AGIS IV. king of Lacedemon, and colleague of Leo nidas, in the government of Sparta, was the son of Eu damidas, and the sixteenth lineal descendant from A gesi laus. Historians affirm, that he was a youth of singular promise ; and that in matures age, he prepared, by the introduction of new laws, to correct all the abuses that had crept into the Spartan government. This he found a measure of particular difficulty, from the interested views of individuals ; but he was supported by his ma ternal uncle Agesilau, though with a selfish design, Lolf likewise by many of the ( itizen.s. They obtain, law fur time equalization of property ; and Agis linos( IC, as an example of disinterested liberality, slim «4 a valua ble estate with the communit y. In ,,, 1 1, exertions, Leonidas seas deposed and banish«l. troduction of mortification, and self-denialoniong peo ple that had advanced lam in luxury, was soot, Mild tr. be a chimerical plan. They became dissatisfied wish tie projected novelties ; and while Agis was leading an ar my to aid the Ach,eans, the indiscretion of hi; Inn It Agesilaus during his absence, occasioned a fin' the restoration of Leonidas. The conspirators hat Mg succeeded in their object, forced Agis, upon his ri turn, to take sanctuary in a temple. w hip h Ile in er Id;
but for time purpose of bathing. On one of these °era sions, he was surprised, from the treachery of Amphari and Demochares, and dragged to a prison, which Leoni das surrounded w ith a band of soldiers. 'the (Thor] having then questioned him respecting his in ai tering the laws, he answered, that it was for the restora tion of those of Lycurgus. Sentence or death was pa‘,-; ed upon him ; but the attending ministers of the law, until forced by Demochares, refused to conduct him to a chamber reserved for the execution of criminals. Ile was there strangled, and he submitted to his sentencr with the most heroic filminess. l'he grandmother of Agis shared the same fate w ith her son ; and the sena tors, not satiated w ith the blood which they had shed. ui &red Agistrata, the mother or Agis, to enter the: dud geon which contained the bodies of her mother and het son, and condemned her to the same ignominious death, which she suffered with Spartan fottitude. Sec Plu tarch, and Rollin's dincient _History, vol. v. p. 425.