Editing Artaxerxes II (section)

===Peace mediation in the Theban–Spartan War (368-366 BC)===
[[File:Double daric 330-300 obverse CdM Paris.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Daric]] of Artaxerxes II]]
Artaxerxes again attempted to mediate in conflicts between the Greek city-states at the time of the [[Theban hegemony]], especially the [[Theban–Spartan War]]. He sent [[Philiscus of Abydos]], a [[hyparch]] (vice-regent) and military commander of the Achaemenid satrap [[Ariobarzanes of Phrygia|Ariobarzanes]], to Delphi in order to help the Greek negotiate peace.<ref name="JH113"/><ref name="JH">{{cite book | last1=Heskel | first1=Julia | title=The North Aegean Wars, 371-360 B.C | date=1997 | publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag | isbn=978-3-515-06917-5 | page=96 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djGmzkjbyGUC&pg=PA96 | language=en}}</ref><ref name="JF">{{cite book | last1=Fine | first1=John Van Antwerp | title=The Ancient Greeks: A Critical History | date=1983 | publisher=Harvard University Press | isbn=978-0-674-03314-6 | page=[https://archive.org/details/ancientgreeks00john/page/584 584] | url=https://archive.org/details/ancientgreeks00john | url-access=registration | language=en}}</ref> The objective of Philicus of Abydos was such to help broker a Common Peace between the Greek belligerents reunited at [[Delphi]].<ref name="JF"/> The negotiation collapsed when Thebes refused to return [[Messenia]] to the Spartans.<ref name="JF"/>

Before returning to Abydos, Philicus used Achaemenid funds to finance an army for the Spartans, suggesting that he was acting in support of the Spartans from the beginning.<ref name="JF"/> With the Achaemenid financing of a new army, Sparta was able to continue the war.<ref name="PS">{{cite book | last1=Souza | first1=Philip de | last2=France | first2=John | title=War and Peace in Ancient and Medieval History | date=2008 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=978-1-139-46948-7 | page=41 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9j7zoDeWTdwC&pg=PA41 | language=en}}</ref> Among the mercenaries whom he had recruited, Philiscus gave 2,000 to the Spartans.<ref name="JH113"/> He also probably provided funds to the Athenians and promised them, on behalf of the King, to help them recover the [[Thracian Chersonese|Chersonese]] militarily.<ref name="JH113">{{cite book | last1=Heskel | first1=Julia | title=The North Aegean Wars, 371-360 B.C | date=1997 | publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag | isbn=978-3-515-06917-5 | page=113 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djGmzkjbyGUC&pg=PA113 | language=en}}</ref> Both Philiscus and Ariobarzanes were made citizens of Athens, a remarkable honor suggesting important services rendered to the city-state.<ref name="JH113"/>

During autumn of 367 BCE, first the Spartans, soon followed by the Athenians, the Arcadians, the Argives, the Eleans, the Thebans, and other Greek city-states, sent envoys to Susa in attempts to obtain the support of Achaemenid king Artaxerxes II in the Greek conflict.<ref name="JF"/> The Achaemenid king proposed a new peace treaty, this time highly tilted in favour of Thebes, which required Messenia to remain independent and that the Athenian fleet to be dismantled. This Peace proposal was rejected by most Greek parties except Thebes.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Fine | first1=John Van Antwerp | title=The Ancient Greeks: A Critical History | date=1983 | publisher=Harvard University Press | isbn=978-0-674-03314-6 | page=[https://archive.org/details/ancientgreeks00john/page/585 585] | url=https://archive.org/details/ancientgreeks00john | url-access=registration | language=en}}</ref><ref name="PS"/>

Sparta and Athens, dissatisfied with the Persian king's support of [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], decided to provide careful military support to the opponents of the Achaemenid king. Athens and Sparta provided support for the revolted satraps, in particular [[Ariobarzanes of Phrygia|Ariobarzanes]]. Sparta sent a force to Ariobarzanes under an aging [[Agesilaus II]], while Athens sent a force under [[Timotheus (general)|Timotheus]], which was however diverted when it became obvious that Ariobarzanes had entered frontal conflict with the Achaemenid king.<ref name="PS"/><ref name="JH"/> An Athenian mercenary force under [[Chabrias]] was also sent to the Egyptian Pharaoh [[Teos of Egypt|Tachos]], who was also fighting against the Achaemenid king.<ref name="PS"/>