ALCIBIADES RETURNS TO ATHENS
Alcibiades fled from the Athenians to Sparta, but he did not stay there
long, for he soon grew tired of living as simply and frugally as the
people of that country. He had, too, made an enemy of one of the kings
of Sparta, so in the autumn of 412 B.C. he fled to Miletus in Asia
Minor, where Tissaphernes, the Persian governor, ruled for the great
king.
Tissaphernes was a cruel man, but he was easily pleased by flattery.
Alcibiades soon discovered the governor’s weakness, and he determined
to win his favour by his agreeable speeches. He succeeded so well that
the Persian named some of his parks and pavilions Alcibiades, in honour
of the eloquent Athenian.
The luxury and ease with which the Persians were surrounded pleased
Alcibiades after his course of Spartan fare and discipline, and he
indulged for a time in even greater magnificence than did Tissaphernes.
His anger against the Athenians had gradually grown less vehement, and
he now began to wish that they would forget their hatred of him and
recall him from exile.
But they had little thought to spare for the traitor, for troubles were
pouring in upon them on every side. They had but lately heard of the
complete overthrow of their fleet and army in Sicily, and they were
now building a new fleet with money which Pericles had put aside long
before, lest at any time Attica should be invaded by sea.
The Spartans, too, were still at Decelea, where they had built a fort,
not fourteen miles from the city. Town after town that had been allied
with Athens in the time of her prosperity now became her enemy.
In their despair the Athenians had taken a desperate step--they had
asked their old enemies the Persians to come to their aid.
It was then that Alcibiades saw an opportunity, as he thought, to help
the people whom he had so cruelly betrayed, and at the same time to
please the Persians.
So he sent a message to the Athenians to say that if they would place
the government of Athens in the hands of a party named ‘The Four
Hundred,’ he would be able to persuade Tissaphernes to make an alliance
with them. For his master, the great king, would make no terms with
Athens as long as she was a democracy.
The Athenians followed Alcibiades’ advice, and the government of the
city was entrusted to The Four Hundred for a short time. But Alcibiades
had not so much influence as he had believed, and the Persian
government still refused to help the Athenians.
Partly perhaps in anger with Tissaphernes, partly because the Athenians
were not satisfied with the rule of The Four Hundred, Alcibiades helped
to overthrow them and to make Athens once again a democracy.
So grateful were the people for his help, that they declared his exile
was at an end, and bade him return to Athens.
But although Alcibiades longed to go back to Athens, he was content
to wait until he could return covered with glory. By his own request
he was given the command of a few ships, and with these he set sail
for the Hellespont. Mindarus, the Spartan admiral, with a large army
was there, hoping to stop the corn supply of Athens on its way to the
city from the Black Sea. If the corn supply was stopped, Athens would
starve, and Mindarus knew that the city would then soon be in the hands
of the Spartans.
The Athenian fleet was in three divisions, and the one commanded by
Alcibiades passed the Hellespont unseen by the enemy and took Mindarus
by surprise.
By land and sea desperate battles were fought, and in both the
Athenians were victorious. Mindarus was slain, and the Spartan fleet
was destroyed. The Hellespont was not blocked, and Athens was no longer
in danger of starving.
The Spartans in their own laconic way sent a brief message to Sparta to
tell of their defeat. The despatch was seized by the Athenians before
it reached its destination. This is what the victorious people read:
‘The ships are gone; Mindarus is slain; the men are starving; we know
not what to do.’
For two years, from 409 B.C. to 407 B.C., Alcibiades stayed at the
Hellespont retaking cities which had thrown off their allegiance to
Athens and joined Sparta. Then feeling that now he might return with
glory, he set sail for Athens.
Plutarch tells us that as Alcibiades drew near to the Piræus he was
afraid to venture on shore, until he saw friends waiting to welcome him:
‘As soon as he was landed the multitude who came out to meet him
scarcely seemed so much as to see any of the other captains, but came
in throngs about Alcibiades and saluted him with loud acclamations, and
still followed him; those who could press near him crowned him with
garlands, and they who could not come up so close, yet stayed to behold
him afar off, and the old men pointed him out and showed him to the
young ones.’
In the assembly, crowns of gold were placed on his head, and he was
created general, with absolute power, over both the land and the sea
forces.
His estates were given back to him, and a ‘holy herald’ was bidden to
absolve him from the curses which had been pronounced against him.
The high priest alone refused to obey, for he said, ‘If he is innocent,
I never cursed him.’