107: The Ionian War Begins

Sparta can’t beat Athens at sea without money, and Persia can’t claw back Ionia without Greek help. That single, uncomfortable truth kicks off the Ionian War, and it turns the late Peloponnesian War into something colder and more transactional than ever. We pick the narrative back up right as Persian influence returns to the Aegean not with armies, but with silver.

We start with the post-Sicily landscape: Athens is wounded, its allies are restless, and Sparta finally senses a path to cracking the Athenian Empire by encouraging revolts. Thucydides shows how messy that plan becomes in practice. Earthquakes, festivals, and competing priorities stall the Peloponnesian fleet, and Athens uses the breathing room to investigate Chios, shadow enemy movements, and even score a demoralizing Spartan setback near Corinth that proves Athens is still dangerous on the water.

Then Alcibiades steps into the gap. From inside Sparta, he keeps the Chios operation alive, manipulates rival power centers, and rides with a tiny squadron that helps flip one of Athens’ strongest naval allies. Once Chios goes, defections spread across the Anatolian coast and the stakes jump again when Miletus joins the revolt. That opens the door for Tissaphernes to negotiate the first Sparta-Persia treaty under Darius II, a vague agreement whose irony is impossible to miss: Sparta, once the face of Greek resistance, now helps Persia reassert claims over Greek cities.

We close with Athens’ counterpunch: securing Samos as a vital naval base, checking revolt on Lesbos, tightening pressure on Chios, and winning outside Miletus before wisely withdrawing when major reinforcements arrive, including Syracusan crews fresh from the destruction of the Sicilian Expedition. The result is an uneasy balance at the end of 412 BC, and a set of big questions that drive everything next: can Persian gold become lasting Spartan sea power, and can Athens hold the line with a thinning fleet?

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The first alliance between the king and the Spartans was now concluded, immediately upon the revolt of the Milesians. Thucydides. Hello, I'm Mark Sellick and welcome back to Casting Through Ancient Greece. Episode 107, The Ionian War Begins. Last episode, we took a digression from the main narrative following the Peloponnesian War. Seeing that Persia was now re-emerging into Greek geopolitics with the closing of the Sicilian expedition and its direct aftermath, it was time we explored what had been happening in the

Persia Returns With Silver Diplomacy

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Persian Empire over the past fifty years. By doing this, we were able to gain some context for what had been taking place in Persia while the Greeks were fighting in the Peloponnesian War. It also allowed us to see why Persia may have been looking inward during this period and why it was now that they would re-engage with the Greeks. We saw that this period was particularly marked by court conspiracy and succession crisis. After Xerxes' assassination and the ensuing crisis, Artaxerxes would end up taking the throne, with a couple of ancient sources giving different versions of how it would all unfold. However, given the nature of the succession, Artaxerxes was focused on consolidating hold on the throne, and then stabilizing the empire. Although Xerxes had continued to interact militarily with Athens on the edges of the empire, a type of stalemate was developing where their territorial interests met. With Artaxerxes now king, the focus on this far western part of his empire took a back seat, while more pressing internal matters were at hand. We find the reported peace of Callius would somewhat provide a mutual understanding of each other's spheres of influence. We would see that there would be some interaction, but this was through larger threats such as the revolt in Egypt taking place and Athens coming to assist the rebels. Though the main focus here was stabilizing one of the most important regions of the empire that the Athenians just happened to get involved in after it took place. Artaxerxes would end up bringing stability to the empire, where he would rule for nearly forty years, before dying of what would appear to be of old age. Although his death wasn't violent, the succession that took place would be bringing instability back. The legitimate successor of Artaxerxes, Xerxes II, would rule for only forty-five days before being assassinated through a plot by one of his half brothers, Sogdianus, who would then take the throne for the next six to seven months. However, another half brother, Arcus, would gather support and challenge Sogdianus. Ocus would gain the support he needed and overthrew Sogdianus, taking the throne and adopting the throne name Darius II. Darius II would initially also have the task of consolidating his power and quelling any revolts. Though it appears that through the initial support he had built up when challenging the throne, and his purge of those loyal to Sogdianus, he was able to achieve a degree of stability reasonably quickly. With the disastrous defeat of the Athenian army and navy in Sicily, and Darius II's Persian Empire in the condition it was now, the status quo between Athens and Persia no longer held. Persia was now in a position to attempt to project influence west again. However, this time it wouldn't be through armies and fleets, but through silver. In the episode before last, we saw the beginnings of this Persian influence beginning to re-emerge into the Greek world, with Western satraps approaching Persia for assistance in Anatolia. We had brought ourselves to a point where Tisiphernes and Pharnabas individually made contact with Sparta to help support Greek polis in Anatolia and the Aegean. This would be the beginning of meaningful Persian influence entering back into the Greek world, and would have a dramatic effect on the last phase of the Peloponnesian War. We will pick up the narrative again with the developments in the Greek world, but first we'll begin by quickly refreshing ourselves with the situation in the Aegean, what the Persian satraps were looking to achieve, and what they offered Sparta. The situation in the Greek world would dramatically change when Athens suffered its disaster on Sicily. Previously, something of a lull in hostilities between Athens and Sparta had existed, while Persia had developed an understanding of spheres of influence with Athens. This had come about due to the power and influence Athens had been able to spread through its fleet and the development of the Athenian Empire. However, the disaster of the Sicilian expedition changed this dynamic. Sparta, who were far from defeated and still looking to challenge Athens, saw weakness and now an opportunity to

