Casting Through Ancient Greece
Casting Through Ancient Greece
85: Surrender at Sphacteria
The Athenian expedition to Sicily was an unexpected chapter in the Peloponnesian War, characterized by strategic missteps and unforeseen outcomes. As the Athenian fleet set out to aid their allies in Sicily against Syracuse, they found themselves caught in the whirlwind of war that stretched across the Greek world. From the Athenian prisoners on Sphacteria to the civil unrest in Corcyra, each event cascaded into the next, shaping the trajectory of the war. The delayed arrival of Athenian reinforcements to Sicily allowed Syracuse to regroup and counter-attack, leading to a stalemate that ultimately required Athenian withdrawal—a testament to the volatility of war and the importance of timely strategic decisions.
Amidst this complex backdrop, the Battle of Pylos stands as a testament to Athenian ingenuity and Spartan bravery. Demosthenes, the Athenian commander, overcame limited resources to construct strategic defenses at Pylos, setting the stage for a confrontation that would defy the expectations of both sides. The Spartans launched a ferocious assault, only to be repelled by the clever positioning and steadfastness of the Athenian defenders. The subsequent arrival of the Athenian fleet tipped the scales, demonstrating the razor-thin margin between victory and defeat in ancient warfare.
The political theatre that followed was equally charged. The peace negotiations between Athens and Sparta revealed the delicate balance of power and the grave consequences of political decisions. Sparta's willingness to negotiate due to the potential loss of their elite hoplites showcased the high stakes of the conflict. Yet, the breakdown of talks plunged the Greek world back into the throes of war, underscoring the fragility of peace in a time of unyielding ambition and honour.
The Siege of Sphacteria, a decisive engagement in the war, illustrated the strategic acumen of the Athenians under the joint command of Cleon and Demosthenes. Employing a mix of hoplites, archers, and light troops, the Athenians outmanoeuvred the Spartans, ultimately forcing a surrender that marked a watershed moment in Greek warfare. This victory, however, was not without its political machinations. The intense debates within the Athenian Assembly, the advocacy of Cleon, and the opposition from Nicias revealed the intricate relationship between military action and political manoeuvring.
The surrender of the Spartan forces on Sphacteria was a moment that altered the course of the Peloponnesian War. The image of Spartan warriors, famed for their indomitable spirit, surrendering to their Athenian captors was a stark contrast to their ancestors' last stand at Thermopylae. This historic event not only shifted the balance of power but also sent ripples through the societal structures of Sparta, igniting fears of helot uprisings and prompting desperate, yet futile, diplomatic efforts to reclaim Pylos and negotiate peace.
In sum, the Peloponnesian War's defining moments—from the Athenian naval might to the Spartan surrender on land—paint a vivid portrait of ancient warfare, political dynamics, and the enduring human quest for dominance. It's a narrative that continues to resonate through the ages, reminding us of the timeless lessons of history and the ever-present echoes of the past in our modern world.
Indeed, people could scarcely believe that those who had surrendered were of the same stuff as the fallen, and an Athenian ally, who sometime after insultingly asked one of the prisoners from the island if those who had fallen were noble and good men, received for answer that the arrow would be worth a great deal if it could pick out a noble and good man from the rest, in allusion to the fact that the killed were those whom the stones and arrows happened to hit Thucydides. Hello, I'm Mark Selleck and welcome back to Casting Through Ancient Greece, episode 85, surrender Asphacteria. In our last few episodes we have been looking at Athens' activities in the West. We had seen that Athens would become involved in the civil war that developed on Corsaira. This had broken out when a group of Corsairan captives were released by the Corinthians. These men had been captured during the battles that had taken place around the island just before the breakout of the Peloponnesian War. Now, after a number of years in captivity and perhaps some re-education by the Corinthians, they were sent back home. This was done with the hope that these men would be able to change the pro-Athenian policy that had now developed there. Corsaira had traditionally been neutral. However, the Peloponnesians were hoping they could influence policy on the island enough so that they would come to their side during the war. The result of the repatriation of these men would eventually lead to civil war breaking out. Both Athens and Sparta would become involved, as both knew the importance of the island. Caesarea had the third largest fleet when it came to the Greek cities of the mainland, this being enough to help tip the balance when it came to sea power. Initially, athens had taken somewhat of an advisory role, but would eventually come to assist the democratic side. With a bit more enthusiasm, the democrats would come to regain control of most of the island, with the oligarchs setting up a camp across the mainland. The civil war would continue, but with the Peloponnesian fleet defeated and the democrats holding the island, athens would depart.
