Prologue
Ηγεμών Αθἠνα and the warring states of ΑΣΙΑ./ A 460 BC Athens hegemony ATL.
Hello to my second ATL try.
This is going to be a rather small ATL with a POD in 461 BC when Ephialtes the radical democratic leader of Athens was assassinated.
Ps: The research of this ATL was based mostly in the following books: The development of the Athenian democracy(F.B.Jevons), The outbreak of the Peloponnesian war(Kagan Donald),The age of Pericles(William Watkiss Lloyd)
So lets start!
Background
In 479 BC the Greek allied fleet defeated the remnants of the Persian fleet in the Battle of Mycale near the islands of Salamis—on the same day as Plataea, according to tradition. This action marks the end of the Persian invasion, and the beginning of the next phase in the Greco-Persian wars, the Greek counterattack. After Mycale, the Greek cities of Asia Minor again revolted, with the Persians now powerless to stop them. The Allied fleet then sailed to the Thracian Chersonese, still held by the Persians, and besieged and captured the town of Sestos. The following year, 478 BC, the Allies sent a force to capture the city of Byzantion. The siege was successful, but the behaviour of the Spartan general Pausanias alienated many of the Allies, and resulted in Pausanias's recall.
After Byzantion, Sparta was eager to end its involvement in the war. The Spartans were of the view that, with the liberation of mainland Greece, and the Greek cities of Asia Minor, the war's purpose had already been reached. There was also perhaps a feeling that establishing long-term security for the Asian Greeks would prove impossible. In the aftermath of Mycale, the Spartan king Leotychides had proposed transplanting all the Greeks from Asia Minor to Europe as the only method of permanently freeing them from Persian dominion.
Xanthippus, the Athenian commander at Mycale, had furiously rejected this; the Ionian cities were originally Athenian colonies, and the Athenians, if no-one else, would protect the Ionians. This marked the point at which the leadership of the Greek alliance effectively passed to the Athenians. With the Spartan withdrawal after Byzantion, the leadership of the Athenians became explicit.
The loose alliance of city states which had fought against Xerxes's invasion had been dominated by Sparta and the Peloponnesian league. With the withdrawal of these states, a congress was called on the holy island of Delos in 477 BC to institute a new alliance to continue the fight against the Persians; hence the modern designation "Delian League". According to Thucydides, the official aim of the League was to "avenge the wrongs they suffered by ravaging the territory of the king."
In reality, this goal was divided into three main efforts—to prepare for future invasion, to seek revenge against Persia, and to organize a means of dividing spoils of war. The members were given a choice of either offering armed forces or paying a tax to the joint treasury; most states chose the tax. League members swore to have the same friends and enemies, and dropped ingots of iron into the sea to symbolize the permanence of their alliance. The Athenian politician Aristides would spend the rest of his life occupied in the affairs of the alliance, dying (according to Plutarch) a few years later in Pontus, whilst determining what the tax of new members was to be.
Prelude(OTL) 466-462 BC
466 BC Events
By place
Greece
465 BC Events
By place
Persian Empire
Arts
464 BC Events
By place
Greece
463 BC Events
By place
Rome
462 BC Events
By place
Greece
Philosophy
461 BC Events (POD year)
In Athens, Ephialtes and Pericles finally get agreement to the ostracism of Kimon, who had become unpopular for his unsuccessful pro-Spartan policy.
Ephialtes, with the support of Pericles, reduces the power of the Athenian Council of Areopagus (filled with ex- archons and so a stronghold of oligarchy) and transfers them to the people, i.e. the Council of Five Hundred, the Assembly and the popular law courts. The office of judge is made a paid position and is recruited by lot from a list to which every citizen can have his name added. Shortly after this events, during a diplomatic trip in Boeotia, a member of the oligarchy party tries to assassinate Ephialtes, but fails miserably and dies. (OTL: Ephialtes is murdered probably by Aristodicus of Tanagra in Boeotia, who is said to have acted on behalf of members of the Athenian oligarchy.)
On his return in Athens, Ephialtes manages to cancel the expedition in Cyprus (under basically the command of the Oligarchy party) and continues democratising activities by making the archonship a paid office and the lower class of Athenian citizens eligible to hold the office( OTL :458 BC Pericles continues Ephialtes’ democratising activities by making the exact same thing). Last but not least, to strength his position even more, he managed to give citizenship to the metics of the city. By this actions the citizens pool of Athens rise to more than 60000 people(Athens/Attika popullation :170000 Athenians,40000 metics and 100000 slaves).
Boeotian league status: Thebes is trying to re establish her dominance in Boeotian league but is still relative weak. The democratic and oligarchy parties in Thebes are in battle.
Sparta/Peloponnesian League status: After the severe Earthquake(with large loss of life) and the big Helot revolt of Messinia in 464 BC, Sparta is shaken but still strong.
