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Overview
Themistocles was important because he
was a new type of politician in Athens
democracy. He was not rich or a noble.
He appealed to the poorest people and
stood up for them.
He was elected archon (leader) in 493 BC,
and convinced the polis (people) to
increase the naval power of Athens. It is
likely that he was one of the 10 generals at
the battle of Marathon.
Between 490 BC 480 BC he was the most
powerful politician in Athens. He
developed a strong Athenian army and in
483 BC he convinced the people to build
200 triremes. During the second Persian
invasion these ships were essential.
Themistocles was also made commander
of the Greek allied navy at the battles of
Artemisium and Salamis.
After the Persian Wars Themistocles
became too powerful and was eventually
ostracised. (exiled) He eventually became
a satrap for the Persian King Artaxerxes I.
He controlled Magnesia for the rest of his
life..
he was an immigrant. In Greece this would
prevent him from having any rights, so
from an early age he made sure to exercise
with rich children.
Themistocles – the first politician
The new democracy gave an opportunity
to men like Themistocles to have political
power. Themistocles was very good at
manipulating the new political system.
Plutarch described him as the first
politician "he could cause conflict, he
could network, he could spin...and
crucially, he knew how to make himself
visible."
Themistocles moved to the Ceramicus, the
poorest part of Athens. This made people
see him as a 'man of the people'. It also
made it easier for him to talk to ordinary
citizens. He could count on their support in
votes. "he wooed the poor; and they, not
used to being courted, duly loved him
back. Touring the taverns, the markets, the
docks, canvassing where no politician had
thought to canvas before, making sure
never to forget a single voter's name,
Themistocles had set his eyes on a radical
new constituency"
Plutarch describes Themistocles as "the
man most instrumental in achieving the
salvation of Greece" from the Persian
threat. His naval policies would make
Athens the most powerful Greek country
after the Persian Wars.
Themistocles also practiced law and learnt
how to act as an attorney (prosecutor) and
arbitrator (judge). He used this to help the
common people and gain him further
popularity.
Background
Archonship
The tyrant Peisistratos had died in 527 BC.
His sons Hipparchus and Hippias could
not keep power. Hipparchus was murdered
in 514 BC, and Hippias became a cruel
tyrant killing his rivals. Cleisthenes, with
the help of Sparta removed Hippias from
power. After a period of uncertainty
Cleisthenes established a democracy.
Themistocles probably turned 30 in
494 BC. He wanted to become Archon –
this was the most powerful position in
Athens. (Like a Prime Minister.) Using
his popularity amongst the poor he was
chosen as Archon in 493 BC).
Themistocles was born in Athens around
524 BC. Themistocles grew up in a period
of upheaval in Athens. We know very little
about his early life, but Plutarch believed
Themistocles used this position to promote
the creation of a navy. He convinced the
Athenians to build a new port at Piraeus, to
replace the existing facilities at Phalerum.
Piraeus had three natural harbours, which
were easily fortified. Athens became the
strongest naval power in the Ancient
World during the 5th century BC.
Themistocles believed that Athens needed
a navy to allow them to become a
powerful nation despite their size.
Ostracism and limiting the power
of rich families.
After Marathon, probably in 489,
Miltiades, the hero of the battle, was
seriously wounded in an attempt to
conquer Paros. A rich family, who were
jealous of Miltiades, took the opportunity
to arrest him and see him removed from
office. They argued he was trying to
become a tyrant. Before he could be killed
he died of his injuries.
Themistocles encouraged the Athenians to
get rid of the death penalty for such crimes
and proposed Ostracism as a new
punishment. This would see people
banned from Athens for 10 years – rather
than killed. It became a yearly event where
the people of Athens would ostracise
someone who had been behaving badly. It
was used to stop rich families trying to
remove their heroes and to control the
power of the rich.
Aristides and Themistocles
Themistocles used his popularity with the
poor to replace Miltiades. The rich
promoted their own hero – Aristides. His
followers called him ‘the just.’ Politics in
Athens became divided between the rich
and the poor. Plutarch suggests Aristides
and Miltiades were good friends until they
fell out over the love of a young boy.
Despite this Themistocles had the upper
hand and used fear of the Persians to
expand the navy. After Darius had died
Xerxes had promised to get revenge.
Themistocles became the supporter of war
and his ideas made him more popular than
Aristides. The rich argued that
Themistocles was wrong and they attacked
his expensive plans.
In 483 BC, a massive new seam of silver
was found in the Athenian mines at
Laurium. Themistocles proposed that the
silver should be used to build a new fleet
of 200 triremes. Aristides suggested it
should be shared amongst Athenian
citizens to win support from the poor.
Themistocles avoided mentioning Persia,
deeming that it was too distant a threat for
the Athenians to act on, and instead
focused their attention on Aegina. At the
time, Athens was involved in a war with
Aegina and building a fleet would allow
the Athenians to finally defeat them at sea.
As a result, Themistocles's won the vote
and 100 warships were built.
The rivalry continued to grow and
eventually Aristides was ostracised.
Themistocles began spending more money
to prepare for the Persian invasion.
TASK:
1) Explain why Themistocles was a
new type of politician? (Think
about his training and who he
appealed to.)
2) What was an Archon? How did
Themistocles use this position?
3) What is ostracism and why was it
first introduced?
4) Describe the rivalry between
Aristides and Themistocles?
Extension: Why do you think
Themistocles was able to become so
powerful in Athens?