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Lysander

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Lysander (died 395 BC, Λύσανδρος, Lýsandros) was the commander of the Spartan fleet which was victorious against the Athenians at Aegospotami in 405 BC. The following year, he took Athens itself, bringing the Peloponnesian War to an end.

Lysander became known, historically, when he was appointed Spartan Admiral for the Aegean Sea (407 BC). Then, he reestablished the indispensable Persian patronage promptly so the Spartan navy could be strengthened. Subsequently, Lysander confronted the Athenian navy (whose base of operations was Samos). At the Notium Cape, he struck this enemy with such fortune (Battle of Notium, 406 BC) that the magnificent Alcibiades (their leader) ended contemptuously banished, from his own Athens. However, after Lysander was removed by the succeeding Admiral (in accordance with the Spartan law), he dedicated revengefully to conspire, against the Spartan navy, until --effectively-- Lysander regained its absolute control.

At the same time, Lysander had been building a political network, amongst the Ionian Greek colonies. Their plan was to depose all Greek democracies, immediatelmeans of Lysander's sanguinary Decemvirates (governments of ten oligarchs). Within Greece, these ended providing Lysander with an utter political power, by which he managed all political aspects of Sparta (naming Kings and Admirals, in accordance with his caprices).

Despite the eventually ferocious opposition of his fellow Spartans (who hated his arrogance and wickedness), Lysander merited plenty of laurels from his nation, as, with his innumerable naval victories, Lysander reduced the powerful Athenian Empire, effectively to nothing but Athens (which was finally conquered, indeed, only through Lysander's supremacy upon the sea).

Personality

Lysander's father was Aristoclitus, who was supposedly a member of the Spartan Heracleidae (a Dorian order, whose members claimed descent from Hercules). Nonetheless, Lysander didn't belong to the Spartan nobility. Indeed, he was raised in poverty although, somehow, he ended empowered, with important military commands. Like other Spartans, Lysander's life was both harsh and frugal. After defeating Athens, Lysander enriched Sparta with rich spoils but he died penniless. His personal estate hadn't been improved. Through his culture, he strove to gain great honors through great actions. In accordance with Lycurgus' mandates, Lysander kept his hair long to appear more fearsome. Lysander was known for having a devotion to the god Amun. Even, he cancelled the siege of Aphytae (Thrace), after a dream at which the god appeared, sailing hastily to its Libyan temple. Additionally, he knew Agesilaus, since their childhood, and the future king was his aites (pederastic beloved). More details of his early life and career are not known.

Lysander establishes himself

Lysander was appointed Spartan Admiral in 407 BC, commanding the navy on the Aegean Sea. Sparta was engaged in war with the Athenian Empire which had an equal naval power and whose supreme leader was Alcibiades. Initially, Lysander sailed, through Cos and Miletus, ending at Ephesus. There, he established the Spartan command centre. However, this important city was prone to the influence of its powerful neighbour, Persia. Consequently, Lysander decided to revitalize the location. He redirected the Spartan transports and the port blossomed, boosting the local economy. Subsequently, Lysander built a warship shipyard. Ephesus remained as a great Ionian urban centre, for years to come.

Then, at Sardis, the Satrap Tissaphernes was deposed. (Tissaphernes had been a personal friend of Alcibiades, supporting him against Sparta). Cyrus the Younger, the son of Emperor Darius II replaced him. Soon, Lysander met with him. In accordance with the official Persian policy, both sided against the previous Satrap. The Satrap asseverated that he was disposed either to sell his possessions or even to dismember his own golden throne, to finance the Admiralty of Lysander. Then, Cyrus invited Lysander to a banquet where the Satrap asked if he desired anything of him. Lysander requested money to raise the salary of his sailors. Cyrus presented Lysander, with 10,000 Darics (Persian gold coins). The Spartan sailors' daily wage rose from three to four Obolus, the arrears were paid, and (in anticipation) a month of payment was granted to all Spartan sailors. Consequently, the Athenian sailors began deserting to Lysander's navy and Lysander could improve his fleet as a result of the money and manpower. Although the Athenians were weakened (suffering frequent mutinies), Lysander decided not to attack as Alcibiades had a great reputation and he was quite feared, after his many recent victories.

