For the Megalopolitans
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For the Megalopolitans ( Greek: Υπὲρ τῶν Μεγαλοπολιτῶν) is one of the first political orations of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes. It was delivered in 352 BC and constitutes one of the initial political interventions of Demosthenes.
In 352 BC Sparta endeavored to reestabish its preeminence in Peloponnese and to undo Epaminondas' achievements. Because of Thebes' war with the Phocians, Spartans thought that they could easily overturn Arcadia's independence. Therefore, they sent troops to Megalopolis, which asked for Athens' support and military assistance. Sparta tried also to gain Athens' alliance, promising to help the Athenians to seize Oropos. ecclesia convened in order to take the final decision and Demosthenes was among those who expressed their opinion
In For the Megalopolitans, Demosthenes asserted that Athens must send troops to assist the Megalopolitans against Sparta. Proposing such a policy, he bluntly opposed Eubulus's faction, which was against any military excursion. Demosthenes, on the other hand, sought for the restoration of Athens' glory and, for this purpose, he believed that his city should participate in war conflicts around Greece, recreating strong alliances and reinstating itself as an hegemony.
It seems that the orator did not manage to convince his countrymen. Thebes, however, managed to send its own troops to Peloponnese, preserving the imposed by Epaminondas status quo.
| Demosthenes' orations | |
| Political orations | Olynthiacs 1-2-3 | First Philippic | On the Peace | Second Philippic | On the Halonnesus | On the Chersonese | Third Philippic | Fourth Philippic | Reply to Philip | Philip | On Organisation | On the Navy | For the Megalopolitans | On the Liberty of the Rodians | On the Accession of Alexander |
|---|---|
| Judicial orations | On the Crown | On the False Embassy | Against Leptines | Against Meidias | Against Androtion | Against Aristocrates | Against Timocrates | Against Aristogiton 1-2 | Against Aphobus 1-2-3 | Against Ontenor 1-2 | Against Zenothemis | Against Apatourius | Against Phormio | Against Lacritus | For Phormio | Against Pantaenetus | Against Nausimachus and Xenopeithes | Against Boeotus 1-2 | Against Spudias | Against Phaenippus | Against Macartatus | Against Leochares | Against Stephanus 1-2 | Against Evergus and Mnesibulus | Against Olympiodorus | Against Timotheus | Against Polycles | On the Trierarcic Crown | Against Callipus | Against Nicostratus | Against Conon | Against Callicles | Against Dionysodorus | Against Eubulides | Against Theocrines | Against Naeara |
| Epideictic orations | Funeral Oration | Erotic Essay |
