Irlandos at 09:21, April 17, 2006

2006-04-17T09:21:05Z

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'''Demosthenes''' (died [[413 BC]],[[Greek]]:''Δημοσθένης''), son of Alcisthenes, was an [[Athens|Athenian]] general during the [[Peloponnesian War]].

He first appears in history in [[426 BC]] in an invasion of [[Aetolia]]. The invasion was a failure and Demosthenes did not return to Athens, fearing for his life. Later that year, [[Ambracia]] invaded [[Acarnania]], and the Acarnanians sought help from Demosthenes, who was now patrolling the coast of the [[Ionian Sea]] with twenty Athenian ships. He landed at [[Olpae]] and defeated a [[Sparta]]n army under [[Eurylochus]] which had come to assist the Ambraciots. Demosthenes defeated Eurylochus (who was killed in the battle) and the Acarnanians and Ambraciots signed a peace treaty. See [[Battle of Olpae]].

In [[425 BC|425]] he was still patrolling the Ionian Sea, and was ordered to join with a fleet sent from Athens to put down a revolt in Sicily. Due to a storm, Demosthenes instead landed at [[Pylos]] in the [[Peloponnese]]. In order to keep his soldiers busy, he had them fortify the port, giving Athens a strong base close to Sparta. Sparta, meanwhile, landed an army on the nearby island of [[Sphacteria]], and Demosthenes moved his men to the beach to prevent the Spartans, commanded by [[Brasidas]], from landing there. The Spartan landing was repulsed, and the Athenian fleet (having turned back from their journey to Sicily) arrived to chase off the Spartan ships. Back in Athens, the Spartans tried to negotiate for peace; this failed, and [[Cleon]] was sent to assist Demosthenes, who was planning an invasion of Sphacteria. The two Athenians invaded and the Spartans uncharacteristically surrendered. See [[Battle of Pylos]] and [[Battle of Sphacteria]].

In [[424 BC|424]] Demosthenes and Hippocrates attempted to capture [[Megara]], but they were defeatd by Brasidas. Demosthenes then went to [[Naupactus]] to assist in a democratic revolution, and to gather troops for an invasion of [[Boeotia]]. Demosthenes and Hippocrates were unable to coordinate their attacks and Hippocrates was defeated at the [[Battle of Delium]]. Demosthenes instead attacked [[Sicyon]] and was defeated as well. In [[421 BC|421]] Demosthenes was one of the signatories of the [[Peace of Nicias]] which ended the first half of the war. (Another Demosthenes was also a signatory for Sparta.)

In [[417 BC|417]] Demosthenes was responsible for evacuating the Athenian troops from Epidaurus following the [[Battle of Mantinea]]. He organized athletic games and the Athenian troops escaped while the Epidaurans were distracted.

In [[415 BC|415]] Athens [[Sicilian Expedition|invaded Sicily]]. A Spartan fleet soon arrived to reinforce their allies in Syracuse, and a stalemate ensued. In [[414 BC|414]] Demosthenes and [[Eurymedon]] were sent with a new fleet of seventy-three ships and 5000 [[hoplite]]s. Demosthenes landed his troops and lead a bold night attack on Syracusan forces. After initial success, the Athenian troops became disorganized and soon very confused in the chaotic night operation, and were thouroughly routed by [[Gylippus]], the Spartan commander. After the defeat, and upon seeing the disease-ridden Athenian camp, Demosthenes suggested that they immediately give up the siege and return to Athens, where they were needed to defend against a Spartan invasion of [[Attica]]. [[Nicias]], the top Athenian commander, at first refused, until still more Spartans arrived. However, while preparing to leave there was a lunar eclipse, which delayed the departure as it was considered a bad omen. The Syracusans and Spartans trapped them in the harbour and Eurymedon was killed. The Spartans forced the Athenians to re-land their men. Demosthenes thought they could still flee by ship but Nicias wanted to find refuge on land. After a few days or marching Demosthenes and Nicias became separated; Demosthenes was ambushed by the Syracusans and was forced to surrender. Nicias was soon captured as well, and both were executed against the orders of Gylippus, who had hoped Demosthenes could be brought back to Sparta as a prisoner.

Demosthenes was also a character in ''[[The Knights]]'' by [[Aristophanes]]. Along with Nicias, he is a slave who overthrows "the Paphlagonian," a character representing Cleon. The characters were based on the real people, who were contemporaries of Aristophanes.

==External links==
*[http://www.livius.org Livius], [http://www.livius.org/de-dh/demosthenes/demosthenes1.html Demosthenes] by Jona Lendering

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[[Category:413 BC deaths]]
[[Category:Ancient Athenians]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek generals]]

Demosthenes (general) - Revision history

Irlandos at 09:21, April 17, 2006