Battle of Notium

In 406 BC, Alcibiades was sailing with the Athenian fleet, about Samos Island, when he diverted northward, toward Phocaea. His pilot Antiochus was left at Notium, commanding 80 ships, patrolling near Ephesus (at which Lysander was, with his entire 90 warship fleet). Then, with an atrocious strategy, Antiochus attempted surprising the Spartans, into a naval battle. With three triremes, Antiochus sailed through the Ephesus' coast jeeringly, defying the anchored Spartan ships seaward. The unsurprised and enraged Lysander chased him, initially with few ships but subsequently with the entire Spartan fleet. Both armadas battled and the Spartans were victorious, capturing 15 ships (even). Lysander killed Antiochus personally. When Alcibiades rushed back to Samos, attempting fixing the mishap (with a fleet, which surpassed Lysander's one, indeed), Lysander refused fighting, driving his ships safely, out of the region. The furious Athenians blamed the defeat entirely on Alcibiades (who was expelled out from his office, moving in solitude to the Thracian Chersonese). Right after this battle, Lysander conquered Delphinium and Teos (at Ionia).

His Decemvirates

To each Greek Anatolian colony, through the Ionian coast, Lysander began promising that, after defeating Athens, he would establish Decemvirate governments (or Decarchies), deposing all democratic regimes. Each of these offices would be integrated by 10 local oligarchists, at each colony. For this, local clubs were formed, into which Lysander added those local individuals, who were the most motivated to oppress the rest of their neighbors by unjust governments (at each location). Reciprocally, Lysander promoted these people to the most important offices of Sparta although, from there, they governed quite wickedly against the common Greeks. Soon, his tyrannical supporters desired that Lysander might perpetuate forever, as Spartan Admiral. Thus, when (in 405 BC) Sparta appointed Callicratides, to replace Lysander in the naval command, the disheartened partisans of Lysander saluted their mentor, at his departure, shedding tears. Nonetheless, such tyrannical governments developed eventually, throughout the region, meaning almost all Lysander's subsequent utter power inside Sparta. Usually, each colony ended ruled by a Spartan governor (the Harmost), who was accompanied by the 10 local oligarchists (the Archons).

Lysander Returns

Although Callicratides was an aboveboard functionary, Lysander began soon to undermine his office, declaiming: "It was by my previous tenure that Sparta controls the Aegean Sea, now." Defiantly, Lysander returned all the monetary help which remained, back to Cyrus, and he suggested to the sailors that they should request their salaries, to Callicratides (who was left with no funds). The partisans of Lysander skimped their support while they spread the rumor that other Admiral was necessary. Cyrus spurned derisively, even to confer with the new Admiral. However, in 406 BC, Sparta was severely defeated, at the Battle of Arginusae, where Callicratides ended drowned. Then, both Lysander's Ionian friends and Cyrus begged the weakened Sparta so Lysander may be Admiral again. As, for any Spartan, the law didn't allow a double Admiralty, Aracus was appointed and Lysander was his Vice. Nonetheless, Lysander was the de facto commander.

Back at Ionia, the friends of Lysander hailed him as they planned overthrowing the democracies of all Greek colonies. Quickly, he rebuilt his power schemes. With his Persian contacts, Lysander funded the rebuilding of the Spartan navy. Furthermore, Cyrus promised much more money. Even, when Cyrus was recalled by his father to the Persian capital, (with no other similar precedent) Lysander was left, governing this Persian province temporarily. Then, Lysander received permission, to receive all local tributes, investing this money into the Spartan navy.

Attacking the Athenian Empire

Attacking Anatolia

Although with his current naval power the Spartans wouldn't have been able to defeat the Athenians, Lysander was still able to accomplish some expeditions. Thus, Lysander revolted many Athenian colonies at the Aegean Sea. Lysander sailed to the Ceramic Gulf (at Caria), seizing the ancient city of Cedrae (which was allied with the Athenians). Then, he moved on to Rhodes.

However, Lysander noticed that the Athenians had begun chasing him so, with his Spartan fleet, he sailed toward Dardanelles, anchoring at Abydos. There, Lysander noticed the regional defenselessness so (together with the general Thorax, by land) he seized Lampsacus city, plundering it.

The Battle of Aegospotami

In 404 BC, the Athenian Empire gathered the 180 last ships of its navy, about Aegospotami (at Thracian Chersonesse), frontally to the Spartan fleet (which was still at Lampsacus). However, the Athenians were too distanced, from any other urban center (so they lacked enough provisions). Furthermore, strolling over this large and unprotected beach, most Athenian soldiers were unworried, lacking any discipline. Instead, Lysander was spying their moves, carefully, whereas he was quite respected by the extremely disciplined Spartan troops (which were constantly disposed, at their respective battle stations).

