Korinthos (Wrath of Sparta)

Although there have been settlements on the site of Korinthos for many thousands of years, before the Bacchiadae clan seized control of the city in the 8th century BC the city was very much a minor player in Greek affairs. Unseating the last king, Telestes, they introduced a form of oligarchy – ruling jointly under the direction of an annually-elected ruler.

Unified under this new system, Korinthos became rich from trade due to its geographical position, using the wealth to launch public construction projects on a large scale and forge colonies as far afield as Syracuse, in Sicily. Following a period of tyranny under Cypselus and his son, Periander, the Korinthians rose up and returned the city to an oligarchical form of government.

Around this time, Korinthos allied with Sparta, and went on to fight against the Persian invasions as part of the Hellenic League. The inventors of the conflict-winning trireme warship, Korinthos supplied forty such vessels for the Athenian victory at Salamis, which ended the Greco-Persian Wars. However, Athenai’s recent support of the rebel colony, Korkyra, in a colonial matter, along with ancient rivalries over trade, has caused hostilities between Korinthos and its wealthy, prestigious neighbour.

A great confrontation is sure to ensue, in which Korinthos and its Peloponnesian League allies must deny the enemy naval supremacy to emerge victorious. Therefore, the city must build a strong fleet if it is to face down Athenai’s fearsome naval prowess. Additionally, Korinthos’ has a sizeable population from which to draw its citizen soldiers – in the coming conflict its armies could be a dangerous proposition on land also, and far more than a mere foil to the expected Spartan battlefield supremacy…