Alcibiades (or Alkibiades) was a gifted and flamboyant Athenian statesman and general whose shifting of sides during the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BCE earned him a reputation for cunning and treachery. Good-looking and rich, he was also notorious for his extravagant lifestyle and loose morals. Never short of enemies or admirers - amongst whom was Socrates - he was one of the most colourful leaders in the history of Classical Athens.
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Definition
Timeline
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461 BCE - 429 BCEPericles is ruler of Athens.
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c. 451 BCE - c. 403 CELife of Athenian statesman and general Alcibiades.
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431 BCE - 404 BCEThe 2nd Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta (the Delian League and the Peloponnesian League) which involved all of Greece.
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425 BCEPylos campaign, under Cleon and Demosthenes' command Athens defeats Sparta at Pylos.
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c. 420 BCEAlcibiades is made strategos or general for the first time.
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416 BCEAlcibiades wins three chariot races at the Olympic Games.
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c. 415 BCEAlcibiades persuades the Athenian assembly to send a military expedition to Sicily.
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413 BCEOn the advice of Alcibiades the Spartans take over the Athenian-held fort of Dekeleia.
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411 BCEThe oligarchy of the 400 take over the democracy in Athens and in a matter of months is replaced by an oligarchy of 5000.
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410 BCEAlcibiades leads the Athenian fleet to victory over Sparta at Cyzicus.
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407 BCEAthenian general Alcibiades makes his naval base on Samos.
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c. 407 BCEAlcibiades returns to Athens in triumph and is made strategos autokrater.
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c. 407 BCEThe Athenian fleet is defeated by Lysander of Sparta at Notium.
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404 BCEEnd of the Peloponnesian war, Athens defeated By Sparta at Aigospotamoi, Rule of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens.
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c. 403 BCEAlcibiades is murdered in Phrygia.