Speaker 1:The next action that leads us into today's episode would come when Athens would vote to send an expedition to assist Leotini on the island of Sicily against Syracuse. We did explore a range of reasons why Athens may be looking to engage in this campaign, as at first glance it seemed to be a distraction from the focus of fighting the Peloponnesians. Here we saw that there may have been indirect means in harming the Peloponnesians or gain an advantage for themselves with this action far west. Initially, the Athenians, with their allies in southern Italy and on Sicily, would succeed in gaining a foothold on the island and expanding it. At this point, where it looked as though Athens held the advantage, their allies would request reinforcements from Athens that would help bring the campaign to a close sooner. Request reinforcements from Athens that would help bring the campaign to a close sooner. Athens would agree to this request and a fleet would be prepared and sent off, though they would arrive too late to be of any offensive use in defeating Syracuse.
Speaker 1:Events around this reinforcing fleet will be the focus of our episode today. We will see that they would not make directly for Sicily and would assist in other areas around western Greece. This would prove to be Athens' undoing in this first Sicilian expedition, as Syracuse would be able to arrange a counter attack against Athens' advances, seeing them having to fall back to the southern Italian city of Regium. Had these reinforcements arrived in time, they would have probably been able to counter the Syracusan attacks or reverse them. In the end, athens, with their Sicilian allies coming to a truce on the island, would end up sailing home once the reinforcing fleet did arrive. So, as I said, it will be the actions around this reinforcing fleet that we'll be focusing on today. As we will see, they would become involved in a significant engagement that would take place on the western coast of the Peloponnese, while also further assisting Corsaira.
Speaker 1:So let's get started by looking at the fleet that would be arranged, their commanders and what orders they received. Athens would answer the pleas made by their allies on Sicily to send more ships and men to help close the campaign out more quickly. Thucydides tells us that the Athenians found the idea of wrapping up the campaign on Sicily quickly favourable, while they also saw that it would be helpful in gaining much-needed experience for their crews. However, as we will see when looking at the orders of the fleet, it appears that Athens was looking to deal with other areas at the same time, therefore, killing two birds with one stone. Forty ships would be assembled to make up this fleet, with the generals Eurymedon and Sophocles in command. Their orders, according to Thucydides, would be, as they sailed up the coast, to do what they could for the Corsairians in the city, who were suffering from the raids made on them by the exiled party in the mountains.
Speaker 1:We had seen that the civil war on Corsaira had been ongoing when we left events there a few episodes ago, but raids from the oligarchs continued, with them being able to operate out of the mountain regions of the island. Also, the Peloponnesians had returned with a fleet of 60 ships to help support the oligarchs. This increased activity saw that Athens needed to make another appearance to stop Sparta's influence from gaining traction. However, there would also be another part to these orders, with Thucydides writing. Demosthenes, since his return from Icarnia, held no official position, but the Athenians allowed him, at his own request, to make what use he liked of this fleet of theirs on their way around the Peloponnese. Why Demosthenes was allowed to travel with the fleet and afforded this privilege is not really spelled out to us, but it seems he had become popular in Athens after his campaign the previous year.
Speaker 1:The orders given to Eurymedon and Sophocles were given in the belief that the campaign on Sicily was going all in their favour, so there saw no rush for the fleet to make it there. This meant they could deal with multiple issues with the same force, something that would have been desirable now that money and manpower was beginning to be much tighter. The fleet would set sail from the Piraeus with their cause, taking them around the south of the Peloponnese, then heading north along the western side. Not long after setting out, the commanders received word that a Peloponnesian fleet of 60 ships had made it to Cusaira to aid the oligarchs. This would see that Eurymedon and Sophocles were eager to waste no time in making it to the island to help the Democrats. However, demosthenes had other ideas and it seems he had waited until the fleet had set sail before revealing how he would like to use the fleet.
Speaker 1:As the fleet began up the west coast of the Peloponnese, demosthenes wanted the fleet to stop at Pylos. However, with the news of the Peloponnesian fleet of Corsaira, the commanders wanted to continue on. However, mother Nature would see to it that Demosthenes would get his way when the fleet was forced to seek shelter at Pylos when a storm developed on their approach. Now at Pylos, he would propose his plan to Eurymedon and Sophocles, where he wanted to fortify the place. It seems Demosthenes had seen the potential of the site. In assisting in the Athenians' war effort. Pylos was situated in a position where Athens could possibly incite revolt and work with the Messenians and Helot class. In addition to this, pylos would serve to benefit Athens' war at sea as it was one of the largest safe harbours in the area.
