Teaser: Themistocles Pt 3 (Patreon)

This is a teaser of the bonus episode, "Themistocles Pt 3 found over on Patreon.

Themistocles doesn’t just “win” the Battle of Salamis, he engineers the conditions that make winning possible. We pick up the story with Athens’ high-stakes decision to pour wealth and politics into sea power, expanding to a fleet of triremes that will soon face Xerxes’ massive second Persian invasion. Along the way, we talk through how Themistocles steers Athenian thinking, including his influence on how the Oracle of Delphi is understood, and why the Hellenic League’s unity is always more fragile than the legend suggests.

From Artemisium to Salamis, the episode tracks the ugly mechanics of coalition warfare: commanders who want to withdraw, rival cities protecting their own interests, and a strategy debate that becomes personal. We walk through Themistocles’ most important arguments for fighting in narrow waters, his confrontation with the Corinthian commander Adimantus, and the pressure he puts on Eurybiades by reminding everyone that the Athenian fleet is the keystone of Greek defense.

Then comes the turning point: when persuasion won’t hold the alliance together, Themistocles acts in secret. We unpack the Sicinnus message, how it tempts Xerxes into blocking the straits, and how Aristides’ return confirms the trap has closed. The result is a decisive naval victory at Salamis, followed by messy post-battle politics, Themistocles’ brief celebrity, and hints of the backlash that soon pushes him into the background until his next dramatic chapter.

If you enjoy deep dives on ancient history, Greek strategy, the Persian Wars, and the leadership choices behind famous battles, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the series.

Transcript

Welcome Back And Part Three

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Hello and welcome back to an exponent episode here on Patreon, where we'll continue with our look at Themistocles in part three of his life. In our previous episode, we saw Themistocles became the leading political figure in Athens after the ostracism of four hundred eighty two BC, seeing Alcibiades removed from the picture. This had also resolved what was essentially a referendum between investing in Athens' fleet or land forces. The fleet had been chosen, but the decision would have consequences, both good and bad, politically, economically, and militarily, heading into the future. However, for now, Athens would at once begin its shipbuilding project that would see the Athenian fleet grow to two hundred triremes. Themistocles had used the war with Aegina to argue for the fleet he wished Athens to build, but its first major function would be against a far greater threat. The Persians had been preparing a second invasion into Greece, and after ten years from Marathon, Xerxes would launch the largest army west yet seen in the ancient world. Athens would prepare along with the other Greek polis wishing to resist the invasion. Demistocles, featuring as one of the head figures in Athenian politics, helping shape Athens' response. He was instrumental in convincing

From Aegina To Xerxes’ Invasion

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the Athenians on interpreting the Oracle of Delphi's prophecy as he saw it, this seeing the fleet used as Athens' main defence. After the Greeks wishing to defend their lands came together in what was called the Hellenic League, they then agreed on common policies to unite themselves in the common defence of their lands. This would involve resolving into Greek rivalries, seeking further allies, intelligence gathering, and finally a physical plan of defense. An abortive attempt to mount a resistance far north into Thessaly, which Themistocles helped command failed, when the Greeks saw the position there did not favour them. Finally, the Hellenic League would send land forces to the pass of Thermopylae and a fleet to Artemisium to defend the choke points the Persians would have to navigate. Themistocles was commanding the Athenian contingent at Artemisium and had initially resorted to bribery to keep the Greeks in place when the main part of the fleet wanted to withdraw after seeing the scale of the Persians at sea. The defence would last three days, where although winning the tactical battles, the Greeks were losing the attritional one.

