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.
More about: AlcibiadesDefinition
Timeline
-
461 BCE - 429 BCEPericles is ruler of Athens.
-
c. 451 BCE - c. 403 CELife of Athenian statesman and general Alcibiades.
-
431 BCE - 404 BCEThe 2nd Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta (the Delian League and the Peloponnesian League) which involved all of Greece.
-
425 BCEPylos campaign, under Cleon and Demosthenes' command Athens defeats Sparta at Pylos.
-
c. 420 BCEAlcibiades is made strategos or general for the first time.
-
416 BCEAlcibiades wins three chariot races at the Olympic Games.
-
c. 415 BCEAlcibiades persuades the Athenian assembly to send a military expedition to Sicily.
-
413 BCEOn the advice of Alcibiades the Spartans take over the Athenian-held fort of Dekeleia.
-
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.
-
410 BCEAlcibiades leads the Athenian fleet to victory over Sparta at Cyzicus.
-
407 BCEAthenian general Alcibiades makes his naval base on Samos.
-
c. 407 BCEAlcibiades returns to Athens in triumph and is made strategos autokrater.
-
c. 407 BCEThe Athenian fleet is defeated by Lysander of Sparta at Notium.
-
404 BCEEnd of the Peloponnesian war, Athens defeated By Sparta at Aigospotamoi, Rule of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens.
-
c. 403 BCEAlcibiades is murdered in Phrygia.
