Teaser: Themistocles Pt 4

Athens wins at Salamis, but what happens when the man most associated with that victory becomes politically untouchable? We close out our Themistocles series by following the messy aftermath of the Persian Wars, where glory fades fast and the real fight becomes reputation, alliances, and survival inside Athenian democracy.

We walk through Themistocles’ return to power and his vision for rebuilding Athens with the future in mind, especially the push for fortifications and the long shadow of Spartan rivalry. The centerpiece is the diplomatic gamble that defines his style: stalling and misleading Sparta just long enough for Athens to complete its walls, turning a disputed plan into an irreversible fact. From there we track the next phase of Athenian maritime strategy, including the Piraeus as the key harbor and the drive to keep the trireme fleet growing, the foundation of Athenian naval power in the Aegean.

Then the floor drops out. Political enemies capitalize on stories of arrogance, rule-bending, and alleged Persian connections tied to the Pausanias affair. We follow the ostracism, the escape across Greece, and the moment Themistocles chooses the unthinkable path: seeking refuge in the Persian Empire. At Artaxerxes’ court he remakes himself again, earns favor, and governs Magnesia, before the story ends with competing accounts of his death and a lingering legacy that reaches back to Athens and forward through his descendants.

If you enjoyed this deep dive into Themistocles, Athenian politics, and Greek history after the Persian Wars, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What part of his rise and fall feels most familiar today?

Transcript

Series Recap And Where We Land

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Hello and welcome back to our next bonus episode here on Patreon for June 2026, where we'll be finishing up our look on Themistocles. So what had originally been intended as a single episode look into the life of Themistocles is now entering its fourth installment. We had begun the miniseries by looking at the early life of Themistocles, where ancient historians even had a hard time working out which stories that were floating around were true or not. We got a picture of a man who came from a family with no notable connections to the noble class. His character in childhood would be reported to mirror that of his character in later life, somewhat rough around the edges and prepared to tackle issues using unconventional means, or perhaps sometimes what might be described as questionable means. He was a figure who, from an early age, was interested in political life, brushing aside any other pursuits he recognised as not advancing him towards his goal. We would then see his entry into political life in Athens and the rivalry he would develop with Aristides. This would see him put forward a policy that would come to define Athens' future and turn the city into a maritime power. In our second episode, we would see Themistocles win out in what had effectively become a referendum on his policy for the construction of a fleet. This had now placed him in a position where he had risen to heights that allowed him to influence the direction of Athens. In this period, there would also be the looming threat of a second Persian invasion. This being a threat he anticipated and saw Athens' new navy would be instrumental in defeating. We would see him become involved in the preparations to meet the coming Persian invasion and the complexities of a united Greek league working together. At the Greeks' first line of defence at Artemisium, Themistocles would resort to bribery to ensure that the Greeks would stay and fight. The Battle of Artemisium would last three days before the Greeks would be forced to withdraw, due to attritional combat not being in their favour, even though they were winning tactical victories. In our third episode, we saw the Greek fleet making for Salamis, where Athens was evacuating its city in the face of the Persian advance over land. Here the Greek defence risked breaking apart, with the Peloponnesian contingents wanting to fall back even further, which would result in a number of the League's members losing their cities to the Persians. Themistocles would then take measures to try and force the Greeks to stand and fight at Salamis. Initially, he would attempt to persuade the commanders and even resort to threats of Athens' departing Greek waters for good, leaving the others to fight for themselves. With the overall commander changing his mind a number of times, Themistocles saw that he would need to take matters into his own hands. He would arrange a tactic that would convince Xerxes to make a move and prevent the Greek departure from Salamis. His trick would pay off and see the Greeks fight the Battle of Salamis, and ultimately win a decisive naval battle, ending the offensive power of the Persian Navy. In the final year of the second Persian invasion, Themistocles would fade into the political background, but with the victory over the Persians, he would soon emerge again to influence Athens' political life. This then brings us to our current position, and for our final episode on Themistocles, we will cover his rise once again in favour, his involvement in the rebuilding of Athens, his fall, exile, and later life in Persia, his death, and finally a quick look at his descendants. So as we saw last episode, Themistocles had fallen out of favour with the Athenians, in the wake of the victory at Salamis. Obviously, the Athenians were happy with the result, but from the vague accounts of this period, it would appear their issue was with the man himself and how he carried himself afterward. It also appears jealousy had set in, as many other political figures would not have liked seeing Themistocles celebrated in the way he was. However, the point that would see his rivals able to take advantage of the situation was when other cities were celebrating him to an even