Speaker 1:Demosthenes would point out that the area was abundant in the resources needed to construct the forts, while the area was relatively uninhabited, while also lying some distance from Sparta. This would mean the Athenians would have plenty of time to construct their fortifications before the Peloponnesians would be able to challenge them, though, once explaining his plan to Eurymedon and Sophocles, thucydides would tell us that they would respond with that, if he wanted to waste Athenian money, he should find plenty of other desolate headlands around the Peloponnese to occupy, apart from this one. With the commanders not taking his proposal seriously, demosthenes would then try and force their hand by convincing the men under their command. However, he would also fail in convincing them of the merits of his plan. The fleet was now stuck at Pylos and having to wait for the bad weather to pass, though as the days went by, the men began to become bored. It seems, then, that they had become more willing to take part in the planned fortifications and started arranging themselves into work groups to carry out the construction for the fort. Much of the location was naturally positioned as a stronghold, but the fortifying that was carried out we hear as being somewhat rudimentary due to the lack of tools the men had to work with. We are told that the works would take six days to complete and, once the bad weather had passed, eurymedon and Sophocles would leave a small group of men with Demosthenes and five ships, before then sailing with the rest of the fleet for Caesarea.
Speaker 1:At this stage, sparta had sent off its army, along with the Peloponnesian forces under the command of Aegis, for the annual invasion of Attica. Back on the Peloponnese, the Spartans, still within their city, were engaged in celebrating a festival. While this festival was taking place, word would arrive that the Athenians had landed at Pylos and were constructing a fort. The Spartans, at this stage, were not concerned with this development and saw no reason that they should conclude their festival early. With the reports they had received, they assumed the Athenians would withdraw on their approach. Like in previous years, when Athens had landed on the Peloponnese, all the fortifications would be easily dealt with. However, these reports would also end up reaching Aegis in Attica, who would take the news more seriously. This would see Aegis withdraw his forces from Attica early, seeing this being the shortest invasion of the war so far, just 15 days, though Thucydides does indicate that this news may not have been the only reason the army withdrew. This year's invasion had seen the Peloponnesian force under the greatest hardship than the previous years. They had left before their crops were ripe, so were marching with reduced level of provisions, while the weather for this campaigning season was unusually wet. So news of the Athenian invasion may have provided a convenient excuse to pull out of Attica early, rather than admitting to the hardship that they were facing.
Speaker 1:Once Aegis had returned to Sparta, a Spartan force, along with allied cities near Pylos, were arranged to march onto the Athenian position. The various contingents were ordered to make for Pylos as quickly as possible, with the result seeing the various elements arriving in a staggered manner. Sparta had also sent out orders to the 60 ships that had been at Corsaira to depart and make for the coastline near Pylos. By this stage the Athenian fleet was in the area of Kosara, but the Peloponnesian fleet was able to sail away unnoticed Back at Pylos. Demosthenes had somehow managed to get wind of the Spartan response and sent two ships off to Eurymedon and Sophocles to inform them of the trouble he was now facing and to request their assistance. The Athenian fleet that was now at Zinchanthos would comply with the request and would set sail for Demosthenes' position.
Speaker 1:At once, the Spartan land forces, with some of their allies, had arrived outside Pylos, while the Peloponnesian fleet had also arrived on the coast. This now saw a plan of attack being devised to take Demosthenes' position. The Spartans were prepared to assault the fortifications, but first took measures to protect their position should the assault fail. They had received word of the Athenian fleet making its way for Pylos, so they wanted to block the entrances to the harbours, making it harder for the fleet to support Demosthenes. To do this, they would occupy the island of Sphacteria, which was just off the coast and lay just across the harbour, creating narrow entrances. This would prevent the Athenians making use of it, while they would block up the entrances, with the ships preventing access to the harbour. If the Spartans achieved this and held their position, they would be able to prevent a naval battle at sea and could effect a surrender of Pylos, with it completely under siege. The Spartan plan would now be implemented, with lots chosen for the men to go over and occupy Sphacteria. It would seem that this plan was put into effect and some time passed, as we would hear that a few parties had completed their spell of duty before we are told the final party of hoplites numbering 420, being sent to take up their turn.
