BC430-411 Alcibiades of Athens
In the twenty years from 430-411 BC Alcibiades (pictured) came back to power in Athens.
The Peloponnesian War continued between Athens and Sparta. The war was initially caused by a dispute between Corinth and its colony Corfu in which Athens intervened.
Soon after, Corinth and Athens argued over control of Potidaea.
Athens sieged Potidaea and issued a series of economic decrees known as the "Megarian Decrees" that placed economic sanctions on the Megarian people. Athens was accused by the Peloponnesian allies of violating the Thirty Years Peace and Sparta formally declared war.
The war would last 27 years, partly because Athens was a naval power and Sparta was a land power and both found it difficult to meet in battle. Sparta's initial strategy was to invade Attica, but the Athenians were able to retreat behind their walls. An outbreak of plague in Athens during the Spartan siege caused heavy losses, including Pericles.
At the same time, the Athenian fleet landed troops in the Peloponnese, winning battles at Naupactus (429 BC) and Pylos (425 BC). But neither side had a decisive victory and a moderate Athenian leader, Nicias, concluded the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC.
In 418 BC, however, hostility between Sparta and the Athenian ally, Argos, led to a resumption of fighting and at Mantinea Sparta defeated the combined armies of Athens and her allies.
The Athenian war party, led by Alcibiades, came back to power in Athens and in 415 BC Alcibiades persuaded the Athenian Assembly to launch a major expedition against Syracuse, a Peloponnesian ally in Sicily.
Though Nicias was a skeptic about the Sicilian Expedition, he joined Alcibiades to lead the expedition. However, after Alcibiades had accusations made about him he left the expedition and fled to Sparta where he persuaded the Spartans to send aid to Syracuse in Sicily. As a result of Alcibiades' actions, the whole expeditionary force was lost and Nicias was executed by his captors.
Nevertheless, Alcibiades rejoined the Athenian side towards the end of the Peloponnesian War.
The Peloponnesian War continued between Athens and Sparta. The war was initially caused by a dispute between Corinth and its colony Corfu in which Athens intervened.
Soon after, Corinth and Athens argued over control of Potidaea.
Athens sieged Potidaea and issued a series of economic decrees known as the "Megarian Decrees" that placed economic sanctions on the Megarian people. Athens was accused by the Peloponnesian allies of violating the Thirty Years Peace and Sparta formally declared war.
The war would last 27 years, partly because Athens was a naval power and Sparta was a land power and both found it difficult to meet in battle. Sparta's initial strategy was to invade Attica, but the Athenians were able to retreat behind their walls. An outbreak of plague in Athens during the Spartan siege caused heavy losses, including Pericles.
At the same time, the Athenian fleet landed troops in the Peloponnese, winning battles at Naupactus (429 BC) and Pylos (425 BC). But neither side had a decisive victory and a moderate Athenian leader, Nicias, concluded the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC.
In 418 BC, however, hostility between Sparta and the Athenian ally, Argos, led to a resumption of fighting and at Mantinea Sparta defeated the combined armies of Athens and her allies.
The Athenian war party, led by Alcibiades, came back to power in Athens and in 415 BC Alcibiades persuaded the Athenian Assembly to launch a major expedition against Syracuse, a Peloponnesian ally in Sicily.
Though Nicias was a skeptic about the Sicilian Expedition, he joined Alcibiades to lead the expedition. However, after Alcibiades had accusations made about him he left the expedition and fled to Sparta where he persuaded the Spartans to send aid to Syracuse in Sicily. As a result of Alcibiades' actions, the whole expeditionary force was lost and Nicias was executed by his captors.
Nevertheless, Alcibiades rejoined the Athenian side towards the end of the Peloponnesian War.
Labels: alcibiades, athens, corfu, corinth, mantinea, megarian decrees, naupactus, nicias, peloponnesian war, potidaea, pylos, sparta, syracuse
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