Oligarchic Revolution Flashcards
Kaloikagathoi
A term used to describe the upper class in Athenian society. During the period leading up to the oligarchic revolution, the kaloikagathoi grew increasingly worried that the radical democracy was incapable of carrying out the war against Sparta. This meant that the economic prosperity that the kaloikagathoi enjoyed under the Athenian empire was in jeopardy, and the defeat at Sicily (413) as well as the occupation of Decelea (413) added to the fear that kaloikagathoi had as well as their economic losses. They were thus motivated to support a change in the Athenian constitution to rectify these issues.
Hetaireiai
A term used to refer to the political clubs in Athens, mad up by members of the kaloikagathoi. Prior to the 420s they were mostly social clubs where likeminded individuals would talk and eat together, however the outbreak of the Peloponnesian war led them to skew towards a minor political force. At the start of 411, Peisander approached the political clubs and motivated them to unify together and help bring about a change in the Athenian constitution to implement an oligarchy. The hetaireiai succeeded in doing so, advertising the idea of oligarchy to the Athenian people while at the same time organizing the assassination of high profile democrats and anyone that spoke out against the wishes of the oligarchs, including the lead democrat at the time Androcles. By mid-411 when Peisander returned to Athens, he found that the hetaireiai had succeeded in creating a culture of fear among democrats and had promoted the idea of oligarchy to a significant extent, laying the groundwork for the oligarch coup that would soon take place.
Peisander
Peisander was a major instigator of the oligarchic coup and also leader of the extreme oligarch, a sub faction within the oligarchs. Stationed at Samos in 412, he listened to Alcibiades and was inspired by his ideals for a change in the Athenian government to an oligarchy, and so sailed back to Athens and instructed the hetaireia to lay the groundwork for an oligarchic coup before sailing to Persia to meet with Tissaphernes. Having realized that Persian intervention was not going to be a reality, he sailed back to Samos and met with the other oligarchs, deciding that they should still go ahead with the plan to organize an oligarchic coup in Athens. Attempting to convert Athenian allies to oligarchies on his way back to Athens, he arrived back in Athens in mid-411, proposing that an assembly meet outside of Colonus to discuss the changes to the constitution. There he proposed the council of 400 and the council of 5000, which was established after an assembly meeting and put into full force soon after. Peisander’s influence and the influence of the rule of the 400 faded very quickly after the imposition of the rule of the 400, particularly for their decision to pursue friendly relations with Sparta. After the rule of the 400 was dissolved, Peisander fled to the court of King Agis at Decelea.
Council of 400
A body of 400 individuals selected by the oligarchs that ruled Athens from mid-411 for a very short amount of time before being replaced by the rule of the 5000. Instrumented by Peisander and the other extreme oligarchs, the body was the sole lawmaking authority in Athens, and while the council of 5000 existed and could be called at the 400’s wish, the majority of the 400 did not believe in the sovereignty of the 5000 and only wished to rule Athens within the 400. The 400 quickly lost popularity after they pursued friendly relations with Sparta, added to the fact that they built a fort at Eetioneia which was suspected of being built to invite the Spartans into the city of Athens. Without being able to deliver on Persian support and with the very reasonable deal proposed by Alcibiades to give sovereignty to the council of 5000, the rule of the 400 fractured into the faction of the extreme oligarchs and moderate oligarchs. The rule of the 400 was eventually dissolved when the Athenians sustained a significant defeat at Euboea which caused the entire island to revolt, causing the extreme oligarchs to flee to King Agis at Decelea.
Samos
A faithful ally of the Athenians and the place at which the Athenian fleet was docked for the period between late 412 and late 411. The oligarchic conspirators first conceived the plan for oligarchic coup at Samos in late 412, and the Athenian at Samos begrudgingly agreed to the plan so long as they got paid. Before leaving for Athens, the oligarchs tried to instigate an oligarchic coup in Samos, which was quickly defeated and resulted in the Athenians at Samos declaring themselves the radical democracy in exile, electing Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus as their leaders in mid-411. The fleet decided to recall Alcibiades and promote him to general, who then organized a compromise deal with the oligarchs at Athens which resulted in the downfall of the rule of the 400.
Androcles
The leading Athenian ‘radical’ democrat in Athens during 411. He was assassinated by the hetaireia in order to create fear among the democrats and promote the idea of oligarchy in Athens.
Probouloi
A term referring to a position created in Athens in 413 to advise the Boule of 500 in proposing legislature to the assembly. There existed 10 probouloi and consisted of older men who served the position for life. The creation of the council of probouloi for many scholars serves as evidence of a lack in faith of the demos in regards to their ability to conduct the war, and the first evidence of oligarchic sentiment in Athens.
Alcibiades
The exiled Athenian general and politician who in 412 was serving Tissaphernes in his court in Asia Minor. Seeking to return to Athens, Alcibiades reasoned that the only way he would be able to return to his home would be to change the Athenian constitution to an oligarchy and promise the aid of Persia, so in late 412 he persuaded a group of conspirators to instigate an oligarchic coup. When Peisander joined him in early 411, Alcibiades was unable to secure an alliance with Tissaphernes, which led to the oligarchs abandoning Alcibiades and continuing with the plans for oligarchic revolution. Alcibiades now instead promised to the fleet at Samos that he could secure Persian aid, which led to the fleet declaring themselves the radical democracy in exile and recalling Alcibiades, promoting him to the position of general. Alcibiades then reached out to the oligarchs in Athens, proposing that sovereignty be given to the council of 5000 instead of 400, a compromise which ultimately led to the downfall of the 400.
Tissaphernes
The Persian satrap of Asia Minor during this period, who was funding the Peloponnesian fleet although doing so with little commitment, wishing to instead let the Athenians and Spartans fight each other and wear each other down. He thus rejected Athenian proposals for an alliance in 411.
Colonus
The place outside the city walls where the Athenian assembly met in mid-411 to discuss changes to the radical democracy and the imposition of oligarchy, resulting in Peisander proposing that they choose a council of 400 and a further council of 5000. The meeting may have been held outside the city walls in order to dissuade thetes from attending, since they would not be able to protect themselves in the case of a sortie from the Spartans at Decelea.
Council of 5000
The council of 5000 men that was originally created to serve under the rule of the 400 in mid-411 but had very little power, the extreme oligarchs preferring to govern through the rule of the 400. After the 400 was dissolved, the 5000 became the sovereign body in Athens, and their rule was generally considered fair but Athenian victories at Cynossema and Cyzicus ultimately resulted in the restoration of the Athenian radical democracy.
Eetioneia
A position near the Piraeus where the rule of the 400 ordered the construction of a fort, designed to prevent the Athenian fleet at Samos from storming the city. Opponents of the 400 however reasoned that the fort was actually to let the Peloponnesians into the city, and so the hoplites building the fort betrayed the 400 and deconstructed the fort.
Thrasybulus
One of the leaders of the radical democracy in exile chosen by the Athenians stationed at Samos in 411. He was the main supported of bringing back Alcibiades, which the assembly eventually agreed to, promoting him to the position of general and allowing him to open up diplomatic relations with the oligarchy at Athens.
Thrasyllus
One of the leaders of the radical democracy in exile chosen by the Athenians stationed at Samos in 411.
Euboea
A major island off the coast of central Greece and important ally of Athens which revolted in 411 after the defeat of a hastily gathered Athenian fleet at the hands of the Peloponnesians. The revolt of Euboea drove intense fear into the Athenians who decided that it was even more critical to get rid of the rule of the 400.