Speaker 1:Meanwhile, in the fortifications at Pylos, demosthenes could see the Spartan preparations on land and at sea developing. He had only limited men and resources to try and protect his position, where the quality of much of his equipment and some of the troops were questionable. However, demosthenes would attempt to use as best he could the resources he had. The ships that had remained with him were brought up on the shore and protected in a stockade where the men who crewed them were now tasked with protecting them. The majority of the best equipped men were placed in the most fortified part of the defensive works that looked out over the land. Their instructions were to meet any attack that would come from the land forces towards the defensive position. Another smaller, heavily armed force with support from some archers also assembled. They would be deployed outside the fortifications, defending against any attempt at landing troops from the sea. The fortifications defending against any attempt at landing troops from the sea.
Speaker 1:Demosthenes had identified a weak point in the defensive works that he thought the Spartans might try to exploit from the seaward side, so looked to try and mitigate this soft spot Once Demosthenes made his defensive plans. He would gather the men together so he could address them with the intention of motivating and encouraging them. Thucydides would record him saying Soldiers and comrades, in this adventure, I hope that none of you in our present strait will think to show his wit by exactly calculating all the perils that encompass us. He then continues on, are for us if we will only stand fast and not throw away our advantage overawed by the numbers of the enemy. He then continues on outlining the elements in the Athenians' favour, such as the difficult nature of the terrain provided and that they do not lose their heads but hold their ground. He addresses the superior numbers of the Peloponnesians, saying that these should not worry them, since only small detachments will be able to engage them at a time. The main point Demosthenes seems to be trying to get across to his men was all they needed to do was to hold their ground and not let panic take over. He would then close with. I therefore consider that his difficulties may be fairly set against our numerical deficiencies. He would then close with to stand his ground and not to be frightened away by the surf and the terrors of the ship sailing in, to stand fast in their present emergency, beat back the enemy at the water's edge and save yourselves and this place.
Speaker 1:With the troops now addressed and morale at its height, they now moved to take up their positions and meet the Spartan attack. The Spartans, having deployed both on land and at sea, were now ready to launch their assault on the fortified positions of Pylos. As Demosthenes had assured his men, the Spartans came up in detachments, with only a few ships being able to come up at a time. However, the Spartans came on with enthusiasm and vigour, with those not engaged cheering them on. Brasidas, the Spartan general we have met before, would distinguish himself during this action. He had command of a trireme where he would motivate the captains to force a landing so they could attack the Athenian position.
Speaker 1:The difficult nature of the coastline had seen the other Spartan captains hesitant at landing their ships for fear of damaging them. However, brasidas urged them on, yelling that they should disregard the safety of their ships. The most important factor was getting their troops ashore and capturing the enemy's forts on their own lands. Even though Brasidas was able to convince the Spartans to run their ships aground and get more men to the shoreline, they would be met with a determined resistance, thucydides would record the moment when Brasidas' ship would come ashore. As he was trying to land, the Athenians fell upon him and, after receiving many wounds, he fainted and fell down into the bows of the ship. However, brasidas would survive and we will be seeing him appear again during the war.
Speaker 1:The other Spartan ships had also continued to follow his example, but even with their determination, they could not force the landing. The ground before them and the Athenians standing strong still proved to greater difficulty in their attempt. It's at this stage in Thucydides' account where he points out an amusing point. He reflects on the situation that the Athenians were fighting a land battle in Spartan territory while the Spartans were in a naval engagement, attempting to force a landing on their own lands, as it was well known during this time that Sparta prided itself on its reputation as a land power and Athens on its sea power status. However, both now found themselves in the other's domain. These attacks would continue for two days, with no progress by the Spartans being made. On the third day, they would abandon this attempt and would switch tact, looking to construct siege engines and attempt a landing on more favourable ground, though, where the walls were more formidable. However, it was during this time that the Athenian fleet that had set out from Sankynthos would arrive on the scene.
Speaker 1:At this stage, the Athenian fleet numbered 50 ships. Having received some reinforcements from Neopactus and Chios, the fleet, when coming in view of the area around Pylos, decided to make their way to a nearby uninhabited island to lay anchor. The site they were met with on the approach to Pylos was one with hoplites occupying the mainland and the enemy ships in the harbour with no signs of sailing out to meet them. With no options to put in at Pylos, the Athenians would need to regroup and plan their next move, so would pass the night on the island of Prote. The next day, the Athenian fleet prepared itself for battle. Their plan was to try and entice the Peloponnesian fleet out into the open waters. However, if they did not do as the Athenians had hoped for, the backup plan called for the fleet to infiltrate the harbour and attack them in there. Though, fortunately for the Athenians, the Spartans had failed to block the entrances with their ships, they had instead been on shore attending to their ships to have them ready for battle.
