Henceforward Athens could only fight for her life as an independent
state. In 412 B. C. many of her subject states revolted, including the
wealthy Miletus, on the coast of Asia Minor, and the islands of Chios
and Rhodes. Sparta formed an alliance with Persia, and used Eastern gold
to furnish ships and mercenaries against Athens. Alcibiades, having
quarreled with the Spartans, rejoined his country, and conducted her
war, in some of its closing years, with brilliant success. In 411 B. C.
a revolution took place in Athens which really swept away the democratic
constitution of Solon, and substituted an oligarchical faction in power.