Argos status: Argos took advandance of the Spartan problems the last years to expand their influence.
Thessaly status: The struggle for power of the aristocratical families seems to have continued with little diminution.
Macedonia status: Alexander I is slowly expanding his kingdom
Hello to my second ATL try.
This is going to be a rather small ATL with a POD in 461 BC when Ephialtes the radical democratic leader of Athens was assassinated.
Ps: The research of this ATL was based mostly in the following books: The development of the Athenian democracy(F.B.Jevons), The outbreak of the Peloponnesian war(Kagan Donald),The age of Pericles(William Watkiss Lloyd)
So lets start!
Background
In 479 BC the Greek allied fleet defeated the remnants of the Persian fleet in the Battle of Mycale near the islands of Salamis—on the same day as Plataea, according to tradition. This action marks the end of the Persian invasion, and the beginning of the next phase in the Greco-Persian wars, the Greek counterattack. After Mycale, the Greek cities of Asia Minor again revolted, with the Persians now powerless to stop them. The Allied fleet then sailed to the Thracian Chersonese, still held by the Persians, and besieged and captured the town of Sestos. The following year, 478 BC, the Allies sent a force to capture the city of Byzantion. The siege was successful, but the behaviour of the Spartan general Pausanias alienated many of the Allies, and resulted in Pausanias's recall.
After Byzantion, Sparta was eager to end its involvement in the war. The Spartans were of the view that, with the liberation of mainland Greece, and the Greek cities of Asia Minor, the war's purpose had already been reached. There was also perhaps a feeling that establishing long-term security for the Asian Greeks would prove impossible. In the aftermath of Mycale, the Spartan king Leotychides had proposed transplanting all the Greeks from Asia Minor to Europe as the only method of permanently freeing them from Persian dominion.
Xanthippus, the Athenian commander at Mycale, had furiously rejected this; the Ionian cities were originally Athenian colonies, and the Athenians, if no-one else, would protect the Ionians. This marked the point at which the leadership of the Greek alliance effectively passed to the Athenians. With the Spartan withdrawal after Byzantion, the leadership of the Athenians became explicit.
The loose alliance of city states which had fought against Xerxes's invasion had been dominated by Sparta and the Peloponnesian league. With the withdrawal of these states, a congress was called on the holy island of Delos in 477 BC to institute a new alliance to continue the fight against the Persians; hence the modern designation "Delian League". According to Thucydides, the official aim of the League was to "avenge the wrongs they suffered by ravaging the territory of the king."
In reality, this goal was divided into three main efforts—to prepare for future invasion, to seek revenge against Persia, and to organize a means of dividing spoils of war. The members were given a choice of either offering armed forces or paying a tax to the joint treasury; most states chose the tax. League members swore to have the same friends and enemies, and dropped ingots of iron into the sea to symbolize the permanence of their alliance. The Athenian politician Aristides would spend the rest of his life occupied in the affairs of the alliance, dying (according to Plutarch) a few years later in Pontus, whilst determining what the tax of new members was to be.
Prelude(OTL) 466-462 BC
466 BC Events
By place
Greece
- Kimon carries the war against Persia into Asia Minor and wins the Battle of the Eurymedon in Pamphylia. This is a decisive defeat of the Persians as Kimon's land and sea forces capture the Persian camp and destroy or capture the entire Persian fleet of 200 triremes(manned by Phoenicians). Many new allies of Athens are now recruited, such as the trading city of Phaselis on the Lycian -Pamphylian border.
- The Tyrant, Thrasybulus, is driven out by the citizens of Syracuse, Sicily. The city moves to a democratic system of government.
- The Greek colony of Tarento, in Magna Graecia, is defeated by the native population of Apulia. As a result, the Tarentine monarchy falls, with the installation of a democracy.
465 BC Events
By place
Persian Empire
- King Xerxes I of the Persian Empire, together with his eldest son, is murdered by one of his Ministers, Artabanus the Hyrcanian. The Persian general, Megabyzus, is thought to have been one of the conspirators in the assassination.
- Artabanus gains control of the Achaemenid state for several months. However, he is betrayed by Megabyzus and is killed by Xerxes' son, Artaxerxes.
- Thasos revolts from the Delian League. The revolt arises from rivalry over trade with the Thracian hinterland and, in particular, over the ownership of a gold mine. Athens under Kimon lays siege to Thasos after the Athenian fleet defeats the Thasos fleet.
Arts
- Tholos, west side of ancient agora of Athens, is built (approximate date).
- Phidias begins producing the sculpture called The Athena Promachos(The Defender) and completes it ten years later.
464 BC Events
By place
Greece
- Sparta suffers the effects of a severe earthquake leading to a large loss of life.