Speaker 1:The Athenians, seeing this opportunity, now sailed the fleet towards the harbour, splitting the fleet up so they could enter from both entrances, making sure to get their ships in as quickly as possible. The Spartans had become aware of the Athenians' approach and had ordered their crews to get the ships out on the water and meet the threat. By the time the Athenians had entered, the Spartans managed to have the main part of their fleet out in line of battle. Seeing the enemy ships out on the water, the Athenian fleet now fell upon them in strength. This had the result of putting the Peloponnesian fleet to flight, where the Athenians continued to pursue and do what they could in the limited space of the harbour.
Speaker 1:A desperate fight along the shore of the mainland would unfold. After the Athenians had disabled and captured a number of enemy ships, they had then turned to ramming and attempting to capture Peloponnesian ships that had not yet set out from the shore. The Spartan forces on land rushed into the sea in desperation, fully armoured, to try and prevent the ships on the shore being taken. The struggle was equally intense for both sides, with the Spartans trying to prevent the losses of their ships and their men on Sphacteria from being cut off and their men on Sphacteria from being cut off, while the Athenians were trying to take full advantage of their initial victory, with them attempting to disable the entire Peloponnesian fleet, with exhaustion and losses taking their toll on both sides. The engagement was broken off. The Spartans had managed to save their ships on the shoreline, but had lost a number in the initial clash outside the harbour. Athens, though, was able to claim victory in the battle, being able to establish a trophy and controlling terms over returning the Peloponnesian dead. They would also secure the captured ships and wrecks before making their way back to their camp. The result of the battle had now also seen the Spartan troops on Sphacteria cut off from the rest of the forces of the mainland. Athens, seeing this, now patrolled the island to ensure their isolation would continue. The Peloponnesians could do little at this stage just look out over the harbour, seeing the Athenian ships between them and the garrison on Sphacteria.
Speaker 1:With the arrival of the news in Sparta of 420 of their hoplites being cut off, the Spartan government took the situation very seriously. They sent representatives to Pylos so they could assess the situation for themselves and make a judgement on how to proceed. Not long after the arrival of the Spartan officials, they quickly saw that it was going to be impossible to relieve the men on the island. This would then see the Spartan officials seek a truce with the intention of negotiating a larger peace. This point in the war would see one of the biggest surprises when it came to the Spartans' reputation.
Speaker 1:On the surface, it would seem strange that a militaristic state of Sparta would seek peace over the sake of 420 men, though if we look a little deeper in what this meant for Sparta, we can understand their concern. These 420 men on Specteria made up around 10% of the entire Spartan hoplite force, while at least 180 of these Spartans were also from the best families of Sparta. To lose one-tenth of their best forces in one action would be devastating, while for Sparta this would also pose a problem on a societal level. As we have seen, the Spartans, when it came to their citizens, practiced a strict system of eugenics to produce the best male citizens possible. This was a slow process, and if 10% of their male citizens were lost, it would take some time to recover process. And if 10% of their male citizens were lost, it would take some time to recover.
Speaker 1:Athens would accept the truce where they were still able to blockade the island but had agreed not to attack it. Athens would allow rations to be taken over to the men trapped on the island under their supervision. For Sparta's part, they would not attack the fort at Pylos or attempt to send any ships on Sphacteria, while they also agreed to turn over their fleet as hostages to the Athenians. With these terms of the truce in effect, spartan officials would be now transported by an Athenian ship to Athens so that they could engage in peace talks. The truce around Pylos was to remain in effect until the Spartan envoys returned from these talks.
Speaker 1:Athens held the advantage in the terms of the truce. They had control of the Peloponnesian fleet and could decimate the Spartan fighting force. The Spartans were in an unfavourable situation and had to place all their trust in the hope that Athens would honour the terms of the truce, though when it came down to it, sparta had no choice but to accept the terms, given the situation before them In Athens, the Spartan envoys delivered their terms of peace to exist between the two. They conceded to the assembly that Athens had gained the upper hand, though were careful to point out that the fundamental shift in the balance of power had not yet occurred. They therefore advised that Athens should accept peace now that they held the advantage the envoys proposed in exchange for the return of the men from Bacteria, they would enter into an offensive and defensive alliance with Athens. However, no territorial changes were raised, with the implication that Athens would still retain a foothold in the northwest, while also still controlling Aegina. However, this would also mean that Athens would give retain a foothold in the northwest, while also still controlling Aegina. However, this would also mean that Athens would give up any claims on restoring Plataea, since it was still under Peloponnesian control, though the Spartans had been of the assumption that Athens had been wanting to make peace even before the situation at Pylos, so were confident their offer would be accepted.