Sicily Disaster Rewrites The Balance

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act militarily, while Persia also saw an opportunity to regain lost influence on the western parts of its empire. Both would see the key to attacking Athens as being through their Athenian Empire by encouraging and supporting revolt amongst its members. A number of these members had also seen opportunities to revolt due to the now perceived weakness of Athens. This would then see an attempt by three parties to act together against Athens. However, as we will see, this was more complicated than it sounded, as Sparta, the Persians, and the revolting cities also had their own interests. Initially, King Agus, or Sparta, had been acting on his own authority, while stationed in Attica, at the fort of Decala. He had begun preparations to support Eubea, but then switched these in favour of requests from Lesbos. However, in the meantime, satraps from within the Persian Empire sought negotiations with the Spartan government to assist in the eastern Aegean. Tisopernes, the governor of Lydia, was pushing for support of the island of Chios to revolt, while Pharnabas, governor of the Hellespontine, was seeking assistance within the Hellespont,

Sparta And Satraps Plot Revolts

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Athens' most important trade route. Sparta would initially decide on supporting Chios, one of Athens' greatest naval allies, though a delay in operations would occur after an earthquake. This delay had given time for more talks to take place and the plan to be revised. After a Congress at Corinth, which also included other Peloponnesian allies, the decision was taken to act on Chios, Lesbos, and in the Hellespont. This would see the resources diluted, given there were now three different objectives, though it appears Sparta and the Peloponnesians saw that Athens was no longer the threat on the water they used to be. As we had seen, the defeat in Sicily had devastated Athens greatly. However, the leading figures and systems of government quickly began working to recover Athens' ability to face the oncoming threats, from within and without. Steps had been taken to reduce waste, divert money to where it was essential, and alter tribute systems. These measures would assist in seeing replacement triums produced for the fleet, money remaining in the treasury, and attempts made to stem discontent within the members of the Empire. However, even with these measures, Athens still faced a testing time ahead, with enemies now actively conspiring from the Peloponnese, Persia, and within their own empire. The plan decided upon at the Congress that took place at Corinth was initially to have five ships sail out for Chios. Another fleet would then sail onto Lesbos, where they would then continue into the Hellespont. Thucydides tells us that the Peloponnesians were contemptuous of the Athenians, as they saw no evidence of them being able to field a large fleet. So their plan was to bring half the fleet across the Isthmus and set them sailing, then bring the other half in another fleet. Although this would see the size of the fleet reduced, they felt confident in doing so after Athens' losses, while the thinking behind splitting the fleet was to keep Athens' attention divided, forcing them to stretch their limited naval resources. While the plans were arranged and ready to be executed, delay would once again set in. The Isthmian festival was about to get underway, and the Corinthians were not prepared to sail until the celebrations had concluded. Aegis proposed that he could take control of the entire expedition, though the Corinthians were not prepared to give up their influence in the matter. So for the second time, operations to undermine the Athenian Empire were delayed. Fortunately for Athens, these delays had given the Athenians some breathing room and allowed them to take the initiative. Athens had caught wind of the prospect that revolt was in the works on Chios. So sent an Athenian general, Aristocrates, to investigate matters. He put forward evidence to the Gians, who denied any knowledge of the plans to rebel. He then tested their loyalty by instructing that they should send ships to join the Athenian fleet at once. This request was followed by seven ships sailing out. Thucydides lets us know that

