Agis

Overview

Agis IV, king of Sparta (c. 244–241 BC), who tried to restore the laws of Lycurgus by cancelling debts and redistributing land and was put to death by his opponents; Plutarch tells his story in the Lives (Life of Agis). The Mon Journal t.6 index has «Agis (roi de Sparte), 196». Not a person of Marie's world.

Relevance to Marie

On 17 July 1875 she writes «Décidément il faut bien se marier et comme Agis opérer une révolution et ramener les mœurs anciennes» (037.0221, reader footnote 037.0221.1). Marie was reading Plutarch in these weeks (038.0028, «mon bon ami Plutarque»), probably where she met the king; she holds him up as a model of reform.

References in Diary

• 1875-07-17 (037.0221), the only mention.