Harmost (Greek: ἁρμοστής, "joiner" or "adaptor") was a Spartan term for a military governor. The Spartan general Lysander instituted several harmosts during the period of Spartan hegemony after the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. They were sent into their subject or conquered towns, partly to keep them in submission, and partly to abolish the democratic form of government, and establish oligarchies instead. The Thebans also used the term during the Theban hegemony. There is an earlier use of the word in a scholium to Pindar's odes, but the meaning isn't explained.