Decelean War (414-404 BC) and Ionian War (412-404) Flashcards
415 - Sicilian Expedition Planning
Debate in the Athenian assembly, with Alcibiades arguing for an expedition to Sicily (Thucydides: What excuse can we have for our allies in Sicily for not helping them?) his main argument being simply to aid the sicilian allies during their time of need, however his own actions later on imply some contradiction of this (Perhaps a display of ambition, or a way of him bringing his families name to the limelight within Athens) - Nicias argued against hasty military action stating not being prepared for this type of military conduct, and even attacking Alcibiades’ character, highlighted by Alcibiades and also Thucydides in his rendition of the speech presented, so when the assembly eventually agreed with Alcibiades to send out a fleet to Sicily and embark on the expedition, he advised a larger force being sent to dissuade them, recorded by thucydides, however they agreed and did so
415 - First Actions of Sicilian Expedition
Two fleets sent, the first being sent with the initial wave of the expedition: 100 Athenian ships and 50 allied ships headed by Nicias, Lamachus and Alcibiades - 4000 Athenian Hoplites and 1000 Allied
Desecration of the Herms
Prior to the fleet leaving, herms in Athens desecrated, Alcibiades charged as such, however set off on the expedition before he could be charged, however was recalled almost as soon as he arrived in Sicily, and once on his way back, he escaped and sailed off to Sparta.
414 - Syracuse and Sparta
Syracuse requests aid from the Peloponnesians, Alcibiades advises the Spartans to send a commander to Syracuse and help siege Syracuse (Thucydides: send on board ship … commanding officer … compel the recusants to serve) - They chose to take action, after a series of engagements and Gylippius (Spartan commander) arriving, Nicias requested aid or retreat, Athens sends Demosthenes and a fleet of 60 Athenian ships and 1200 Hoplites sent by Athens to support, and after another series of mixed engagements, Demosthenes withdrew, Nicias chose to stay, was driven out of Syracuse, and his group were chased through the Sicilian countryside, with a vast majority including Nicias being killed, the rest being enslaved - very bad Athenian Loss
413 - Occupation of Decelea
King Agis led Spartan army to establish fort in Decelea, becoming a major block to the Athenians and members of their league - due to this, Athenian horses became lame, and many slaves deserted (Thucydides: Around 2000 deserted … and many were skilled) - Thucydides highlights this occupation as one of the most important reasons for the Athenian loss by 404 BC
412 - Athenian allies begin to revolt
Following the Sicilian expedition and Occupation of Decelea, many Athenian allies revolt
Chios, the only ally still providing ships (Thucydides: the Chians … joined to the same object), backed by Corinth and Sparta - Lesbos revolt in the same year (Thucydides: Some Lesbians, who wished to revolt) - At this point, the Athenians were forced to use their emergency reserves to rebuild their fleet (Thucydides: Proposal to use the thousands of talents … to employ them to man a large number of ships) - Miletus revolts, again backed by Sparta and Corinth and is successful
Around 412 - Persian Involvement
Around this time, the Persians became involved in the war, thanks to Agis helping to quell a rebellion in Persian territory, and Tissaphernes’ friendship with Alcibiades (Thucydides: The Lakadaemonians and their allies made a treaty with the king and Tissaphernes) - also, not all allies revolted in this year, Samos choosing to throw out all oligarchic, Spartan sympathisers (Thucydides: rising of the commons in Samos … in league with some Athenians) (Also praised in Decree of Athenian assembly 412 for their uprising)
411 - Oligarchic Coup in Athens
Oligarchic faction took over, and then the Samians revolted to return to form - Alcibiades works to convince Tissaphernes to back the Athenians whilst the Samians work to vote Alcibiades back interim. Eventually, the oligarchic faction becomes unstable, creating the opportunity for Euboia to revolt, with aid from the Spartans (Thucydides: affected the whole revolt of Euboea … settled the affairs) - Battle of Cynossema, battle over the Hellespont, important due to being the main food source to the region, decisive Athenian victory, the last event in Thucydides’ narrative (Thucydides)
410: Battle of Cyzicus
First battle event of Xenophon’s narrative, Athens’ fleet meets Spartans, spartan fleet destroyed, took 3 years to rebuild, in which the Athenians did nothing (Xenophon reported letter from Spartans: Mindarus dead. Men starving. Fleet gone. Don’t know what to do)
407 - War continues
Alcibiades dispatched with Athenian fleet to meet Spartan fleet in Ionia and continue war, Lysander made Navarch and becomes friends with Persian satrap Cyrus, son of Persian Emperor, who promises aid and funding (Xenophon: Cyrus arrived on Saradis … Lysander went to meet him)
406 - Battle of Notion
Alcibiades leaves before with his helmsman in charge to go and deal with a separate conflict, tells him not to engage, Helmsman ignores, attacks, loses, and Alcibiades is exiled again (Xenophon: Alcibiades, who was in disfavour with the army as well … sailed away) Following this, Lysander was removed as navarch, however due to being friends with Cyrus and withholding funds, he was instated as right hand with effective control whilst Callicrasidas was Navarch, however this is in 405. In the case of Arginsuae, the Athenians lost, and according to Plato, abandoned sailors from 23 sunken triremes, and when the Generals returned to Athens, they were sentenced and executed for their ‘misconduct’
405 - Aegospotami
Lysander back in the picture, attacking Lampsiscus near the Hellespont, Athenian fleet prepares to defend, take port outside of the city in swampy ground, Alcibiades attempts to advise them to stay in the city, the commanders dismiss him (Xenophon: The generals … bade him be gone) - The Athenians are ambushed, and are wiped out, with no more fleet
404 - End of Peloponnesian War
Lysander sets out to Athens, gives every clergy under the Athenian empire the opportunity to surrender and abandon Athens, Agis sieges Athens and the war is lost (Xenophon: When their provisions had given out … they wished to treaty with the Spartans)
Athens loss
415
Sicilian Expedition is planned and embarked
414
Syracuse requests aid from the Peloponnesians