During five days, the entire Athenian fleet challenged the Spartans, crossing the 3 kilometer channel. Nonetheless, Lysander kept refusing to battle. Only, few of his vessels surveyed Aegospotami during the evening, informing the moment at which the enemy had disembarked. On the fifth day, Lysander addressed their sailors, encouraging them. For that evening, he ordered that his few spy ships would rise a brazen shield at the middle of the channel, after the enemy got ashore. Effectively, the Spartan assault was launched then. Lysander's fleet crossed the channel quickly, surprising the enemy ashore. On the beach, the Athenians were already scattered, completely uncommitted (resting, cooking, and the like), so they couldn't reach their ships again. Easily, Lysander slaughtered the still unarmed enemies, capturing almost all Athenian triremes. The Spartans captured 3,000 men and the camp of the enemy was plundered. Lysander sailed back to Lampsacus, sounding festive flutes. At this Battle of Aegospotami, the Athenian Empire was definitively defeated thus the Peloponnesian War ended. Lysander executed the totality of the prisoners. To assist to this event, he washed himself up and he wore a splendid cloak.

More Conquering

Then, Lysander reached the Bosphorus, seizing both Byzantium and Chalcedon. Also, he expelled all Athenians, who were abiding in this region. Then, Lysander seized Lesbos. Throughout the Aegean Sea, his Decemvirates were proliferating.

Blockading Athens

Then, Lysander decided to starve Athens. To accomplish this, he traversed the Aegean Sea. At each place, he told to the colonists that no Athenian would be longer tolerated outside Athens. They would be promplty slain, by him. Thus, Athens would become too populated, with insufficient supplies though, so the Spartan siege would be eased. During the journey, Lysander installed many Decemvirates too. Both executions and exiles multiplied. Eventually, Lysander arrived to the Saronic Gulf, with his 200 triremes. After reinstating the original Aeginans into their island, he encountered both Spartan kings (Agis II and Pausanias) at Attica, to besiege Athens. Lysander boasted: "With my navy, we can sail wherever throughout the sea as I am its master."

Reducing the Athenian Empire

However, the Athenians resisted for much time so Lysander campaigned further with 200 warships, throughout the Aegean sea. He deposed more democratic governments and he seized Melos, Sestos, Scione, and Salamis, out from the Athenians. Although Sparta revoked when Lysander populated Sestos with Spartan sailors (replacing the original population), the campaign of Lysander was highly praised, by this nation. At this point, from the former Athenian Empire, just both its urban center and Samos survived.

Seizing Athens

Then, Lysander blockaded Piraeus with 150 ships until, in 404 BC, (finally) Athens succumbed. Lysander accepted the capitulation, at Piraeus. The Spartan Ephors demanded:

  • to raze the walls of Piraeus
  • to raze the Long Walls (which connected Athens and Piraeus)
  • that the Athenians should abandon their colonies, returning home
  • the return of the exiles
  • that Athens should surrender all ships, to the Spartans

It was the Athenian Theramenes (who was held captive by Lysander, during the siege), who surrendered formally to these terms. Lysander arrogated the entire Athenian fleet, except 12 vessels. However, at the next celebration of the Battle of Salamis, still the Athenians were grieving up by their political status. Consequently, they refused obeying. Particularly, the Athenians resisted, tearing their walls down. Then, Lysander said that they had broken the terms of capitulation and the Spartans menaced to level the entire city and to enslave its inhabitants. Under such circumstances, the Athenians began obeying. Thus, Lysander gathered some Athenian female flute players, who played, whilst he proceeded to destroy the walls and to burn the Athenian ships. The Spartans celebrated, singing and dancing around, with flowers over their heads. Then, Lysander installed his tyrannic government of the Thirty Tyrants. It was similar to those, which had been implanted at the colonies. It had a Spartan governor (Callibius), who resided inside the Acropolis (which was garrisoned by Lysander, too). Also, the adjunct archons were appointed (30 in Athens, 10 in Piraeus).

The Power of Sparta

After storming and seizing Samos (which had been the chief Athenian position, at the Aegean Sea), Lysander returned home. Now, Sparta was omnipotent, both by sea and by land, whereas Lysander was the foremost Spartan. Among other things, with the Satrap Pharnabazus, he arranged the killing of Alcibiades (which had been ordered by Sparta).