Speaker 1:However, although on the face of it it seemed this is the peace that Pericles had been seeking through his period, sparta had shown that they still believe they were the preeminent power in Greece. Pericles had wanted to convince Sparta that they did not have the power to defeat Athens. Sparta's belief was that they still did have this power, but currently they were in a disadvantageous position. With this thinking on Sparta's behalf, the Athenians could see that if a peace were settled on, it was unlikely it would survive. In all likelihood, they would end up in the power struggle that had occurred in the lead up to the war. With this in the backs of the Athenians' minds. Along with the current situation, the Athenians saw they could seek more.
Speaker 1:In the backs of the Athenians' minds, along with the current situation, the Athenians saw they could seek more in the way of concessions. Cleon would address the assembly and convince them that they should deliver the following terms in response to the Spartans, as Thucydides would record First, the men should surrender themselves in their arms and be brought back to Athens. Then Sparta must give back Nicaea, pegae, trozen and Achaea, all of which places had not been conquered in the war but had been given up by Athens in the terms of the previous peace treaty, which had been made at the time a difficulty when Athens was in much greater need of peace than she was at the moment. To this, sparta wanted to negotiate in private with a committee, though Cleon would begin to accuse them of ill intentions due to wanting the negotiations to be surrounded in secrecy. He would tell them that if they had honourable intentions, they should present them in the open to the assembly. Now, however, the Spartans would choose not to say anything further and would break off discussions. In the end, they were not willing to discuss the possible betrayal of their allies in public.
Speaker 1:With the breakdown of the peace talks would also come a breakdown in the terms of the truce. The Spartans would request the return of their ships, as had been arranged, once the truce had ended. However, the Athenians would argue that the Spartans had breached the terms of the truce with the supposed attack on the walls of Pylos, while also citing some other technicalities. The Spartans denied the accusations and made formal protests, though ultimately they would head back to Pylos to prepare for continued fighting. Hostilities would once again continue, with the Athenians ensuring that Sphacteria would remain isolated. During the days, the Athenians would have two ships sail around the island in opposite directions, keeping up a constant patrol. During the nights, they would deploy the whole fleet anchored around the island, maintaining a picket On the mainland. The Spartans continued their attacks against the walls of Pylos, though always looking out for opportunities to reach the men of Sphacteria.
Speaker 1:The Athenians had expected the Spartans to surrender on Sphacteria in short time, as the island was a desert with no food and only brackish water available to drink. However, the Spartans would hold out devising ways to overcome these challenges. They had offered great rewards to men and freedom to helots if they could cross the blockade and deliver food and water. Many risked it all to gain these rewards, and enough of them would make it through, taking advantage of the darkness and favourable winds to the, where they would keep the Spartans from being starved into surrender. In fact, the blockade continued on for longer than expected, so that the Athenians themselves were beginning to suffer from lack of provisions. As time went on, without the Spartans capitulating, morale also began to suffer. During this prolonged engagement, the Athenians only had access to a small spring and pylos, while their camp and the conditions they operated in were very cramped.
Speaker 1:Back in Athens, the news of the hardships faced and the situation with Sparta were being followed closely. They had started to become worried with the fleet's condition and Sparta's determination as more time passed. They feared that if a siege did not end soon in their favour, they would have to break it off as winter approached, while thoughts of regret were also starting to enter some men's minds over not accepting the earlier Spartan terms. Starting to enter some men's minds over not accepting the earlier Spartan terms. Some had believed that Sparta's unwillingness to continue negotiations and their failure to surrender was due to factors Athens had not anticipated this. They saw as Sparta, believing they were in a strong position. Opinion in Athens was now growing against Cleon, who had pushed for harsher terms for Sparta.
Speaker 1:It was also around this time that Demosthenes had sent a proposal to the Assembly to request reinforcements, with the intention of taking Sphacteria and forcing a surrender through arms. His plan would see him look to employ light troops, as he had done in his previous campaign. Many of these troops were ready and waiting in Athens, while more could be called upon from their allies. Cleon would advocate for Demosthenes' request. It was in his interest to do so. He had been the loudest proponent of rejecting Sparta's offer and would certainly be held accountable if Sparta was able to rescue their men.
