2. Who was Alcibiades?
▪ He was a prominent Athenian statesman, orator, and general. He
represented the best qualities of the Athenians.
▪ He played a major role in the second half of that conflict as a
strategic advisor, military commander, and politician.
▪ During the course of the Peloponnesian War, Alcibiades changed his
political allegiance on several occasions.
3. Life in Athens
▪ Alcibiades was born in ancient Athens.
▪ Alcibiades had several famous teachers, including
Socrates, and was well trained in the art of Rhetoric.
▪ He was noted, however, for his unruly behavior, which was
mentioned by ancientGreek and Latin writers on several
occasions.
▪ Rise to prominence:
▪ Alcibiades first rose to prominence when he began
advocating aggressiveAthenian action after the signing of
the Peace of Nicias.That treaty, an uneasy truce between
Sparta andAthens signed midway through the
PeloponnesianWar, came at the end of seven years of
fighting during which neither side had gained a decisive
advantage.
▪ Alcibiades was subsequently appointedGeneral.
4. TheAthenian Expedition
▪ Nicias was opposed to Athenian intervention in Sicily, explaining that
the campaign would be very.
▪ On the other hand, Alcibiades argued that a campaign in this new
theatre would bring riches to the city and expand the empire.
▪ “40 galleys, 5,100 men at arms, and about 1300 archers, slingers, and light
armed men”.
▪ Before it was launched, Alcibiades was accused by his enemies of
sacrilege.
▪ He was not there to defend himself, and was sentenced to death.
▪ The expedition failed due to poor leadership. Maybe if Alcibiades had
been in charge, things would have been different.
6. Becoming a Spartan
▪ Alcibiades quickly contacted the Spartans, "promising to
render them aid and service greater than all the harm he had
previously done them as an enemy" if they would offer him
sanctuary.
▪ In the debate at Sparta over whether to send a force to
relieve Syracuse, Alcibiades spoke and instilled fear of
Athenian ambition into the Spartans.
▪ Alcibiades advised the Spartans to send troops and most
importantly, a Spartan commander to discipline and aid the
Syracusans.
▪ Alcibiades served as a military adviser to Sparta and helped
the Spartans secure several crucial successes.
▪ He also became the most Spartan amongst Spartans.
7. Weakening Athens
▪ He advised them to build a permanent fort just over 16 km from
Athens and within sight of the city.
▪ By doing this, the Spartans cut the Athenians off entirely from
their homes and crops and the silver mines.
▪ This was part of Alcibiades' plan to renew the war with Athens.
▪ The move was devastating to Athens and forced the citizens to
live within the long walls of the city year round, making them
entirely dependent on their seaborne trade for food.
8. On the Run
▪ In spite of these valuable contributions to the
Spartan cause,Alcibiades fell out of favor
with the Spartan government at around this
time, ruled by Agis II.
▪ The son born by Agis' wife was believed by
many to be Alcibiades' son!
▪ Alcibiades received warning that there was a
death sentence awaiting him in Sparta. He
defected to a Persian satrap, who had been
supporting the Peloponnesian forces
financially in 412 BC.
9. In Asia Minor
▪ On his arrival in the local Persian court, Alcibiades
won the trust of the powerful satrap and made
several policy suggestions which were well received.
▪ Alcibiades immediately began to do all he could to
injure the Peloponnesian cause. At his urging, the
satrap reduced the payments he was making to the
Peloponnesian fleet and began delivering them
irregularly.
▪ Although Alcibiades' advice benefited the Persians, it
was merely a means to an end; his real motive was to
use his alleged influence with the Persians to effect
his restoration to Athens.
10. Back in Black
▪ The members of a navy group assembled and
prepared to send one of their number, on an embassy
to Athens to treat for the restoration of Alcibiades
and the abolition of the democracy in the city, and
thus to makeTissaphernes, the Persian satrap the
friend of the Athenians.
▪ Thing did not go the way he expected but revolts in
Athens and the rise of oligarchs led to his restoration
as a General. All this, because they thought his
influence with the Persians was great.
▪ As a general, he was very successful! Was there
anything he could not do?
11. Fall from Grace
▪ Well, he did fail: he lost in a major battle.This was
used by his enemies to attack him and remove him
from command.
▪ Along, other capable commanders were also substituted.
This led to anAthenian collapse later on.
▪ It is not certain as how he died, but he died in exile.
It is said his house was burned, and he came out of
it, with a dagger in his hand, trying to die a warriors
death.
12. Wrapping Up
▪ Alcibiades' military and political talents frequently proved valuable to
whichever state currently held his allegiance, but his propensity for
making powerful enemies ensured that he never remained in one
place for long.
13. AskYourself
▪ Recall:
▪ What qualities defined him as a model Athenian?
▪ Why did Spartans chase him away?
▪ Analyze:
▪ Why would Alcibiades turn everybody against everyone?
▪ What kind of strategy did Alcibiades use against the Athenians?
▪ Describe:
▪ How could you describe the personality attributes ofAlcibiades?
▪ Infer:
▪ Why do you think Persians stayed neutral during this conflict?