Artemisium Bribes And Strategic Withdrawal

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When the Greeks withdrew from their position, Themistocles would leave messages behind for the Ionians and Carrion Greeks of Xerxes' force to find. The messages urged them not to fight their own kind, but, if compelled, they should fight poorly. The idea was that the Ionians would find these messages and follow what was said, but it was also hoped that the Persians would become aware and begin to not trust the Greek contingents within their own ranks. The Greeks would withdraw back to Salamis, with Themistocles convincing the Peloponnesians to stop there so the evacuation of Athens could be carried out. Themistocles wanted to give battle from this location, while the Peloponnesians wanted to withdraw further back. Debates would take place, where, in an uncharacteristic episode, Themistocles would leave a council of war silent, where a planned withdrawal of the fleet had been decided. However, after some truths from a fellow Athenian, Themistocles would recover his fiery resolve and would convince the overall commander, Eurybiades, to hold another council that he could address. Eurybiades, convinced by Themistocles, would call for a council of war to converge once again that night, due to the urgency of the matter Themistocles had presented. Once all commanders had been assembled, Themistocles would almost at once launch into his speech before Eurybiades could address them of the purpose of being called once again. Addressing the other commanders, Themistocles didn't use the same line of argument he had with Eurybiades. Instead of bringing up the breaking of the fleet if they retreated, which in turn could have been taken as an accusation of cowardice or self preservation, he instead looked to try and show what could be achieved and presented two outcomes. Themistocles would argue that the fleet would see glory if it

Winning The Council At Salamis

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were to stay at Salamis and fight together. Knowing that the majority wanted to withdraw back to the Peloponnese, he would then present two scenarios to them. Herodotus lays these out as follows. Let me put the two plans before you, and you can weigh them up and see which is better. Take the Isthmus first. If you fight there, it will have to be in the open sea, and that would be greatly to our disadvantage. With our smaller numbers and slower ships. Moreover, even if everything goes well, you will lose Salamis, Megara, and Aegina. Again, if the enemy fleet comes south, the army will follow it, so you yourself will be responsible for drawing it into the Peloponnese, thus putting the whole of Greece in peril. Herodus then continues with Themistocles' second option and what he recommends. Now for my plan, it will bring, if you adopt it, the following advantages. First we shall be fighting in narrow waters, and there with our inferior numbers we shall win, providing things go as we may reasonably expect. Fighting in a confined space favours us, but the open sea favours the enemy. Secondly, Salamis, where we have put our women and children, will be preserved. And thirdly, for the most important point of all, you will be fighting in the defence of the Peloponnese, by remaining here just as much by withdrawing to the Isthmus. During his speech, he would be attacked by the Corinthian commander, Adimentus, who Herodotus seems to use as a counter to Themistocles' designs in the League. His attack would insist that Themistocles does not get to say in matters, as he is a man without a country and just a mere refugee, referring to the Persians having already captured Athens. With this retort, Themistocles no longer found himself concerned with not offending the other commanders. He would abuse Adimentus and the Corinthians, informing them that Athens, while it still had two hundred warships, was still a city and a country much stronger than theirs, as there was not a single Greek city that could repel them if they chose to attack. With that, Themistocles, sick of dealing with the Corinthians, then turned to the man with the final decision, Eurybiades, and spoke to him in much harsher terms than he had originally. He would virtually give Eurybiades an ultimatum. As for you, Themistocles would say, addressing Eurybiades, if you stay here and play the man, well and good. Go, and you will be the ruin of Greece. In this war everything depends upon the fleet. I beg you to take my advice. We will immediately put our families aboard and sail for Sirius in Italy. It has long been ours, and the oracles have foretold that the Athenians must live there some day. Where will you be without the Athenian fleet? When you have lost it, you will remember my words. This heated council of war would end up seeing Eurybiades over all his fellow Peloponnesian allies. As he could clearly see that they stood no chance without the Athenian fleet, if it departed Greek waters, the League's fleet would be less than half its strength. With that, orders were now given for the contingents to prepare themselves to fight the Persians where they were. However, this would not be the end of matters, with the Corinthians and others still severely opposed to staying. After the Council of War had ended, with Eurybiades' decision to remain, discontent within the Peloponnesian contingents almost immediately surfaced. Herodotus' account highlights that they were fearful of their homelands, and then being away from them. Further reinforcing his fear would be the sight of the Persian army marching at night, with its lit torches heading in the direction of the Corinthian Isthmus, the gateway to the Peloponnese. Initially the criticisms levelled at Eurobiades remained a whisper between like-minded commanders, though it wasn't long, with more men hearing these whispers and also dissatisfied with the Eurybiades, that they turned to open resentment. With this resentment out in the open, Themistocles had also heard what was spreading around the camp, and realized that Eurybiades was being undermined. It appeared, with the pressure developing, he would be placed in a position where he would have to take the side of the other Peloponnesians. Themistocles could see that the time for attempting to talk and reason and persuade others to remain and fight had passed. He would now need to take matters into his own hands and force the other members of the Hellenic League into fighting at Salamis. Themistocles had come up with a plan that he would enact behind the backs of the other commanders. To set the plan in motion, he would take his most trusted household servant, Siconus, aside and have him play a major part in delivering the bait to the Persians, who were needed to play the role of fulfilling Themistocles' desire to fight in place. The plan involved Siconus travelling by small boat at night to the Persian shore, to where he would seek an audience with the Persian commanders. Themistocles had armed him with what he was to tell

