Lysander, << ly SAN duhr >> (?-395 B.C.), was a statesman and general of the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta. He commanded Spartan forces late in the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens. Lysander got Persia to help build and support a Spartan fleet. In 405 B.C., he commanded the final battle of the war at Aegospotami. In this famous battle, the new Spartan fleet destroyed the superior Athenian navy.
In charge of Sparta’s foreign policy, Lysander established the government of Thirty Tyrants to rule Athens after the war. He also helped set up decarchies, boards of 10 that ruled in Greek states Sparta had won from Athens.
Continued success made Lysander haughty and insolent. He tried to make Sparta’s two kings, who inherited their thrones, gain office by election. However, he was unsuccessful. Lysander was killed in a war against Corinth when one of Sparta’s kings deliberately failed to arrive in time to support Lysander and his troops.