Delays Give Athens The Initiative

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the Caians were compliant, as the general population were not aware of the plot being arranged in the circles of the oligarchs on the island. These oligarchs were not yet ready to risk having the population of the island turn on them, without any solid support behind them. The delay of the Peloponnesian fleet had caused them to act cautiously, as they appeared to start growing sceptical as to whether Sparta and the Peloponnesians were in fact going to support their cause. Open hostilities had not yet erupted, so the Athenians had also been extended an invitation to the Isthmian Games, which they attended. Here they were able to learn more of the plot on Chios and the arrangements of the Peloponnesians. Having learnt what they did, they then made preparations to keep watch on the Peloponnesian fleet in port for any movements. When the Peloponnesian fleet did set sail, it was with twenty one ships, commanded by the Spartan Alcomenes. An Athenian fleet of equal size had been waiting for the departure and closed in, trying to entice them out into the open waters. However, Alcamenes was cautious in acting and sailed back into port, while the Athenians were also cautious in pursuing the Peloponnesians, making their way back to the Piraeus. Although the Athenians matched the size of the Peloponnesian fleet, seven of their number were Caian ships, which the Athenians viewed as unreliable.

Battle Near Corinth Shocks Sparta

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Back in the Piraeus, the Athenian fleet was reinforced and brought up to thirty seven ships. Meanwhile, the Peloponnesian fleet attempted to once again set out, this time following the coast from the Isthmus towards the Peloponnese. However, the Athenian fleet chased them, to where Alcamenes fled into the deserted port of Spirium, still in Corinthian territory, not far from Epidarus. One ship was lost before making it to port, but the threat was still at hand. The Athenians pressed their attack from the sea, while also landing a number of ships and attacking those who had disembarked. Being attacked from land and sea, the Peloponnesians fell into a confusion, where a number of their ships were disabled, and the crews forced ashore, to the waiting Athenians there. In the engagement, the Athenians suffered very lightly, while the Peloponnesians lost their commander, Alcimenes. The Athenians were determined to not let the Peloponnesians get the fleet into the Aegean, so they established a camp on a nearby island and left a few ships to keep watch over the surviving Peloponnesian ones. Further reinforcements were sent for, as the Corinthians had come with more ships to support the stricken fleet. Though given the nature of the place, the only option that seemed open to them was to drag the ships ashore and protect them until an opportunity to make their escape presented itself. Back in Sparta, they had been awaiting news from Alcomenes setting out onto the open water, so they could then coordinate their other five ships, which were to be accompanied by Alcibiades, destined for Chios. However, news would end up arriving of Alcymenes' death, and the defeat of the fleet by the Athenians before it could get into the Aegean. For the Spartans this news was demoralizing. They had assumed Athens posed no great threat on the sea, after their disaster in Sicily, yet even in this weakened state, the Athenians were preventing the Peloponnesians from even leaving their ports. Thucydides has to say this of the Spartans. Having failed in their first undertaking in the Ionian War, they no longer thought of sending out their ships, but even wanted to recall those that had already put out to sea. It's at this point where we see Alcibiades re-enter affairs, while still in Sparta. From Thucydides' account, he would appear to be instrumental in keeping the Spartans on course, in regards to Chios. He would convince the Ephors not to cancel the voyage and to continue with their plans. If they acted quickly, they would be able to make for Chios before news of the original defeat arrived. Alcibiades understood that his task of steering revolt in Ionia would be made so much harder if the Caian oligarchs heard of the defeat, considering they were already dubious