Sicinnus’ Ruse And The Blockade

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the Persians, though it is unclear if he was aware it was all a ruse, or, had Themistocles allowed Siconus, believed he was engaging in treachery. The mission was a dangerous one, the crossing of the straits into the open water in a small ship at night was risky enough, but how would the Persians react to his appearance? Would he be killed at the shore? Would he be tortured? Perhaps a reason Themistocles might not want him to know it was all a ruse. Also, after he completed his mission, would the Persians allow him to return back to the Greeks? Sycodus made it safely to the Persian shore, and made the Persians he first encountered aware that he was carrying a message from the Greek commander, Pherxes. The Persians would escort Siconus to where he was able to deliver the message he was carrying. Herodotus records what was supposed to have been sent by Themistocles. I have been sent here by the commander of the Athenians, without the knowledge of the other Hellenes, for he happens to favour the cause of the king and want your side to prevail over the Hellenes. I have come to tell you that the Hellenes are utterly terrified, and are planning to flee, and that you now have the opportunity to perform the most glorious of all feats, if you do not stand by and watch them escape, for they are in great disagreement with one another, and will not stand up to you. Indeed, you will see them fighting a naval battle against themselves, those favouring your side opposing those who do not. With this message delivered, he was then allowed to return to his ship and make his way back to Themistocles. For Xerxes, the message had contained information that would have been pleasing to him. He had wanted to attack, and the message confirmed to him that this was the right course of action, given the disunity within the Greek ranks. However, the message also placed some urgency on the launch of his fleet, as it appeared that the Greeks were attempting to slip away again very soon. For Themistocles, he would have had a nervous wait to see if the bait he laid would be taken. He had the message delivered, but he would only know for certain if Xerxes took it once Persian fleet began moving. Xerxes would take the bait and did not want to see the Greeks slip away from his fleet once again. During the night he had his fleet move out and blocked the exits of the straits between Salamis and Attica. While this was taking place, the Greek commanders had once again met, where it seems Eurobiades was being given ultimatums from the other Peloponnesians, who finally had enough of orders to remain on Salamis. Themistocles was also present during these debates, taking place where he could see that it wouldn't be long before Eurybiades would most probably bow to his fellow Peloponnesians. However, he would receive a message to come away from the meeting, where his presence was requested. Aristides, who had been ostracized, had come over from Aegina. Those important figures exiled had been recalled due to the current emergency. Aristides had narrowly evaded capture as he navigated his way through the Persian fleet blockading Salamis. He met with Themistocles and reported what he had seen. For Themistocles, this was confirmation that his bait had been taken, and he could now be at ease that the Greek fleet would be fighting at Salamis. The news was then presented to the other commanders, with Themistocles insisting Aristides presented, as he assumed they would disbelieve whatever he would say. Even with this, they failed to take what Aristides said seriously, until some deserters from the Persians arrived on Salamis, who confirmed the reports. With that, the condigent commanders accepted the position they were in, and saw that their only option was now to fight. The next morning the Greek fleet had been made ready to meet the Persians in battle. Herodotus reports that Themistocles would address his ships before they set sail to engage. However, he doesn't tell us what he said. He just says Themistocles gave the finest speech there. The whole burden of what he said was a comparison of all that was the best and worst in human nature and fortune, and an exhortation to the men to choose the better. With that the Greek fleet would head out and