The Glory of Lysander

His Riches

Lysander had been reaping a large amount of riches, both by his spoils and by the gold (which was presented by the cities, to gain his favor). Nonetheless, (by his traditional Spartan culture) he slighted this, submitting the whole treasure to Sparta. For this, Lysander commanded the celebrated Gylippus. However, Gylippus stole much money from the bags so he ended judged in Sparta. Eventually, he was exiled. This provoked an intense debate, among the Spartans (who were followers of the traditions of the legendary Lykurgus). They would have rejected the money if some friends of Lysander wouldn't have convinced them otherwise. Thus, the riches ended funding many public projects whereas the government decreed that any person who may take some of this money for himself would be executed.

Boasting

As the most powerful Greek, personally, Lysander was quite arrogant, actually. He was the first Greek, to whom both altars were erected and sacrifices were performed. In his behalf, many victory songs were composed. Particularly, the poet Choerilus was always with him, celebrating his actions. At Delphi, Lysander built a brazen statue, which represented him and all the Spartan Admirals of the Peloponnesian War. Also, Lysander kept a 2 meter trireme (of gold and ivory), which had been gifted by Cyrus. It was filled with a silver talent, 52 minaes, and 11 staters. The festival of Hera of Samos was renamed The Lysandria, after him.

His Wicked Side

While Lysander was holding Greece under his political power, often, he resorted to deceitful maneuvers and he said: "There, where the lion skin doesn't reach, it must be patched with the skin of the fox." Even, Lysander despised his presumed Heracleidae ancestry. Furthermore, Lysander used to blaspheme deliberately, by false oaths. Once, he affirmed: "With dices, we cheat the boys. With oaths, we cheat the men." As the political friends of Lysander were appointed into the most important offices, they made sure that the Greeks (who may be disliked by them) were slaughtered. They didn't banish their enemies as, for them, this was a feeble punishment.

The Repression of Miletus

At Miletus, the supporters of Lysander had reconciled with the democratic partisans. Publicly, Lysander expressed hypocritical satisfaction while (secretly) he convinced his local partisans to begin conspiring again. However, a second accord was agreed to. Lysander then went personally to Miletus, with the Spartan army. Lysander pretended to scold and jail his own politicians whilst vowing fraudulent oaths to the democrats. He promised that, during his stay, they would be safe. However, during that same night, Lysander killed his 800 political enemies. They hadn't escaped, believing his sacred promise.

His Decline

Lysander was well aware that, sooner or later, the Ephors (who were the only functionaries who could harm his omnipotence) would prosecute him, by his contemptible political actions. Thus, he convinced Pharnabazus so he might write a commending document, in his behalf. (Indeed, Lysander had wronged both this satrap and his province, around Dardanelles). Effectively, Pharnabazus wrote a large letter (which extolled Lysander) whereas Lysander approved it, after an examination. However, before enveloping it, the satrap switched the letter, for other (which told the evil truth, about Lysander). The completely unaware Lysander handed the document to the Ephors, who read it. This unleashed the first conflict of power, against Lysander. General Thorax was executed, by this.

The Spartan Conspiracy

Lysander managed nonetheless to sail away again, with his fleet, although, then, the Spartans began conspiring earnestly, against him, supporting the popular parties throughout Greece, to depose the tyrannies of Lysander. Firstly, Athens succeeded revolting and its 30 archons were deposed. Then, Lysander hastened home where he could convince the Spartans so such plans were (temporarily) reverted. Particularly, Lysander got that the Athenian revolt would be subdued. However, the king Pausanias insisted to lead the expedition, trimming the power of Lysander. However, once in Athens, the king didn't quash the rebellion. Instead, he and the Spartan Ephors interceded amicably, between both the oligarchic and popular party, so these reconciled and none ended, under Lysander's influence. This government didn't last long, though. Athens revolted again, recuperating its freedom definitively and removing the Spartan garrison. By this reason, Pausanias was rebuked whereas Lysander was hailed (as a Spartan patriot, who had been uncomprehended). Nonetheless, the Ephors continued deposing most Decarchies of Lysander.

Around the New King

In 401 BC, Agis II died. His successor would be either Agesilaus or Leotychidas. Lysander pushed, effectively, for Agesilaus. When the oracle of Diophites seemed to censure Agesilaus' bid, Lysander argued that --actually-- the prophesy was advising against any illegitimate monarch. Thus, Agesilaus became king (399 BC) owing it to Lysander's support.

At Anatolia

Soon after, Lysander learned that the satrap Tissaphernes, with a large army, would attempt to subdue the Greek city-states of Anatolia. He convinced the new king to launch an expedition, in which he, among the 30 generals, was appointed the most important leader after the king. At Geraestus, Lysander gathered a force, which comprised of 10,000 helot infantry and 6,000 hoplites.

