The Fall of the Athenian Empire-(A New History of the Peloponnesian War) Donald Kagan - (1987)

THE BATTLE OF ARGINUSAE 329
loyal to him personally had raised more fears in Sparta than his victory
at Notium had won support for him. 16
Since the battle of Notium in December or January, Lysander had
undertaken no significant actions. Although the Athenian fleet had
been sharply reduced in numbers and quality and the more numerous
Spartan fleet had proved its mettle, Lysander made no attempt to
interfere with Conon's raids and was content to remain in port. Another
victory over the Athenians, this time under Conon's command, might
have been decisive, but Lysander did not try to force a battle. Callicratidas
arrived at Ephesus to assume his command, probably in April
of 406. 17 At once the hostility between the retiring navarch and his
successor came to the surface. As Lysander turned over the fleet to
the new commander, he told him that he "handed it over as ruler of
the sea and as one who had conquered in a battle at sea."" It was a
boast not fully justified, as Callicratidas was quick to point out. He
told Lysander to take his fleet southward from Ephesus, past the Athenian
fleet at Samos, and deliver it at Miletus; then he would agree that
he was ruler of the sea. That was a jibe at Lysander's overblown
pretensions and at his failure to exploit the victory at Notium; it was
also a declaration of rivalry and ill will. The former navarch merely
pointed out that he was no longer in command and set out for home. 19
Before leaving, however, Lysander had taken steps to see that his
successor would not have an easy time. His friends and partisans began
to work against Callicratidas at once. They not only failed to serve
him with enthusiasm but also spread the word throughout the Greek
cities that the Spartans had made a grave and dangerous mistake by
replacing Lysander with a new, ignorant, and inexperienced commander.
It is inconceivable that they acted without the approval, and
perhaps even the instigation, of Lysander. 20 These were the men Lysander
had called together and promised a brilliant future to if they
supported him and his policy. 21 They were dismayed at the loss of
their leader at a time when victory seemed imminent and were determined
that his successor, who was unfriendly to Lysander and sup-
16
Busolt, GG Ill:2., 1584.
17
Beloch, GG 2 II: 2, 275; J.·F. Bommelaer, Lyrandre de Sparte (Paris, 1981), 72-73.
18
Xen. 1.6.2. ·
19
lbid., r.6.2-3.
20
lbid., 1.6-4- Plutarch (Lys. 6.1) says flatly that "he made these men even more
hostile to Callicratidas."
21
See above, 306.