Losing Favor Then Winning It Back

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greater degree. Here they would have been able to bring into question his loyalties and where they lay. If this was the case, it had seen the people vote others in over Themistocles in the next round of elections. However, it would appear that the potential allegations made against him did not hold up to too much rigour among the people. As in the following round of elections, Themistocles would find himself elected back in, and, as Diodorus would write, he enjoyed the highest favour among the people. Again, we don't have much information on what was happening behind the scenes, but I wonder if the loss of favour for a period and then his reappointment was the result of a political battle between those opposed to Themistocles and the people who had benefited from his reforms. So after this short period of being absent from political life, Themistocles would find himself back in a position of political importance, which would continue for nearly the rest of the decade. With Themistocles back in Athenian politics, one of the first post-war projects he was involved in was the rebuilding of Athens. This was the start of the rebuilding projects that would continue into Pericles' time, and the ruins atop the Acropolis today are the remains of these. For Themistocles, the rebuilding of the city was not a simple replacement of what had been destroyed, but an opportunity to rebuild Athens with a view towards the future. Part of this vision involved constructing fortifications to protect the city from any future Persian threats,

Rebuilding Athens And Outplaying Sparta

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but also, probably more at the forefront of his thinking, was the possibility of potential enemies within Greece, such as Sparta. We had seen throughout the series how Athens and Sparta recognized after the victory in 479 that they were heading in different strategic directions. Sparta had actively pushed for the idea that no area north of the Isthmus should be fortified, with their argument citing Xerxes' invasion and how the Persians had been able to make use of these fortifications against the Greeks. Although Sparta was using the defense of Greece as an argument based on recent events, it is also clear to see how this lack of fortifications in the north would be to an advantage to Sparta in internal Greek geopolitics. Athens was not the only city that could see the interests of the two main powers on the mainland were heading in different directions. Themistocles was fully aware of the Spartans' displeasure at Athens constructing fortifications, so he would do what Themistocles did best and begin leading them down the garden path. In Athens, after the assembly had agreed to Themistocles' construction plans, they would, at his urging, build the planned fortifications as quickly as possible. In the meantime, he'd arranged envoys to address the Spartans' concerns, where the Athenians informed the Spartans that no construction of fortifications was taking place. It was urged during these discussions that the Spartans should send envoys of their own to see Athens for themselves. Sparta took up this offer, and by the time they arrived in Athens, the fortifications had been completed. On the surface, this diplomatic episode between Athens and Sparta seems odd. Given the Spartans were eventually going to see the walls anyway, why bother deceiving them in the first place? Well, it appears that the deception was never intended to be permanent. Themistocles only needed to delay Spartan action long enough for Athens to reach a point where the walls could not realistically be stopped. Themistocles was attempting to reduce the options open to Sparta and its protests over the Athenians' fortifications. Before the project was complete, Sparta could send formal demands that construction cease. They could attempt to apply diplomatic pressure through the Peloponnesian League and could even resort to military intervention. Once the walls were subsequently complete, however, these options became far more costly and difficult. The Spartans would be faced not with preventing a wall, but with demanding its demolition. Themistocles appears to have understood that states often react differently to a completed reality than a proposed one. Before the construction, Sparta could argue that the fortifications threatened the common interests of Greece, while Athens was still vulnerable to pressure. After their construction, the fortifications were a tangible reality, where destroying them would require confrontation with a fellow victor in the Persian Wars. While still in a favoured position throughout the 470s, Themistocles would also return to the task of Athens' naval policy, where he would take measures to see Athens' fleet and power at sea grow further. He had identified the Piraeus as being a far better harbour for Athens due to its size compared to the current one. If Athens were going to maintain this large fleet in Greece, its facilities needed to keep pace as well. He had also proposed that Athens put in place measures to ensure that twenty new triremes would continue to be built each year. Themistocles

