for: he thereby did marvelously win their hearts and good-wills, that when they returned home, they said he only was the worthy king, that came of the race of Hercules. Now for his diet at his board, that was very straight and Laconian-like, keeping only three boards: and if he chanced to feast any ambassadors or other his friends that came to see him, he then added too, two other boards, and besides, made his men to see that his fare should be amended, not with pastry and conserves, but with more store of meat, and some better wine than ordinary. For he one day reproved one of his friends, that bidding strangers to supper, he gave them nothing but black broth, and brown bread only, according to the Laconian manner. Nay, said he, we may not use strangers so hardly after our manner. The board being taken up, another little table was brought with three feet, whereupon they set a bowl of copper full of wine, and two silver cups of a pottle apiece, and certain other few silver pots besides: so every man drank what they listed, and no man was forced to drink more than he would. Furthermore, there was no sport, nor any pleasant song sung to make the company merry, for it needed not. For Cleomenes self would entertain them with some pretty questions or pleasant tale: whereby, as his talk was not severe and without pleasure, so was it also pleasant without insolency. For he was of opinion, that to win men by gifts or money, as other kings and princes did, was but base and clown-like: but to seek their good-wills by courteous means and pleasantness, and therewith to mean good faith, that he thought most fit and honorable for a prince. For this was his mind, that there was but no other difference betwixt a friend and a hireling: but that the one is won with money, and the other with civility and good entertainment.