Agesilaus II (c. 444-c. 360 BC), king of Sparta (c. 398-360 BC), son of King Archidamus II, and the successor of his half-brother, King Agis II (reigned c. 426-398 BC). Following his accession to the throne, Agesilaus took command of the forces in Asia Minor that were defending the Greek cities from the Persians. After winning several battles, he was recalled to defend Sparta against a hostile alliance of Athens, Thebes, Argos, and Corinth. Agesilaus was victorious against the alliance at the Battle of Coronea, in Boeotia, in 394 BC. He continued to lead Sparta in wars against other Greek states, especially Thebes. Despite the defeat of the Spartans led by Cleombrotus I, co-ruler of Sparta, at Leuctra in 371 BC, Agesilaus continued to wage war. He died on his way home from a mercenary expedition in Egypt against the Persians.