- When the Messenian helots (serfs) revolt against their Spartan masters following the severe earthquake, King Archidamus II organises the defence of Sparta. The helots fortify themselves at Mount Ithome.
- Egypt seizes the opportunity created by the murder of Xerxes I to revolt against Persia. The revolt is led by Inaros, a Libyan, who gains control of the Delta region and is aided by the Athenians.
- Artaxerxes I succeeds Xerxes I as king of the Persian empire.
463 BC Events
By place
Rome
- The Senate and People of Rome appoint Gaius Aemilius Mamercus interrex.
- In Athens, the democratic statesman Ephialtes and the young Pericles attempt to get the oligarchic Kimon ostracized for allegedly receiving bribes. Kimon is charged by Pericles and other democratic politicians with having been bribed not to attack the King of Macedonia (who may have been suspected of covertly helping the Thasian rebels). Though Kimon is acquitted, his influence on the Athenian people is waning.
- Themistocles, who is in exile, approaches the Persian King Artaxerxes I seeking Persian help in regaining power in Athens. Artaxerxes is unwilling to help him, but instead gives him the satrapy of Magnesia.
- After a two year siege,Thasos falls to the Athenians under Kimon who compels the Thasians to destroy their walls, surrender their ships, pay an indemnity and an annual contribution to Athens.
462 BC Events
By place
Greece
- The Spartans try to conquer the mountain stronghold of Mt Ithome in Messenia, where a large force of rebellious helots have taken refuge. They ask their allies from the Persian wars , including the Athenians, to help.
- Kimon seeks the support of Athens citizens to providing help to Sparta. Although Ephialtes maintains that Sparta is Athens' rival for power and should be left to fend for itself, Kimon's view prevails. Kimon then leads 4,000 hoplites to Mount Ithome.
- After an attempt to storm Mt. Ithome fails, the Spartans start to distrust the Athenians over concerns that they may take the side of the helots. Retaining their other allies, the Spartans sent Kimon and his men home. This insulting rebuff causes the collapse of Kimon's popularity at Athens. Outrage over the dismissal swings Athenian opinion towards Ephialtes' views.
- Ephialtes passes a law in the Athenian ecclesia, which reforms the Areopagus, limiting its power to judging cases of homicide and religious crimes. He considers the Areopagus to be the centre of conservatism and Ephialtes' victory is seen as a defeat for the conservatives and the members of the oligarchy.
- Argos, taking advantage of Spartan preoccupation with the revolt of its helots, finally conquers Mycenae. The inhabitants of the town are dispersed, with some finding their way into Macedonia .
- Ephialtes starts to effectively be the leader of Athens.
Philosophy
- The Greek philosopher, Anaxagoras, moves to Athens and begins teaching there.
461 BC Events (POD year)
In Athens, Ephialtes and Pericles finally get agreement to the ostracism of Kimon, who had become unpopular for his unsuccessful pro-Spartan policy.
Ephialtes, with the support of Pericles, reduces the power of the Athenian Council of Areopagus (filled with ex- archons and so a stronghold of oligarchy) and transfers them to the people, i.e. the Council of Five Hundred, the Assembly and the popular law courts. The office of judge is made a paid position and is recruited by lot from a list to which every citizen can have his name added. Shortly after this events, during a diplomatic trip in Boeotia, a member of the oligarchy party tries to assassinate Ephialtes, but fails miserably and dies. (OTL: Ephialtes is murdered probably by Aristodicus of Tanagra in Boeotia, who is said to have acted on behalf of members of the Athenian oligarchy.)
On his return in Athens, Ephialtes manages to cancel the expedition in Cyprus (under basically the command of the Oligarchy party) and continues democratising activities by making the archonship a paid office and the lower class of Athenian citizens eligible to hold the office( OTL :458 BC Pericles continues Ephialtes’ democratising activities by making the exact same thing). Last but not least, to strength his position even more, he managed to give citizenship to the metics of the city. By this actions the citizens pool of Athens rise to more than 60000 people(Athens/Attika popullation :170000 Athenians,40000 metics and 100000 slaves).
- 3 important members of the Oligarchy party assassinated
- An expedition of 100 ships was sent to Ennea Hodoi(Amphipolis) to re establish the Athenian control.
- A new ally between Athens,Argos and Thessaly is establish.
Boeotian league status: Thebes is trying to re establish her dominance in Boeotian league but is still relative weak. The democratic and oligarchy parties in Thebes are in battle.
Sparta/Peloponnesian League status: After the severe Earthquake(with large loss of life) and the big Helot revolt of Messinia in 464 BC, Sparta is shaken but still strong.
Argos status: Argos took advandance of the Spartan problems the last years to expand their influence.
Thessaly status: The struggle for power of the aristocratical families seems to have continued with little diminution.
Macedonia status: Alexander I is slowly expanding his kingdom
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