The Piraeus Plan And Naval Expansion

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could see that, through his plan, Athens would exert Athenian influence further into the Aegean than ever before, thanks to the defeat of the Persians. However, this was also a plan that he did not want the Spartans learning of until it had been carried out. Themistocles did not want to disclose his plans to the people of Athens also, as he feared Sparta would learn of them. He therefore went to the assembly and asked the Athenians to appoint trusted representatives to hear the proposals privately. These men would then decide whether it should be implemented. Supposedly two rivals of Themistocles were chosen, Aristides and Xenphippus, who would go back to the people after hearing the plan, reassuring them that it was of great importance, and would be an advantage to Athens. However, it would be these types of examples, where he acted outside the usual lines, that would lay the seeds for his eventual downfall. His enemies would be able to use these instances to convince the people that he was acting outside of the democracy and attempting to gain power in his own right. Though before opinion would turn against him, he was also able to encourage more trade into Athens by giving tax breaks to merchants and artisans. We also hear from Plutarch, feeding into Themistocles' more cunning side, that he had put forward the idea that to further ensure Athenian naval dominance, Athens should burn the beach ships of the other Allied fleets. Supposedly Aristides, along with the council, would overrule this idea, but again we need to keep in mind that this is Plutarch relaying stories, and he is known to have his accounts fit the reported character of his subjects. By the end of the decade, it was clear Themistocles had fallen from the favoured position he had enjoyed. It's difficult to say for sure what caused this decline in opinion, but looking at the ancient sources, it appears to have been a combination of factors, first stemming from his celebrity status, his unconventional means of getting the job done, as well as his character. It's clear that Themistocles had built up his fair share of political enemies, in Athens, with his rise in popularity. As we have seen throughout Athenian history, having enemies while in politics was just part of the job.

Rivals Close In With Treason Claims

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For someone with his character and rapid rise in popularity, Themistocles probably had more than his fair share. There would be many accounts and passing remarks made about his arrogance, with jealousy also at play, especially after his rise in politics. Themistocles' biggest rival would become Chimon, the son of Miltiades. We would even hear that the Spartans themselves would promote him as a counter to Themistocles. We had seen that Themistocles had been celebrated by the Spartans after Salamis, but it appears, as the decade went on, he had become involved in matters that went against Spartan interests. One example we hear of is when the council of the Amphitionic League, an ancient religious group, Themistocles would oppose motions from the Spartans to exclude from the alliance any city that had not taken part in the fighting against the Persians. Themistocles feared that since the majority of those who fought the Persians in the Hellenic League were aligned with Sparta, the Amphitionic League would eventually become controlled by the Spartans. The Spartans, now seeing Themistocles as a threat to their city, not only pushed for Chimon's influence to rise in Athens, but they also took measures to have him discredited by his own people. Sparta had been dealing with the treasonous activities of one of their own, Pausanias, after his leading role during the Persian wars. He had been accused of conspiring with the Persians after the war for his own benefit. The Spartans attempted to implicate Themistocles in Pausanias's plot, as there were already stories of him engaging with the Persians. The shadowy dealings before the Battle of Salamis were one example, along with the story circulating that he had sent messages to Xerxes after his retreat from Greece. This story comes from Herodotus, who reports that Themistocles, using the same servant, Sicinus, as before, sent a message to Xerxes. According to the story, Themistocles sent his trusted servant, Syconus, with a secret message claiming that Themistocles, acting as a friend to the Persians, had convinced the Greek fleet not to pursue Xerxes' navy to the Hellespont, and destroy the bridges. Themistocles urged Xerxes to return home at his leisure. Perhaps this tactic was a move to encourage the Persian king to retreat back into his empire with the bulk of his army. However, it served as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it rid Greece of the immediate Persian threat. On the other hand, as Herodotus suggests, Themistocles was hedging his bets. By saving Xerxes, Themistocles was securing a powerful ally and potential safe haven in Persia, in case the fickle Athenians ever turned against him. It was these stories that existed that allowed the Spartans to try and plant the seeds of a treasonous Themistocles in the minds of the Athenians. Themistocles would be placed on trial over these issues, but would ultimately be acquitted. However, it appears by the end of the decade, Themistocles had built up enough of a reputation in the minds of the ordinary men of Athens for them to question his motives and political life. Perhaps another red flag highlighting this, when he had the sanctuary of Artemis built and an effort inscribed, referring to his role in delivering the Greeks from the Persian invasion. It was one thing to have a city or others to honour a political figure, but for a man to honour himself was in line with what many saw as a rising tyrant. So in 472 or 471, Athens would once again hold an ostracism, and this time it would be Themistocles who received the most votes, exiling him from the city where he would take up residence in Argos. While in Argos, the Spartans, acting on new information over Pausanias, would try again to implicate Themistocles in these dealings. This time around, Themistocles wasn't present in Athens to defend his own name and counter the Spartans' information. The Spartans also insisted that Themistocles be

