Themistocles - Statesman, General and Naval Strategist of Ancient Greece

Themistocles (c. 524 - c. 459 B.C.) was a wonderful and visionary Athenian statesman, common and naval strategist.

In 493-492 he became a magistrate (archon).

Themistocles served as an Athenian basic in the Battle of Marathon (490) against Persia. Just after effectively beating off the Persians at Marathon, most Athenians believed they have been out of danger from the Persian Empire, but Themistocles believed that the Persians remained a increasing threat and would sooner or later send a further stronger force against the Athenians.

Themistocles hence persuaded the Athenians to

• fortify Piraeus, the fort of Athens (493);
• use the income from the wealthy silver deposits from the mines close to Sunium to raise military preparedness, and to treble the size of the naval fleet of just one hundred-200 warships in preparation for an anticipated naval invasion by the Persians; and
• to kind an anti-Persian alliance with other anti-Persian Greeks and even give the command of the fleet to a Spartan (to persuade them to join the alliance), this latter move adding yet another 150 Spartan warships to the Greek allied force.

Themistocles, a democrat, faced terrific opposition from the rich aristocratic ruling class. His program for a higher fleet successfully gave extra political energy to the guys who rowed the galleys - that is, males from the poorer classes of society. His emphasis on naval energy meant that the rich would have to spend a lot more taxes to reach this.

In 480, the Persians, beneath the command of Xerxes I, invaded Greece. Seeing that it was not possible to defend Athens against the Persians, Themistocles ordered the city to be evacuated.

Even though the Greek fleet was below the command of a Spartan, it was Themistocles who basically planned the program. This plan was basically a meticulously planned trap: to lure the sailing ships of the Persians and their allies into a narrow strait on the island fortress of Salamis, exactly where they could be attacked by the Greek armored marines and heavy ships.

This plan led to a decisive Greek naval victory more than the Persians at Salamis and saw the retreat of Xerxes I and the end of the Persian handle of the sea.

In spite of his brilliant success, the ruling council of nobles (the Areopagus) gave the ruling commands in 479 to Themistocles' two rivals, the recalled exiles, Artistides and Xanthippus.

Below the guidance of Themistocles, the Athenians rebuilt their walls, destroyed through the Persian invasion, but to a higher height.

The Spartans had been jealous and afraid of Themistocles and, as a way to rid themselves of him, demanded that Themistocles be place on trial for complicity in a treasonous with their personal basic Pausanias. Themistocles, realizing that there was tiny possibility of escaping from this determined accusation by the Spartans, decided to go into permanent exile. He traveled to Asia Minor exactly where he was kindly received and spent the rest of his life in the service of the Persian king Artaxerxes I.

Themistocles is normally described by ancient sources as probably a master strategist but deep down just an ambitious and greedy politician. These ancient sources had been largely written by Themistocles' upper class, aristocratic enemies. The good historian, Thucydides, praised Themistocles' judgment and vision.

Really, Themistocles laid was a genius whose brilliant naval techniques laid the foundations of Athenian military energy throughout the golden age of the Athenian Empire and, as Plutarch wrote, he was "the man most instrumental in reaching the salvation of Greece" from invasion by the Persian Empire.

For additional data on Themistocles, study the write-up at http://www.1902encyclopedia.com/T/THE/themistocles.html

David Paul Wagner writes on history, politics and present affairs.