Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

ARISTOMENES. 43war for five years, in which he maintained his superiority, andfinally again beat the Spartans at Ithome, this time so badlythat only the excellent discipline of the latter enabled themto regain Laconia with the relics of their army.But the Spartans, with abundant population and resources,could easily recover themselves, while the Messenians weretotally exhausted by their gallant struggle. On the death ofAristodemus the Spartans were able to take advantage oftheir superior strength and reduce Messenia to a tributarycondition.The second Messenian war (645—628 b. c.) was illustratedby the valor and ability of Aristomenes, under whose leadershipthe Messenians again rose to cast off the yoke of Sparta,invaded Laconia, beat their oppressors so badly as almost torecover their lost liberties and devastated large parts of theSpartan territory. After two years of disaster the Spartanswere more successful, and by taking advantage of the treacheryof their allies gained a marked advantage over the Messenians.Aristomenes retired to Ira, a fortress which he couldvictual from the near-by sea, for Sparta had no fleet. Thesame conditions had existed at Ithome. In Ira, for elevenyears, Aristomenes held himseK against the Spartans by ablediversions outside the walls and stanch defense within. Theselong sieges exhibit as nothing else does the lack of engineeringfacilities of the day. But finally the Spartans, again bytreachery, gained entrance into the fortress. Aristomeneswas allowed to withdraw, but Messenia was subdued and parceledout by the Spartans.