Once in Anatolia, they camped far from the sea, avoiding being surprised by the enemy, whereas their headquarters were at Ephesus. However, soon Agesilaus and his advisors became quite jealous of Lysander. His old partisans (who had already been deposed) flocked around Lysander (who expected reinstating them). Besides, Lysander had an authoritative demeanor, issuing orders to the generals whilst disregarding the monarch (who was limited to ink his decisions). Thus, Agesilaus turned against his over-mighty subordinate. He curtailed the functions of Lysander and hrefused any request which could benefit his projects. Then he attacked the partisans of Lysander directly. Still, to the public, the king was appearing to be acting out of jealousy, and Lysander ended named his personal carver (at Agesilaus' kitchen). Then the king called Lysander's partisans, showing their disgraced mentor to them. Lysander reacted: "You know well how to humiliate your friends. You have spoken better than I have achieved for Sparta. For the sake of this people, please, appoint me to a more useful post where I won't cause any more annoyance to you."

The king sent Lysander to the Dardanelles. There, he convinced the Persian nobleman Spithridates to rise up with his 200 cavalrymen against Pharnabazus. This man joined Sparta, with his entire property, meeting with Agesilaus. However, the king refused to appoint Lysander in the command of any other enterprise. Lysander returned to Sparta in 395 BC.

Conspiring against the Spartan Monarchy

Feeling so befooled by the Spartan leaders, Lysander began conspiring, to revolutionize the Spartan institutions. Specifically, Lysander expected that the king wouldn't belong necessarily, to the traditional Herculean royal houses. He expected that any common individual might be picked for monarch if ("just like Hercules") he had been brave enough, fighting for Sparta. Particularly, Lysander knew that he would head such list of candidates.

However, Lysander realized that he wouldn't achieve such goal, only by speeches. Thus, he orchestrated a series of sacrilegious maneuvers (for the Spartans referred the oracles, almost for everything in their lives). However, Lysander suffered some initial drawbacks. Both at Delphi and at Dodona, the priestesses denounced his bribe attempts. The Lydian priests of the temple of Amun complained diplomatically, before the Spartan authorities. By this reason, Lysander was both judged and acquitted, at Sparta. Nonetheless, by his political connections, eventually, Lydander could corrupt the Delphic Oracle of Apollo. In his plan, Lysander used a local woman. For some time, she had been proclaiming that the father of his son (Silenus) was the god Apollo. Also, the priests wangled some oracles so these ordered the Spartans that their monarchy should be awarded to their best citizens. Personally, Silenus would proclaim such prophecies publicly, in the appropriate moment. However, the entire maneuver was cancelled when (inopportunely) one of the plotters suffered a heart attack.

Against Boeotia

Between Sparta and Boeotia, the hostilities had been escalating since the northern state had been supporting the democrat party of Athens. They had been vital, to depose the Thirty Tyrants and to expel the Spartans definitively out of Attica. Adding insult to injury, Boeotia was claiming the 10 percent of the war plundering. Thus, in 395 BC, Lysander convinced the Ephors, to attack (during the Corinthian War, which was started by Persian support, in response to the Anatolian expedition of Lysander and Agesilaus). Their main objective was to capture Thebes. Lysander commanded the northern invasion, from Phocis. King Pausanias would proceed from the south, through Mount Cithaeron. Before Lysander, Orchomenos surrendered voluntarily. Then, he stormed Lebadea, plundering it.

His Death

Lysander would encounter the king about Haliartus, on the next daybreak. However, the Boeotians intercepted one of Lysander's messengers, noticing this. Thus, during that same day, they reinforced Haliartus hastily, with Theban troops, and also they entrusted this urban center, to the Athenians. Lysander camped over a near hill. Without waiting the king, he rushed against the city, during the morning. When his soldiers reached the gates, the Boeotians attacked suddenly from within. In the skirmish, (together with his soothsayer and other few men) Lysander was slain. His killer was a Boeotian soldier (Neochorus), whose shield was etched with a snake. The corpse of Lysander was left, under the city walls.

The Spartan forces retreated but they were chased further, over a riskily craggy terrain. 1,000 Spartans and 300 Boeotians died. To recover the corpse, King Pausanias had to request a truce (by which the Boeotians won the battle, accordingly with the ancient Greek traditions). After the Spartans crossed the Phocian frontier, the corpse of Lysander was buried at the allied Panope city. Afterward, a statue was erected there. Athenagoras of Athens, writing to Emperor Marcus Aurelius around 176, charged the inhabitants of Samos Island with having deified Lysander.

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