Alcibiades Pushes The Chios Gamble

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that Spartan aid was still coming. He further added that once he was in Ionian territory, he would persuade the Ionians to revolt, as he would be a highly reliable source to them on the current weaknesses of Athens and the Spartans' plan for support. Alcibiades here would also get to work, behind the scenes, influencing matters within the Spartan government. He would in private begin playing Spartan figures off against one another. He would speak with the Ephor Endeus, convincing him if he supported the continuation of the voyage, he would gain the credit for the revolts breaking out, the alliances formed with the Ionians, and the agreements with the Persians. He also pointed out that it would be him and the other Ephors who would take credit and not their king Aegis. As we have often seen, there were disagreements between the Ephors and the Spartan kings. Especially on this occasion, Aegis would have been viewed as an outsider to the group of elders, as he had taken more of an active and independent role in Spartan affairs. It's also worth noting that Thucydides tells us that Alcibiades and Aegis were not on good terms. This conflict between both men is also illustrated in the story Plutarch reports, though as always we need to be careful with these stories from Plutarch. Was it rumour circulating because of the bad blood between them, the cause of the tension between them, or an action Alcibiades took to spite him? The story would have it that Alcibiades seduced Queen to Maia, while Aegis was absent from Sparta. Further to this it would apparently be discovered when an earthquake hit and Alcibiades was seen running from the queen's chamber. However, Alcibiades was able to gain the support of the Ephors, and five ships were prepared to make for Ionia, under the command of Chalcidius, with Alcibiades accompanying. The small fleet of five ships set out and took measures to maintain the secrecy of their movements. They would take hostage anyone they came across on their stops to prevent any potential word getting back to Athens, of another potential fleet at sea. When they arrived on the southern Anatolian coast, they let their prisoners go, and met with the representatives of the Caian oligarchs. Talks were held on the best way to bring about a decision on Chios. With the Caians recommending, they sail on the city without any warning, using surprise to shock the general population, prevent any defensive measures being taken, and stop Athens from being warned. The Spartan fleet were then set off for the island, with this being the plan. Meanwhile, the oligarchs had arranged for a council on the island to meet, to coincide with the Spartan arrival.

Chios Revolts And Ionia Follows

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Thucydides would write While the Democratic Party were in a state of bewilderment and panic, the oligarchs had arranged matters so that the council should be sitting at the time. Speeches were made by Chalcidius and Alcibiades, who said that many more ships were on their way, but made no mention of the blockade of the fleet back on the Isthmus. This was enough for the island to decide to revolt. The sudden appearance of the Spartan ships, the weakness of Athens, and the promise of Chalcidius, along with the authority of Alcibiades, had helped motivate their decision. With the tiny fleet and Alcibiades' determination, Sparta had gained a fleet of sixty ships, and their first major ally to break away from Athens. Furthermore, this would just be the beginning, as with such a large member, other smaller cities and islands nearby would be more inclined to follow. In a very short time, and after a visit by a couple of Spartan triums through the area, others quickly followed. In Anatolia, the cities of Eurythea, Clasmonae, Hara, and Lebidus followed Chios' example. Further south, Ephesus now also broke away from Athens in revolt, while Aenea, a city of strategic importance, being so close to Samos and Miletus, also defected. The next major goal in progressing the revolt was to bring over Miletus, the city where the revolt against the Persians in 499 BC had originated and that Athens had supported. However, back in Athens, word had arrived of the revolt breaking out on Chios, and others beginning to follow. The Athenians reacted with the attention that the crisis demanded. Money was diverted and fleets recalled to respond to the revolts in the east. An Athenian fleet would arrive at Samos, but would find itself unable to do much in the face of the large Caian fleet, now operating against them. Alcibiades wanted to get to Miletus before the Athenians had a chance to land there. With the help of Chalcidius, the Spartans and rebel ships managed to force the Athenians to remain at Samos. Alcibiades would then put into action his plan to bring over Miletus. He would replace the crews of the Peloponnesians with Caeans. Thucydides then outlines why he would take this action. Alcibiades, who was on good terms with the leading people on Miletus, wanted to bring the city over before the ships of the Peloponnesians arrived, these ones that presumably Aegis was present with, and so, by organizing revolt in as many cities as possible, with the aid of the Caian forces, and of Chalcidius, gain all the credit for the Caians and himself and Chalcidius, and as he promised, for Endius the Ephour, who had sent the expedition out. Alcibiades and his now Caian fleet would arrive on Miletus, avoiding the Athenians, where additional fleets were now also coming into the region. These forces had been able to get into the waters off the coast of Miletus, but it would appear Alcibiades' friends within the city, who were expecting his arrival, wanted to keep the Athenians at bay. They refused to receive them and kept a fleet on watch off Larae. With the Athenians unable to enter the city, and Alcibiades united with his influential friends within Miletus, the city quickly broke away from the Athenian Empire, revolting against Athens. The revolt in Miletus would provide a further base to now spread revolt into southern Ionia, Caria and the offshore islands. So as we can see, the shaky start the Spartans got off to was smoothed out with Alcibiades' help. Although the Peloponnesians were trapped at the Isthmus, a small Spartan fleet was able to light the fire needed in the Aegean to begin seeing the eastern Greeks revolt. With a number of the islands and coastal cities around Anatolia now revolting, as well as the important city of Miletus, Tisiphernes, the governor of Ionia, where a number of these cities lay, now came to Miletus to negotiate an alliance between Sparta and Darius II. Talks would take place between Tisifernes and Chalcidius, where Thucydides provides us with the first treaty signed by the two. The Spartans and their allies made a treaty with the king and Tisiphenes upon the terms follow. Whatever country or

