The Thebans, having suffered a reverse on Euboea in 357 BCE when Athenian ascendancy had suddenly and humiliatingly replaced Theban, seek a victim, and Phocian behavior offers an excuse.

The Phocians, who still control the oracle at Delphi, had taken part in Epaminondas' campaigns in the Peloponnese in the early 360s but in 362 had refused to send a contingent in the successful campaign of Mantineia.

In return for this negligence, the Thebans, who since 364 BCE have had influence over the preponderance of votes in the Delphic Amphictyony, in autumn 357 BCE persuade the Thessalian members to condemn Phocis to a huge fine for the usual technical offense, cultivating land sacred to Apollo.

The hope is that if, or rather when, Phocis proves unable to pay, Thebes will be awarded the conduct of the Sacred War that is sure to ensue.

Furthermore, the league belatedly assesses a fine of five hundred talents against Sparta for its seizure of the Cadmeia at Thebes in 382 BCE, a time of peace; it is doubled when the Spartans do not pay.