 Almost nothing is known of the steps by which he rose to power, but the sources represent him as a man of an ambitious yet generous character, who was misled by false rhetorical arguments to believe that a monarchical government was the best for his fellow-citizens.His elevation appeared to have taken place about the time that Antigonus Gonatas made himself master of Corinth (244 BC)  Pausanias mentions him as one of the commanders of the forces of Megalopolis at the battle of Mantineia (c. 249 BC) against the Spartans under Agis 

As he was associated on that occasion with another general, Leocydes, it may be inferred that he had not then established himself in absolute power.If he came to power around 245 BC, he had held the position for power about ten years, when the progress of the Achaean League and the fame of its leader Aratus of Sicyon led him to form projects more worthy of his ambition.