Led by three brave chiefs, the allies passed through Greece proper,
along the Isthmus of Corinth, and, spreading all over the Peloponnesus,
soon took possession of the principal towns. The leading members of the
family of Hercules took the title of kings, and ruled over the cities of
Argos, Mycenae, and Spar'ta.

The Dorians, who had helped the Heraclidae win back their former
possessions, now saw that the land here was better than their home in
the mountains, so they drove all the rest of the Ionians out of the
country, and settled there also.

Thus driven away by the Dorians and the Heraclidae, these Ionians went to
Athens, to the neighboring islands, and even to the coast of Asia Minor,
south of the ruined city of Troy, where they settled in great numbers.
They called the strip of land which they occupied Ionia, and founded
many towns, some of which, such as Eph'e-sus and Mi-le'tus, were
destined to become famous.

Of course, the Ionians were very angry at thus being driven away from
home; and those who had gone to live in Athens soon asked Co'drus, the
Athenian king, to make war against the Heraclidae of Sparta.

The two armies soon met, and prepared for battle. Codrus, having
consulted an oracle, had learned that the victory would be given to the
army whose king should be killed, so he nobly made up his mind to die
for the good of his people.

Instead of going into battle in royal dress, with his guards all around
him, as was his habit, he dressed himself like an ordinary soldier, and
went forward until he stood in the very first rank of the army. Then he
rushed boldly into the midst of the foe.

Of course, he was soon cut down; but the Athenians, seeing his courage,
and learning why he had thus risked his life, fought with such valor
that they defeated the Spar'tan forces, and forced them to retreat.

The victory had been won; but the Athenians were so sorry to lose their
beloved king, that they could not rejoice, and sadly returned home,
carrying the body of Codrus. Such was the admiration of all the people
for this act of royal courage, that they vowed they would never again
call any one by the name of king.

When Codrus had been buried, therefore, the Athenians gave his son and
heir the government of the city, calling him archon, or chief for
life,--a title which was borne by many rulers after him.

The Spartans, who had come into Attica to fight the Athenians, retreated
hastily after their defeat