The Corinthian War

The Corinthian War (395–387 BCE) followed the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) , which saw Sparta achieve hegemony over Athens and its allies. The new wave of hostilities pitted Sparta against a new coalition (Thebes, Athens, Corinth and Argos) supported by the Persian Achaemenid Empire after Sparta and Thebes had both intervened in a local conflict in northwest Greece.

The Spartans won several major land battles but could not capitalise on their victories, so the fighting settled into a stalemate. At sea, the Spartan fleet was decisively defeated early in the war by the Athenians' Achaemenid allies at Cnidus (394 BCE). With Sparta's attempts to become a naval power thwarted, Athens launched several naval campaigns and recaptured several islands that had been part of the Delian League. At the same time, Persia re-established its authority in Asia Minor. 

However, Athenian successes towards the end of the conflict saw the Persians switch sides, forcing the allies to seek peace. The King's Peace. a.k.a. the Peace of Antalcidasended the war. The treaty gave Persia control of Ionia, proclaimed that Greek cities would be autonomous (i.e. prohibited from forming leagues, alliances or coalitions) and installed Sparta as the guardian of the peace, authorised to enforce its clauses. The Theban–Spartan War (378–362 BCE).overturned the ensuing Spartan hegemony.

Sources: 

Wikipedia

© Ian Hughes 2017