Ostracism And A Desperate Escape

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tried by the Congress of the Greeks, rather than in Athens. It isn't clear if the Athenians agreed to this, but they did agree that he should stand trial again, and he was summoned back to Athens to answer these charges. Themistocles, however, saw that given his situation, his chances of surviving this round of trials was not favourable. He then decided to flee the Greek mainland, where he first stopped in Corfu before continuing on into Epirus, where he was given protection in the face of Athenian and Spartan requests to turn him over. This action by Themistocles would, in the minds of the Athenians, confirm his guilt, and he was declared a traitor and property confiscated. With this being the situation, it was clear to Themistocles that he would not be able to return to the Greek lands. With the help of the Mausolean king in Epirus, he then made his way into the Persian Empire, after avoiding the Greek authorities in the Aegean. However, he still wasn't in the clear, as there was a bounty for his capture that would have reached the coast of Anatolia. In the end, Themistocles would be conveyed safely by a trusted acquaintance to the Persian court. It isn't clear if he had a direct meeting with Azerxes' successor, Artaxerxes. As different sources report, he made contact either in person or by letter. Though

Refuge With Artaxerxes In Persia

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the same type of message was delivered, where Thucydides writes I, Themistocles, come to you, who did your house more harm than any other Hellenes, when I was compelled to defend myself against your father's invasion. Harm, however, far surpassed by the good that I did him during his retreat, which brought no danger for me, but much for him. It seems probable that he would have had a meeting in person at some stage, given the reputation he had gained and his role in the Greek victory over Xerxes. For this enemy to come seeking refuge in the Persian Empire would have been extraordinary. Supposedly Themistocles would ask for a year to learn the Persian language and customs, so that he could then serve the king in whatever capacity he wished. Artaxerxes would grant this request, and it appears that at some stage, during this time, Themistocles' wife and children were able to leave Athens, along with some of his property, and be reunited with him. This probably shows that in Athens there was still support for him in some corners of society. After his year of learning the Persian way of life, Themistocles would gain extraordinary favour with the Persian king. We are told he would even accompany Artaxerxes on hunts and other functions, where Themistocles would also advise him on Greek matters. Themistocles would end up being given the region of Magnesia on the Meander River to govern on behalf of the king. This period where Themistocles took up the governorship within this region would see Artaxerxes being preoccupied with other events towards the east in his empire, so the West would receive much less focus, leaving Themistocles to lead a relatively quiet life. After being within the Persian Empire for ten years, Themistocles would die at the age of 65. Our more reliable ancient sources tell us this was from natural causes. However, there are also rumours that emerged surrounding his death. Plutarch would relate a story that when Egypt revolted with Athenian aid, Themistocles was commanded to make good on his pledge to serving the great king, and told to make war in Athens. Themistocles is supposed to have been unwilling to follow these orders, and instead he committed suicide, knowing the consequences of his defiance.

Death In Magnesia And Family Legacy

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He is said to have taken poison or bull's blood. Though, like I said, our more reliable sources report natural causes, as bringing Themistocles to an end. He was buried with great honors in Magnesia, where he served as governor. The people of Magnesia built a grand tomb for him in their marketplace and supported his family. Despite being officially exiled and barred from burial in Attica, rumours persisted, most notably by Thucydides, that his bones were secretly returned to Athens by his family and interred in a tomb near the port of the Piraeus. In Magnesia, Themistocles' family would continue to administer the region. His son Archoptolus would become governor. His other sons also appeared to have gained positions within the Persian Empire. With it appearing one may have become governor of Lampsaccus. Many of his daughters would end up marrying other Greeks who had sought refuge in Persia, with Gongolus of Eubia being one notable example. He had fled Eubia after the Greek victory over Persia, as he had been a supporter of the Persians. So with Themistocles' death, his legacy would live on through his family and the positions they found themselves in within Persia. It has also been suggested that Themistocles and his son form what some authors have called a Greek dynasty in the Persian Empire. So we have finally wrapped up our look at the life of Themistocles. As we have seen, it was a pretty busy and eventful one. Although he fled Athens in disgrace, he was able to establish a foundation in Persia that his family would expand upon. It must also be noted that with the passage of time and evolving politics in Athens, the memory of Themistocles would come to be celebrated once again, given the influence Athens would achieve through its fleet that saw its beginnings with Themistocles. Thank you all for the continued support here on Patreon. In the next bonus episode,

Final Takeaways And Listener Requests

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we'll move on to another topic, since we are finished with Themistocles now. We'll probably return to our focus to the period between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars. Remember though, if you have any areas or topics you would like to see covered, please reach out and send me a message. Thanks again, and I'll see you next month.