Speaker 1:Opposition had also developed during the assembly, with Nicias, who favoured a negotiated peace with Sparta, arguing against the reinforcements. He thought capturing the Spartans would just inflame tensions further and see Athens emboldened to take a more aggressive approach in the war. He wanted to delay the reinforcements long enough in the hope that some sort of arrangement could be made. Enough in the hope that some sort of arrangement could be made. In the end, the reinforcements would be agreed to, though not before a series of challenges from the Assembly, cleon and Nicias would take place. I don't want to get too bogged down in these exchanges as they will take a fair bit of time and we still have a bit to cover, though these would centre around Cleon calling the men coming from Pylos liars because of the situation they reported. He would be challenged to go see the situation for himself and report back. Cleon would point to this as being a waste of time and instead put focus back on dispatching reinforcements right away, it seems. Then Nicias was given command of this fleet that was to be sent, but after some more games from Cleon he would end up commanding the reinforcements, perhaps down the track. We will look at this episode in more detail when we look at the rivalry between Cleon and Nicias, but for the meantime you can see the whole exchange in Thucydides' work, book 4, from paragraph 27.
Speaker 1:Cleon would set out with his fleet taking Lemnian and Imbrium troops, peltus Romanos and 400 archers from various cities. With this force, and what awaited him at Pylos? He pledged that within 20 days he would either bring back the Spartans as captives or kill them on the spot. Cleon had also named Demosthenes as his co-general. Since he had put forward the plan that Cleon got behind, he also named Demosthenes as his co-general, since he had put forward the plan that Cleon got behind. Word was sent to Demosthenes at Pylos that reinforcements were on their way and Cleon departed with his fleet very soon after.
Speaker 1:Demosthenes appears to have favoured the idea of landing troops on the island even before the request of the reinforcing light troops, though he had initially been wary about sending his troops to land there. Sphacteria was heavily wooded and the Athenians were not aware of the positions and size of the Spartan force, leading Demosthenes to think his forces could easily be ambushed when landing. However, some undisciplined action by some Athenian troops would end up leading to a fortunate outcome for Demosthenes. Due to the cramped living quarters of the Athenians, a few soldiers decided to head to the tip of Facteria where they could prepare a meal and, for once, enjoy it. Supposedly, they had selected an area that would prevent them being surprised, but only permitted the landing of a small number of men. Somehow, in their preparations of their meal, parts of the wooded areas caught fire and, with it not noticed in time, it spread quickly with the wind coming up. The result was that just about the entire wooded area of the island was consumed by fire by the next day, the concealment that the Spartans had enjoyed was now completely gone and Demosthenes was able to see the entire Spartan force and avenues of approach that had previously been hidden to him.
Speaker 1:Now, more confident, demosthenes began to plan for an assault of the island, while during these preparations, clown would arrive with the light troops that would be instrumental to Demosthenes' plan. While the preparations were being made, the generals sent an envoy to the Spartans on the mainland to see if they would come to a settlement, which involved surrender of the men of the island with their arms. This attempt at diplomacy was rejected, so preparations for the landing went ahead. The next night, the forces were embarked on the ships that would carry them to the island, where they would make for the sites on both the harbour side and the seaward side of the island. An advanced force of around 800 would land just before dawn, where they would wipe out a small group of 30 Spartans near the coast. They had been caught by surprise, not being alarmed at the ships, since this had become a normal sight through the night. The rest of the Spartan force was stationed near the centre of the island, protecting the only water supply. Once they had broken, the rest of the Spartan force was stationed near the centre of the island, protecting the only water supply. Once they had broken, the rest of the Athenians had landed on the island. This seeing around 800 hoplites, 800 archers, over 2,000 light troops now on the island, while they would also be supported by 8,000 of the rowers that had come over. That had come over.
Speaker 1:Demosthenes' plan had these troops divided up into companies of 200 men where they would move out and occupy high points around the island. This would result in seeing the Spartans having enemies in all directions. This deployment would also see that if the Spartans attacked one point, they would face the crossfire from other companies nearby. The fundamental idea for the Athenians was not to directly engage the Spartans but attack from a distance. For once, the Hoplites were providing the supporting role, defending the light troops if the need arose. The Spartan force would learn the Athenian strategy the hard way as they tried to engage the Athenians deployed with the Hoplites in the centre of their company, ranged troops in the rear and light troops on the flank. The Athenians would hold their ground as the Spartans advanced the whole time, being peppered with missiles and harassed on the flanks by the light troops If the light troops didn't get close enough to engage the Spartan hoplites, they would be routed, but the Spartans lacked the ability to pursue these light troops in the rough terrain. Ultimately, this tactic employed by Demosthenes would check the Spartan advances.
