Thessaly. — The  Thesprotian  conquerors  of  Thessaly  estab-
lished a  condition  of  things  in  that  country  not  very  unlike  that
which  the  Dorians  introduced  into  Laconia.  The  conquerors
themselves  formed  a  noble  class  which  claimed  the  ownership
of  most  of  the  territory  and  confined  to  itself  the  possession
of  political  power.  The  conquered  were  reduced  to  two  very
different  positions :  some  retained  their  personal  freedom  and
the  right  to  their  lands,  but  were  made  subject  to  tribute;
others  (the  Penests)  were  reduced  to  the  condition  of  serfs,
cultivating  the  lands  of  their  masters,  but  were  protected  in
their  holdings,  could  not  be  sold  out  of  the  country,  and  both
might  and  did  often  acquire  considerable  property.  The  chief
differences  between  the  two  countries  were  (i)  that  in  Thessaly
the  intermediate  class,  Achxans,  Magnetes,  Ferrhxbi,  etc.,
instead  of  being  scattered  over  the  country  and  intermixed
with  the  nobles  and  serfs,  were  the  sole  occupants  of  certain  dis-
tricts, retained  their  old  ethnic  name,  their  Amphictyonic  vote,
and  their  governmental  organization ;  and  (2)  that  the  con-
querors, instead  of  concentrating  themselves  in  one  city,  took
possession  of  several,  establishing  in  each  a  distinct  and  sep-
arate government.    The  governments  seem  to  have  been  orig-


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inally  monarchies,  which  merged  in  aristocracies,  wherein  one
£amily  held  a  quasi-royal  position.  The  Aleuadse  at  Larissa
and  Pharsalus  (?)  and  the  Scopadae  at  Cranon  correspond
closely  to  the  Medontidie  at  Athens.  A  federal  tie  of  the
weakest  character  united  the  several  states  of  Thessaly  in
ordinary  times;  but  upon  occasions  this  extreme  laxity  was
replaced  by  a  most  stringent  centralization,  A  Tagus  (Com-
mander-in-Chief) of  all  Thessaly  was  appointed,  who  exer-
cised powers  little  short  of  despotic  over  the  whole  country.
