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Only the Thespians and the Thebans remained with the Spartans and of these the Thebans had been kept back by Leonidas as hostages, very considerably against their will. The Thespians, on the contrary, stayed entirely of their personal accord, refusing to retreat, and declaring that they would not forsake Leonidas and his followers. The origins of the ephorate are uncertain, however, being variously ascribed to the reforms of Lycurgus and to the necessity of maintaining state authority in the absence of the kings throughout the Messenian Wars. Even though just about every work has been made to adhere to citation...