Treaty With Persia At Miletus

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cities the king has, or the king's ancestors had, and whatever came into the Athenians from these cities, either their money or any other thing, the king and the Spartans, and their allies shall jointly hinder the Athenians from receiving either money or any other thing. The war with the Athenians shall be carried on jointly by the king and by the Spartans and their allies, and it shall not be lawful to make peace with the Athenians, unless both agree, the king on his side and the Spartans and their allies on theirs. If any revolt from the king, they shall be enemies of the Spartans and their allies, and if any revolt from the Spartans and their allies, they shall be enemies of the king, in like manner. Perhaps the greatest irony of the treaty is that Sparta, the city that had led the Greek resistance against Xerxes less than seventy years earlier, was now helping Persia restore authority over many of the Greek communities that had fought alongside it during the Persian Wars. The agreement also illustrates how completely strategic necessity had replaced ideology. Sparta needed Persian money to build and maintain a fleet capable of challenging Athens at sea, while Persia saw an opportunity to recover influence in Western Asia Minor by exploiting divisions among the Greeks. Though it is interesting to note that nothing is mentioned of the financial aid, which we will see come up later. Yet the treaty also exposed underlying tensions. The general wording of Persian territorial claims effectively recognized all former imperial possessions, something many Spartans would find uncomfortable. These ambiguities would soon become the source of friction, leading both sides to renegotiate the alliance later in the year. The subsequent treaties would refine Persian claims while addressing Spartan concerns, revealing that this first agreement was very much a starting point rather than the final settlement. The historian Donald Kagan also provides an interesting take why Chalcidius accepted such vague, pro-Persian terms. He would write, Alcibiades, no doubt, was instrumental in the Spartans' willingness to accept so unbalanced an accord. A veteran of many negotiations, he was the senior partner in the discussions, and Chalcidius followed his advice. He must have argued that a quick agreement would give Chalcidius credit for achieving an alliance with Persia. Details were unimportant and could be changed later. The main goal was to obtain commitment from Persia before some other Spartan, perhaps a member of Aegis' faction, arrived to claim the prize. These arguments surely suited Alcibiades' own desires, for he needed great achievements immediately. What Kagan writes makes sense, since we know Alcibiades was travelling with Chalcidius, and had previously provided advice to him. So an alliance was now made, with terms agreed upon. However, as we'll see later on, the Spartans would be unsatisfied with what had been arranged. Though after this first meeting, the revolt would continue to take place, along with Athens now taking measures to counter what they could. As we saw, Athens had attempted to beat the Spartans to Chios and Miletus, but did not make it in time. However, we would also find that Chalcidius proved to be reluctant to fight the Athenians on the water. There was a point where a squadron of Caian ships set out to give extra assistance at Miletus, with a threat of the Athenians nearby. However, Chilcidius would turn them away, with the extra numbers they would have provided, would see the Spartan fleet well outnumber the Athenians. However, this fact would have meant that Chalcidius would have been expected to engage the Athenians, though it appears he was not confident in taking on Athens, even while outnumbering them. The result of turning the squadron away was mixed, as on their return journey they encountered an Athenian fleet that caused them to scatter, and four of the Caian ships were captured. However, the crews who had escaped the captured ships, along with the remaining ships, were able to cause two more cities to revolt, stopping in at Lebidos and Are. However, Chalcidius' caution had taken some pressure off the Athenians in the region, and while he was securing Persian alliances through agreements with Tizapernes, Athens was consolidating its last great naval stronghold on Samos. Three Athenian vessels had initially landed to attempt to prevent the island from also revolting. Their support would encourage the democratic factions of the island to rise up against the upper classes of the island. It appears that the oligarch faction was most likely looking to follow suit in the wave of rebellions. The Democrats would prevent this in what would turn out to be a bloody civil war, which resulted in the death of two hundred nobles, the exile of forty more, and the confiscation of all their property and political rights. For Athens, securing Samos was immensely important, as the situation in the Aegean had become extremely dangerous for them. Now though they had secured a naval base only a short

