Sphodrias was a Spartan officer from the circle of the Agiad king Cleombrotus I (r. 380–371), who likely used his influence to appoint him harmost (military governor) of Thespiai in Boeotia, in central Greece.
[3][4] Sphodrias could logically count on the votes of Cleombrotus and his friends, but the decisive support came from Agesilaus, who had already been king for more than 20 years and was probably the most senior member of the Gerousia (as the gerontes had to be older than 60 to be elected), and by far the most influential.
[7][8][1] A contemporary and friend of Agesilaus, Xenophon has the same story but further writes that the king thought that it was not in Sparta's best interest to condemn a good soldier.
Croix writes that the oliganthropia—the dwindling number of Spartan citizens—already took alarming proportions, and Agesilaus refused to contribute to the problem.
[8] Paul Cartledge suggests that Agesilaus intervened in favour of Sphodrias to make the other king Cleombrotus "under a deep personal obligation to himself".
[2] The case of Sphodrias presents several similarities with that of Phoebidas, another Spartan officer that acted on his own initiative to take the acropolis of Thebes, and was likewise acquitted during his trial by Agesilaus.