Alcibiades, often considered the most gifted Athenian to ever live, was a fascinating politician
and brilliant general from ancient history. Famous for his flamboyant nature and continuous
switches of allegiance, his dramatic and exciting true-life story could be straight from a Hollywood
film. But what made him so special? Let’s find out together, right now.
Born in 450 BC into a wealthy and powerful family in Athens, Alcibiades was the son of
the Athenian politician Cleinias and nephew of the great statesman Pericles. As a young
man, he befriended the famous philosopher Socrates who became his tutor, taking him
as a student in the belief that he would be able to turn Alcibiades from his vain ways
and help him fulfil his obvious potential. For you see, Alcibiades was young, clever,
good looking and rich. A potent combination for over confidence and brashness, but in
his case not without justification. At the minimum required age of 30 he was immediately
appointed as a General, becoming a member of the Strategoi, an influential military
council in Athens. Rather than being overwhelmed by this accomplishment
or settling into the role gently, he wasted no time negotiating an alliance between Athens,
Argos, Ellis and Mantineria which would last for 100 years, risking the ire of Sparta,
the great enemy of Athens with whom at that time the Athenians were sharing a tense peace.
His fame and popularity continued to increase and several years later, he was able to against
all odds convince the leaders of Athens to launch a military expedition to Sicily on
the pretext of supporting the city of Segesta in their war against local rival Selinus.
His counterpart Nicias argued strongly against the intervention of Athens but Alcibiades
argued forcefully for it, seeing the campaign as an opportunity to expand the empire and
secure the valuable timber resources of Sicily. Using his famous charm and wit once more,
Alcibiades was able to win the debate and secure a large army to march out. However
just before the expedition was due to set sail, a great disaster befell Athens as the
statues of Hermes found throughout the city were vandalised and disgraced. Not only was
this religious sacrilege, but given Hermes was the patron of travellers, a terrible omen
for the upcoming voyage. It is not clear whether Alcibiades was really
involved, although it seems unlikely, but that did not stop his enemies seizing the
opportunity to accuse him. Given his reputation as one of the frivolous and impetuous golden
youth, the story was not so hard to spin. He offered to stand trial immediately, determined
to clear his name but once more his enemies manoeuvred to ensure the voyage did depart.
In his absence, the conspirators were emboldened and accused him of other crimes including
the very serious accusation of profaning the mysteries of Eleusis during a drinking party.
Unable to defend himself, when Alcibiades arrived in Sicily he was greeted by a ship,
waiting to take him back to Athens to stand trial.
Telling the heralds he would follow them back in his own ship, he instead, realising that
he had been outmanoeuvred and would likely be sentenced to death, found a way to escape
with his crew and set sail for the mortal enemies of Athens, Sparta. The first of many
changes of allegiance. Quickly making contact with the Spartans,
he was able to convince them to grant him safe passage by promising to “render them
aid and service greater than all the harm he had previously done them as an enemy.”
When news of this defection reached Athens he was sentenced to death in absentia and
confiscated of all property. Alcibiades spoke passionately of the ambition
of Athens and its war plans, no doubt greatly exaggerating reality so as to secure his own
position as a vital and required asset for Spartan defence.
It is thought that at this early point in his life, he was yet to acquire his now legendary
reputation and would perhaps have been seen as nothing more than a defeated enemy desperate
to save his own skin. The fact he was able to so quickly gain the trust of the Spartans
and win favour and reputation as a military advisor however, speaks to perhaps his most
impressive talent, his power as an orator. In his time in Sparta he helped them secure
several critical victories, wasting no time using all his inner knowledge of Athens to
the advantage of their enemies. In particular, he advised them to secure a permanent fort
at Decelea, just over 10 miles from Athens and within sight of the city. It was a genius
move, cutting the Athenians off entirely from their homes and crops and the silver mines
of Sunium, forcing them to live within the city walls all year round meaning they were
dependant entirely on naval trade for food and supplies.
Combined with their disastrous defeat in Sicily following the departure of Alcibiades, Athens
was well and truly on the back foot, largely thanks to their former citizen.
Despite displaying many times the value of his cunning and genius to the benefit of Sparta
however, the other side of Alcibiades was never far away and he quickly fell out of
favour when the rumours starting that the son of the Spartan King was in fact the child
of Alcibiades. Never far from drama, he was as much playboy as he was strategic mastermind.
Secret orders were given to have him killed, but Alcibiades received a tip off and once
again took the opportunity to flee, defecting once more.