Samos Secured Through Civil War

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sail from the Anatolian coast, and it would allow the Athenians to contest the ongoing operations of the Spartans more effectively. Athens was now able to preserve its relatively small, experienced fleet, with a solid base of operations. Had they been unable to, it seems very likely they would have very quickly lost all control in the Aegean. As we will see, this experienced Cadreus ships would prove to assist Athens greatly in hanging on. After Athens had secured Samos as its principal base, the next major action shifted north to Lesbos, where the Spartans sought to encourage further revolts and strip Athens of another strategically vital island. Lesbos had long been one of Athens' most valuable allies. Unlike most members of the Dilian League, cities such as Mytilene had once retained a degree of autonomy, though this had changed after the failed Mytilaan revolt in 428. By 412, Lesb was still largely under Athenian control, making it an attempting target for Sparta. If Sparta was successful here, they could deprive Athens of another ally who provided large amounts of tribute and who also had

Lesbos Revolt Checked At Mytilene

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a sizeable fleet. Their defection would also threaten the Athenian grain route, while also isolating the base the Athenians had just set up on Samos. As we had seen, the Peloponnesians' initial plans had called for forces to move into Lesbos after the fall of Chios. Then they were to continue on to the Hellespont. Spartan and Caian forces did arrive in Lesbos before any Athenians. Revolt would break out, encouraged by Spartan activity and by the widespread belief that Athens was fatally weakened after Sicily. Both the cities of Mytilene and Methana would first affect. With it appearing Methama took the lead this time around, as opposed to the four hundred twenty eight revolt. As the Spartans marched across the island, some other smaller cities would begin to follow. However, despite the small size of the fleet Athens was currently operating with, they would respond quickly, sailing out from Samos with twenty five ships, ten of which had recently arrived as reinforcements. The cities would tell us about the Athenians taking of Mytilene. The Athenians had sailed up and unexpectedly entered the harbour, had beaten the Caian ships, and landing and defeating the troops opposed to them, had become masters of the city. Meanwhile, the Peloponnesian fleet that had been blockading the Isthmus had finally beaten back the Athenians hemming them in. This fleet had now arrived around Lesbos, with the general Astyochus, who was to take over command in the Aegean. He attempted to support the revolt breaking out on Lesb, but arrived only hours after the Athenians had landed at Mytilene. He would attempt to retain the progress made in other parts of the island, but as Thucydides would write, everything on Lesbos was going against him. Unable to achieve anything meaningful, he sailed away without forcing a battle. Land forces had been assembled to march towards the Hellespont, where they were to be supported by the Peloponnesian fleet on Lesbos. However, with its departure, after failing to take Lesbos, these land forces had been sent back to their home cities without the forthcoming naval support. Although the fighting on Lesbos was relatively small compared to events on Chios or Miletus, Athens' success had effectively checked the initial thrust by Sparta to defeat the Athenians and the Aegean. Athens had shown they were still able to suppress isolated revolts, and had shown the eastern Greeks that Sparta was currently not in a position to guarantee protection for those who wanted to rebel. This would be important going forward, as many would be hesitant to do anything before the arrival of any sizable Spartan fleet. Lesbos had been saved from revolt, with the Athenians seeing to it that those who had begun the rebellions were repressed, bringing the island back under Athenian influence. This left the situation in the Aegean, with both sides established on bases to continue the struggle. The Athenians had Samos firmly under their control and ran operations from there, while Sparta had Miletus as its stronghold in the Aegean, allowing them to maintain contact with the Persians. The Athenians had placed a fleet off the coast of Miletus at Lardae, to watch and react to any Spartan naval movements. From this fleet, they made an incursion into Milesian territory, landing in what appears to be a sort of raiding moot. They were met by Chalcidius with a group of men he led. However, in the skirmish that took place, Chalcidius was killed, and the Peloponnesian forces withdrew. Although the Athenians set up a trophy, it was quickly pulled down, as they were not in control of the land, and had to withdraw to their ships. Meanwhile, another Athenian fleet commanded by Leon and Diomedon, which included the Athenian ships on Lesbos, targeted Chios. The recapture of Chios was seen as essential in reasserting Athenian influence in the region. Chios had been one of the wealthiest and strongest militarily in the east. Its revolt had encouraged others to do likewise. Though if it could be recaptured, this would reinforce the influence Athens still had, as it had demonstrated with Lesbos. The Athenian fleet would first set out for a small group of islands just off the northeast of Chios, as well as fortifying some towns on the Anatolian coast just across from the island. This allowed Athens