Salamis Victory And League Politics

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engage the Persians in the narrow straits of Salamis. With the narrow waters firmly at an advantage of the Greeks, they gained a decisive victory of the Persian fleet. This victory would see the Persians would no longer pose a threat on the water. Their fleet would end up falling back to the Anatolian coast, though the Persian army would remain in Greek lands. After the victory of Salamis, the Hellenic League held a meeting at Corinth, where they celebrated their success over the Persians. Here they would place votes for individual achievement during the battle. All the generals would vote for themselves as first place, their honour seeing that they could not overlook themselves. This would result in no one receiving the award, as everyone ended up with the same number of votes. However, in second place would be Themistocles, this perhaps indicating who they knew was deserving of the award, as many would place his name second after voting for themselves. Sparta had also realized the important role Athens' fleet played in their security, and with Themistocles being its influential leader, he was invited to Sparta and celebrated. It's unclear the real motives here by Sparta. Were they truly thankful for his involvement in seeing the defeat of the Persian fleet? Were they attempting to massage his ego to make an ally with Athens to assist their relations and gain favour in their politics? Or perhaps a bit of both. Whatever the motivations though, it would appear that Sparta would make Themistocles quite a celebrity, especially on the Peloponnese, where Plutarch provides an antidote of Themistocles' appearance at the next Olympic Games. When Themistocles entered the stadium, the audience neglected the contestants all day long to gaze on him, and pointed him out with admiring applause, to visiting strangers, so that he too was delighted, and confessed to his friends that he was now reaping in full measure of the harvest of his toils in behalf of Hellas. The spring and summer of four hundred seventy nine would see Themistocles fade into the historical background. This was when the decisive battles of Plataea and Macalay would take place. However, he would not be commanding the fleet during this period. The Athenian Xanthippus would be commanding the Athenian contingent. The ancient sources are very quiet on him during this period, and even why he did not retain command going into 479. It has been surmised from the ancient accounts, after his success of Salamis and preceding celebrity status, that he may have fallen out of favour within Athens.

Celebrity, Silence, And Final Tease

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As we have seen, the people had the power to re-elect political figures into leading positions, so it would appear the people had reason to overlook him during that year's elections. With some ancient sources placing an emphasis on Themistocles letting the praise from the Peloponnesians go to his head, which then saw his own people becoming somewhat tired of him. Perhaps it would be a combination of other Athenian politicians becoming jealous of him, and Themistocles forgetting Athens was bigger than any one man. Now, I had anticipated wrapping up our look at Themistocles in this episode, but it became clear that I would really need to skim over some aspects, which would not have been consistent with the past two episodes. So I decided to have this one focus on his time during the Greek and Persian War. Platayra McCalay would be fought and won by the Hellenic League, and although Themistocles fades into the background, it does seem likely that he would have been present in the fighting that took place in those battles. However, he would re-emerge in the historical record after the Greek and Persian War, and it is this period that we'll cover in the fourth and final episode of Themistocles, where we will look at his rise back into favour, his involvement in the rebuilding of Athens, his fall, exile, and then his later life in Persia, his death, and finally a quick look at his descendants. Thank you all for your continued support here on Patreon. I greatly appreciate it. I hope you look forward to our fourth and hopefully final episode where we look at the life of Themistocles.