Lacedaemonius
Lacedaemonius (Greek: Λακεδαιμόνιος)[n 1] was an Athenian general of the Philaid clan.[3] He served Athens, notably in the naval Battle of Sybota against the Corinthians in 433 BC.
Biography[]
Lacedaemonius was the son of Cimon, a pro-Sparta general and Athenian political figure,[4] and Isodice who was the daughter of Euryptolemus, a cousin of Pericles.[5][6] He was a grandson of the famous Miltiades IV. An accounted cited that he had a twin called Oulius.[5] He was also the brother of Miltiades VII, who was the oikist in the Adriatic in 324.[7]
Lacedaemonius comes from Lacedaemon, another name for the city state of Sparta. His father so admired the Spartans he showed them a sign of goodwill by naming his son after their city. Lacedaemonius was also identified as the proxenos of the Spartans at Athens.[8]
Accounts cited Lacedaemonius as one of the Athenian generals sent to aid Corcyra in its conflict with Corinth after an alliance agreement concluded in 433.[9] This is part of the series of events that led to the Peloponnesian War.[9] According to Plutarch, Lacedaemonius sailed with ten ships and was sent forth against his will.[10] Lacedaemonius, who according to Thucydides was sent with three other generals: Diotimus, Strombichus, and Proteas, was ordered not to engage with the Corinthians unless they attack Corcyra.[11] The Athenian fleet joined the Corcyraeans when the Corinthians finally invaded under Xenocleides.[11]
A view, which had been advanced by Plutarch, held that giving Lacedaemonius command with a meager fleet for his campaign was an insult to the sons of Cimon due their sympathy for Sparta.[12] Modern historians see Lacedaemonius appointment as a political move on the part of Pericles, who wanted to destroy political opposition by cementing his ties with the Cimonians.[13] There are also those who propose that Lacedaemonius appointment, his mission, and the size of his fleet was part of a strategy of "minimal deterrence" against Corinth.[14]
Notes and references[]
- Notes