Athens Tightens The Chios Blockade

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to blockade the Aeans and have bases to support any assaults that would be made against them. However, the Athenians didn't launch an all-out assault on the island. They used their naval power and political influence, since the Spartans were not interested in forcing a battle at sea. Firstly, the Athenian fleet skirmished with Achaean ships, defeating them on each occasion, to the point where they were no longer willing to come out and challenge the Athenians. Now with Athens controlling the waters all around the island, they were in a position to land where they wished. They would load their ships with the hoplites acting as marines, and would end up engaging the Caians, in a number of battles on land. Each time the Caians would be defeated, though Thucydides tells us that the Athenians suffered heavily for these victories. However, after the Caians lost motivation to meet the Athenians in the field, they would remain behind their walls. The Athenians then turned their operations to ravaging the fertile fields of the island. The effect of these defeats, and now the ravaging of their lands, would see a portion of the population wanting to overthrow the government that had got them into this mess. No doubt the Athenians would have been working closely with the faction leaders pushing this action. The leaders in Chios didn't take any actions themselves against the people, as it seems they were trying to avoid a civil war breaking out. They instead sought help from Astyochus, who was on the mainland just across the waters from Chios. It seems the action that he took would be to take hostages that would affect the leaders of the plot, which looked to have quitened a conspiracy to overthrow the government. However, at this point, Chios remained blockaded and exposed to continued Athenian action, so for the moment its influence in the revolt was contained, and now at risk of being taken back by the Athenians. With Chios isolated, the Athenians then turned their focus towards Miletus, effectively the headquarters of the Spartan efforts in the Aegean, and their connection to Persia. One of the largest fleets yet fielded by Athens would sail with 3,500 hoplites, made up of Athenian, Aegean allies, and Argive troops. The fleet was made up of forty eight ships, though we are told the transports were included in this number. The fleet set out from Samos and landed just outside Miletus, where the troops disembarked and assembled. Not long after arriving, an opposing force would come out of Miletus, where it seems the Spartans and Persians had expected Athenians

