Alcibiades

450–404 BC

Alcibiades was the last famous member of the Alcmaeonidae family, and a close relative of Pericles. He was blessed with great beauty, and an agreeable disposition, but was spoiled, vain, and self-willed. Although he had outstanding leadership ability, and did Athens great service, he did her far more harm, due to his incontinence and selfishness. But the real interest in the life of Alcibiades is not so much an exposition of his own personal flaws, but the fact that the Athenian people as a whole, when confronted with a leader with such obvious defects, chose to overlook and excuse them, and continued to stake the fate of their entire city on a leader with such obvious character deficiencies.

THE MULTITUDE SALUTED HIM WITH LOUD ACCLAMATIONS

Alcibiades took part in early battles in the Peloponnesian war, and during this time befriended Socrates. Although he respected Socrates a great deal, he was utterly unable to live up to his example of virtuous living. The great personal popularity Alcibiades enjoyed caused him to become interested in politics, and in a short while he was the leader of the pro-war party. When the Peace of Nicias was declared and hostilities with Sparta were suspended, the pro-war party looked about for ways to reignite the conflict, and the plan of an attack upon the wealthy city of Syracuse was hatched. Alcibiades led the charge and was able to convince a population that was finally at peace after ten years of futile fighting, that it should resume the mantle of war, and attack another city unprovoked. Nicias, the head of the pro-peace party, strongly opposed the mission, but was over-ruled. In spite of his opposition however, he was drafted to lead the expedition, along with Lamachus, and Alcibiades. Only a month into the mission, Alcibiades was recalled to Athens on charges of vandalism and impiety, but instead of returning, he escaped to Sparta, and vengefully advised the Spartans how best to flout the plans of the Athenians. In spite of his luxurious and excessive personal habits, he was welcomed into Sparta, where he assumed the ascetic mannerisms of a true Lacemaedonian. With Alcibiades counsels, Sparta managed to turn the tide against Athens not only in Syracuse, but also in Attica. The war was officially resumed, and Athens suffered a disastrous defeat in Syracuse.

But Alcibiades could not stay out of trouble in Sparta, he feuded with King Agis II, and had to flee again, this time to Tissaphernes in Asia Minor. Here he dressed and adopted the mannerisms of a luxurious eastern despot, and began to interfere with Tissaphernes' alliance with Sparta. He now decided to throw in his lot with Athens, and raised a fleet to aid the Athenian Navy in the Aegean Sea. After winning several important victories, he returned to Athens in triumph, apparently forgiven for his treachery. But his new found popularity could not sustain him through even one military setback, and after suffering a single defeat, he was again exiled, first to Thrace, and then finally, after the fall of Athens to Phrygia. But the enemies of Alcibiades would finally catch up with him. The Satrap of Phrygia, under pressure from the Spartans, arranged for his assassination. Thus ended the life of the notorious Alcibiades, in the same year the city of Athens, that he had misled, beguiled, and betrayed, finally surrendered in despair.

Key events during the life of Alcibiades:

Year	Event
447 BC	Pericles becomes the Guardian of Alcibiades on the death of his father.
432 BC	Life saved by Socrates at the battle of Potidaea.
	Indulges in wonton vices, but enjoys great popularity in Athens.
424 BC	Saved the life of Socrates at the battle of Delium.
	Married the daughter of Hipponicus, a wealthy Athenian.
421 BC	Peace of Nicias puts temporary end to the hostilities with Sparta.
	Alcibiades becomes leader of the pro-war party in Athens.
417 BC	Nicias fails to secure alliances in Thrace.
	Advocates for the Sicilian Expedition.
415 BC	Sicilian expedition is launched under the command of Alcibiades, Nicias, and Lamachus. Hermes statues are vandalized.
415 BC	Alcibiades recalled from Sicily to stand trial for vandalism. He escapes and joins the Spartans.
414 BC	On Alcibiades advice, Gylippus, a Spartan General, is sent to marshal defenses in Sicily.
413 BC	Sicilian Expedition turns into a disaster for Athens.
412 BC	Alcibiades feuds with Agis II, and is exiled from Sparta. Flees to court of Tissaphernes in Asia Minor.
412 BC	Alcibiades advises Tissaphernes to deny aid to either Sparta or Athens.
411 BC	Joins fleet at Abydos and wins victories over Sparta for Athens.
407 BC	Return to Athens in triumph, but quickly falls again from favor and flees to Thrace.
405 BC	Takes refuge with Pharnabazus in Asia Minor. Fall of Athens.
404 BC	Assassinated on the orders of the victorious Spartans.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Fatal Expedition  in	Pictures from Greek Life and Story  by  Alfred J. Church
Lion's Cub  in	Pictures from Greek Life and Story  by  Alfred J. Church
Great Scheme  in	Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition  by  Alfred J. Church
Man with Many Faces  in	Tales of the Greeks: The Children's Plutarch  by  F. J. Gould
Socrates' Favorite Pupil  in	The Story of the Greeks  by  H. A. Guerber
Alcibiades  in	Famous Men of Greece  by  John H. Haaren and A. B. Poland
Alcibiades, and the War between Athens and Sparta in	Greek Gods, Heroes, and Men  by  Caroline H. and Samuel B. Harding
Alcibiades  in	Our Young Folks' Plutarch  by  Rosalie Kaufman
Alcibiades the Favourite of Athens  in	The Story of Greece  by  Mary Macgregor
Alcibiades Returns to Athens  in	The Story of Greece  by  Mary Macgregor
Socrates and Alcibiades  in	Historical Tales: Greek  by  Charles Morris
A Wasted Life  in	Stories of the Ancient Greeks  by  Charles D. Shaw
Sicilian Expedition  in	The Story of the Greek People  by  Eva March Tappan

Image Links
Alcibiades: From a bust in the Chiaramonti museum in the Vatican.  in Pictures from Greek Life and Story	Alcibiades dared the driver to come on  in The Story of the Greeks	Alcibiades  in The Story of the Greeks
Socrates teaching young Alcibiades, Schopin  in Famous Men of Greece	Socrates Instructing Alcibiades  in Greatest Nations - Greece	Alcibiades Interrupting the Banquet of Agathon  in Greatest Nations - Greece
The Death of Alcibiades  in Greatest Nations - Greece	The multitude saluted him with loud acclamations.  in The Story of Greece	Socrates Instructing Alcibiades  in The Story of the Greek People
Alcibiades (In the Vatican at Rome)  in The Story of the Greek People

Contemporary	Short Biography
Socrates	First moral philosopher, immortalized by Plato.
Nicias	After death of Pericles, emerged as leader of peace party. Led disastrous Sicilian Expedition.
Lamachus	Admiral who with Nicias and Alcibiades led the Sicilian Expedition. Died in early combat.
Demosthenes	Important Athenian general in the Peloponnesian War. Perished at Syracuse.
Gylippus	Lead the resistance in Syracuse that defeated Athenian forces during Peloponnesian War.
Tissaphernes	Persian Satrap of Asia Minor during Peloponnesian War. Allied with Sparta.
Lysander	Spartan naval Commander who defeated Athens in Peloponnesian War.
Agis II	Spartan King who feuded with Alcibiades, and exiled him from the Peloponnese.
Pharnabazus	Satrap of Phrygia. Gave refuge to Alcibiades, but later had him assassinated.