Speaker 1:With the continued skirmishing, the Spartan forces started to become noticeably tired, which made the Athenian forces even more confident. This was when the Athenians now started taking the fight to the Spartans. The light troops would rush up, shouting and hurling javelins, arrows and stones at the Spartans from all directions. After not too long, great clouds of dust would be on all sides of the Spartans, who were now effectively blinded and unable to attack or defend effectively, with confusion all round them and their casualties piling up. Those who could withdrew back to the fort that had been constructed not far up north on the island, all the while, the light troops harassed them.
Speaker 1:Once the Spartans were inside the confines of their fort, the Athenians had a much harder time assaulting them. Whenever and wherever the Athenians attacked, the Spartans were able to repulse them due to the nature of the ground they were defending. Attacked, the Spartans were able to repulse them due to the nature of the ground they were defending. The terrain in this location also prevented the Athenians attacking the Spartan rear or flanks. They could only make frontal assaults, with the Spartans on the defensive and the Athenians unable to dislodge them. A stalemate now developed With this.
Speaker 1:The Mycenaean commander came to Cleon and Demosthenes requesting some archers and light troops to make a trek through the rough ground to where they could end up in the enemy's rear. The request was granted and the light force was able to traverse the ground undetected to where they would emerge on the high ground in the Spartan rear. This now saw the defenders threatened from both sides to where Thucydides would compare the situation to the 300 Spartans on the last day at Thermopylae. With the Spartans now taking fire from the rear and having to resist the main Athenian force from the front, nau began to give way and retreated. The exhaustion, lack of food and water had also taken its toll, contributing to the breakdown of discipline and morale. The Athenians were now in a position to where they could effectively wipe out the Spartans, though Cleon and Demosthenes would call a halt to the battle. The thinking here was that they wanted to take the Spartans alive, as they would be worth much more to the Athenians as hostages. A proclamation was made to the exhausted defenders and, with hearing the offer, most of them lowered their shields.
Speaker 1:Negotiations for surrender began to take place on the island. However, the Spartans wanted to send back to the mainland to get advice on how to proceed. The Athenians would not allow any Spartans to leave the island, so called the Spartans to send heralds from the mainland. Messages were carried back and forward for some time, to where, finally, a herald returned to the trapped Spartans with the message the Spartans bid you to decide for yourselves so long as you do nothing dishonourable.
Speaker 1:Being completely exhausted and demoralised, the Spartans opted for a different approach than that of their ancestors at Thermopylae 55 years earlier. To the shock of the Greek world, the Spartan forces surrendered themselves and their arms to the Athenians. In all the 420 Spartans that began the defence, 228 would survive and be taken into Athenian captivity. Of these would be 120 Spartiites. The blockade of Sphacteria had lasted 72 days and, with the Spartan surrender on the island would also end the standoff at Pylos. Both the Athenians and Spartans would withdraw and make their way back to their cities.
Speaker 1:Though the Athenians still retained control of the fort at Pylos, it appears the situation had greatly changed. The Athenians felt they had a large enough bargaining chip, while the Spartans had much to discuss and come to terms with. As Thucydides writes, nothing that happened in the war surprised the Hellenes so much as this. It was the general opinion that no force or famine could make the Spartans give up their arms, but that they would fight on as they could and die with them in their hands.
Speaker 1:The Athenians' intention was to keep the captured Spartans until a peace was negotiated to end the war. However, they also served as a deterrent to the Spartans from attacking Attica, should they invade. The Spartan prisoners would be brought out and put to death for the invaders to see. Meanwhile, at Pylos, mycenaeians from Neopactus would return to their old lands and begin mounting incursions into Lyconia where they could. This would now see helots begin deserting and raise concerns of a revolt marching in Spartan lands. This would become a serious matter for the Spartans who had, in living memory, already dealt with a major helot revolt. Attempts would be made to try and recover Pylos and to capture Sparta diplomatically with Athens. However, athens, in the position they were now, kept seeking more and more in the terms of peace. One after another, each Spartan envoy sent to try and effect the terms would be sent away and no peace would be forthcoming for now.