Battle Outside Miletus Then Withdrawal

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to make a move against the city. The force coming out to challenge the Athenians was of an unknown number. We are told by Thucydides that there were eight hundred my legion hoplites, some Peloponnesian forces that had originally accompanied Chalcidius, some Persian mercenaries, and Tisophenes with his own Persian cavalry contingent. The opening of the battle would see the Argives charge the opposing line. Thucydides suggests that they broke ranks and rushed forward, as they were aware that opposite them were the hoplites of Miletus. He says their disdain for the Ionians facing them in battle fuelled them on, thinking they would not hold in the face of a Dorian charge. However, it appears the Milesians were experienced and did in fact hold their ground, inflicting terrible losses on the Argives and defeating them. The Argives are said to have lost three hundred men from the fifteen hundred they had come with. However, the Athenians and their other allies had engaged the Peloponnesians. They were able to defeat them and then continue on to drive back the Persians. The Milesians were left untouched by the Athenians during their advance, but having seen the rest of the army defeated, they decided to withdraw back into Miletus. This victory essentially saw Athens now in control of the waters of the coast, and the lands around the city. All that was needed now was to besiege Miletus and wait for it to surrender. It's very likely that, if this occurred, the revolt in the Jin would have been all but over. Though, like with many aspects of the Peloponnesian War, further events would develop. The evening of the victory, news arrived that a substantial reinforcement was approaching. Fifty-five Peloponnesian and Sicilian ships sailing eastward, under Theramenes. These were not just additional triremes from the Peloponnese. Included among them were ships from Syracuse, whose crews gained valuable experience during the Sicilian War, and whose presence symbolized the widening coalition against Athens. From the Athenian perspective, the danger was obvious. Their own fleet had already committed itself to the operations around Miletus, and a fresh enemy squadron arriving in the area could combine with the other Peloponnesians in the region. What had been a manageable opponent might soon become a superior naval force. The psychological effect was also as important as a military one. Only months earlier, the Syracusans had been the city that destroyed the great Athenian expedition in Sicily. Now Syracusan ships were appearing in the Eastern Aegean, carrying the war back towards the heart of the Athenian Empire. Faced with this prospect, the Athenian commanders argued about whether to fight or leave, but finally abandoned any thought of continuing the offensive against Miletus. Instead, they reembarked their troops and withdrew northward across to Samos, preserving the fleet that remained the cornerstone of Athenian power in Ionia. In this, Thucydides makes it known that the course the Athenians finally arrived at was the right one. Thucydides appears to approve of the Athenian withdrawal because the commanders recognize that their victory outside Miletus had achieved its immediate purpose. But the arrival of the large Peloponnesian and Sicilian fleet threatened to reverse their advantage. For Thucydides, this was an example of sound military judgment. Victory required not just courage, but knowing when ambition had to yield to strategic necessity. So, as we bring this episode to a close, the situation in the Aegean by the end of 412 BC had settled into an uneasy balance, rather than a decisive result for either side. Athens, for all the devastation of Sicily, had shown real resilience, securing Samos as a Ford base, holding on to Lesbos and pushing the Spartans back to the walls of Miletus itself. Yet the arrival of Thermenes' reinforcements, swollen with Syracusan crews fresh from their triumph in the west, was a sharp reminder that Athens could no longer expect to win through naval skill alone. Persia, for its part, had inserted itself back into Greek affairs in a way it hadn't managed in decades.

An Uneasy Balance By 412 BC

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Though the vague terms Chalcidius had accepted from Tisophernes had left as many questions open as they had settled. For Sparta, the picture was a mixed one as well. Chios remained a valuable prize, but was now blockaded and increasingly exposed. While the push into Lesbos had been checked before it could take hold. What had begun as a plan to unpick the Athenian Empire piece by piece had turned into a grinding contest for footholds along the Ionian coast, with Alcibiades continuing to shape events from behind the scenes in even ways the Spartans who trusted him didn't fully appreciate. As we move forward into the next stage of the war, this uneasy balance is going to be tested further. The treaty between Sparta and Persia will need renegotiating. New commanders will arrive to try their hand against the Athenians, and the loyalty of the newly revolted cities will be far from settled. Whether Persian gold can be turned into lasting Spartan sea power, and whether Athens can keep holding the line with its thinning fleet are questions we'll start answering next episode. Thank you everyone for your continued support, and a big shout out to all those who've been supporting the series over on Patreon and through Buy Me a Coffee. I would like to give an extra special shout-out to all those supporting the series at the Acon level. So thank you to Nick Hubafakis, Neil Bennett, John, Ben Williams, and Joshua Mann. Everyone's contribution plays a big part in helping me financially keeping the series going. If you've also found some value in the show and would like to support the series, please consider checking out the Castings for Ancient Greece Patreon page, or buy me a coffee page. Otherwise, leaving reviews and sharing episodes on social media also help the series grow through word of mouth. Be sure to stay connected and

Support The Show And Stay Connected

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updated on what's happening in the series, and join me over on Facebook or Instagram at Castings for Ancient Greece, or on X at Casting Greece. I hope you can join me next time where we continue the narrative in the series.