This time he found himself in the service of the powerful Persian ruler Tissaphernes.
Immediately he set about using his intelligence and charm to win favour and influence, quickly
convincing the Persians to reduce the aid they had been providing to their allies Sparta.
He encouraged them to delay committing military aid to the Spartans, instead preaching a position
of neutrality. He justified this as a way of letting Athens and Sparta destroy each
other, thus making it easier in the future for the Persians to conquer the territory.
Whilst the advice may have benefitted the Persians, the real motive of Alcibiades was
much more selfish as he planned to use his influence in Persia as a tool to effect his
restoration to Athens. One man, using empires like chess pieces, manoeuvring the world around
him all to suit his own agenda. Assuming that the rulers of Athens would never
agree to his recall, he set about changing the rulers of Athens. He began secretly communicating
with carefully chosen Athenian leaders suggesting that if they could install an oligarchy to
rule, he would return to Athens and bring with him the money and power of Persia, including
its fleet of 147 triremes for the war against Sparta.
After many months of messages and negotiations, a coup was successful in establishing an oligarchy
in Athens, although Alcibiades was actually recalled by the Athenian General Thrasybulus
in Samos, a supporter of democracy. He gave a typically rousing speech to the assembled
navy where he hyped up his influence in Persia and was immediately appointed General alongside
his new ally. He would go on to achieve many military successes
against Sparta, notably at the battles of Abydos and Cyzicus, fighting once more for
Athens and dramatically turning the tide of the war in their favour. It seemed whichever
side Alcibiades was fighting for at the time would gain the upper hand.
Content that his reputation in Athens was restored and his legend as a powerful general
widely accepted, Alcibiades felt comfortable enough to finally return to the great city
of his birth. He remained cautious nonetheless, the charges from all those years ago still
hanging over him as well as the memory of his time fighting for Sparta.
He was greeted as a hero however and all the charges against him were dropped. As a reward
for his efforts in the war, he was promoted above all other Generals, effectively granting
him the position of commander in chief of the Athenian armed forces.
Under his leadership Sparta had been pushed to the brink, but the year after his triumphant
return several factors would turn the tide of war back against Athens. His Persian ally
Tissaphernes was replaced by Cyrus the younger, son of the Persian King Darius II, the new
ruler choosing instead to support the Spartans financially. Furthermore, a very capable admiral
named Lysander was appointed to lead the Spartan fleet. With their new found leadership and
wealth, Sparta dramatically increased its forces forcing Alcibiades to act.
Needed to quickly force another decisive battle, he sailed for Notium and the siege of Phocaea.
Aware that the full Spartan fleet was nearby, he left 80 ships under the command of his
personal henchman Antiochus to watch them with express orders to not engage.
Blinded by dreams of glory however, Antiochus disobeyed the order and engaged Lysander.
Significantly outmatched, the Athenian force was quickly defeated and Antiochus killed.
Seizing the momentum, Lysander was able to surprise the main Athenian fleet gaining a
significant victory. Rightly or wrongly, Alcibiades was blamed
for the defeat despite his orders being disobeyed and his enemies in Athens were quick to use
the disaster to remove him from power. Condemning himself to exile, he sailed north to Thrace
where he would live for a short time. The defeat was devastating for Athens, not
in terms of the specific battle itself but for the fact it led to the removal of Alcibiades
as a commander and significant influence over Athenian strategy. A critical mistake that
would lead to the complete defeat of Athens by Sparta only two years later.
Following the end of the war, Alcibiades was forced to flee further to Phrygia, another
Persian territory, where he sought refuge from the local ruler. It is here he would
die, and although there are conflicting reports, the most well founded suggests he was assassinated
by Persian soldiers at the behest of Lysander and Sparta. It is said that his residence
was surrounded and set on fire and seeing no chance of escape, he rushed out to confront
his attackers, dagger in hand, and was killed by a shower of arrows.
A dramatic death befitting the drama of his life.
One of the most fascinating figures from ancient history, his life was a nonstop true tale
of action, adventure, drama and betrayal. A larger than life character, he is remembered
now as much for his eccentric personality as his undeniable genius both as a politician
and military leader. It is widely agreed that had he remained in command of the Athenian
forces, the outcome of the war would have been very different.
Rarely in all of history has one man had such an influence on the fate of an entire part
of the world, playing with empires as if they were puppet strings. No matter which side
he was on or who he was manipulating however, it was more often than not with a selfish
ulterior motive that ultimately changes the way he is remembered today.