Aristides
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Aristides or Aristeides (Greek Ἀριστείδης, 530 BC–468 BC) was an Athenian soldier and statesman. He was one of the 10 commanders against the Persians at the Battle of Marathon under Miltiades.
Aristides was nicknamed "the Just" because he was popularly recognized as never seeking personal glory or financial gain in his public service to the people of Athens. As a result, during his adult life, Aristides was asked to arbitrate difficult private and public issues. Herodotus, writing just 40 years after the death of Aristides, said that "there was not in all Athens a man so worthy or so just as he".[1]
Aristides strongly defended the Athenian aristocratic cause and opposed Themistocles' naval policy until he was ostracized by his political enemies led by Themistocles. Nonetheless, Aristides' ostracism came to a sudden end when Persia under Xerxes I was about to invade Attica and he was allowed to return to Athens from banishment in Aegina.
Aristides was was one of the ten Athenian strategoi during the Greco-Persian war. He was involved in a number of major battles against the Persians, including the famous victories at Marathon (490 BC), Salamis (480 BC), and Plataea (479 BC), although it was only at Plataea that Aristides was the primary commander of the Athenian contingent. After these battles, the Persians never again seriously attempted to invade the Greek mainland.
In 477 BC, he introduced sweeping changes to the Athenian constitution which allowed all citizens, without taking into account their rank, to be admitted to the archonship.
He was instrumental in having Athens, rather than Sparta, become the ruling state of the Delian League.
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[edit] Early Life
Aristides was the son of Lysimachus, and a member of a family of moderate fortune. His tribe was the Antiochis. Of his early life we are only told that he became a follower of the statesman Cleisthenes. His strong admiration of the famous Spartan leader Lykurgus meant that Aristides favoured and later led and publicly defended the aristocratic party in Athens.[2]
From the evidence now available about life in Athens at the time of Aristides' youth, the difference between the rich and poor in Athens was not too great. So despite Aristides’ rather humble origins, he was able to gain membership of Athens' aristocratic party.[3]
[edit] Strategos at Marathon
In 490 BC, the Persians under Darius I attempted to invade Attica. Aristides was named strategos for his own Antiochis tribe. Miltiades was selected ahead of Aristides to lead the Athenians. Aristides supported Militiades' plans in the Athenian Assembly and gained the Athenians support for going out to attack the Persians at Marathon.
At the battle camp, Aristides relinquished his command to Miltiades, and this example was followed by all the other Athenian strategoi. This action united the leadership of the Athenian army.
During the Battle of Marathon, Aristides fought bravely alongside Themistocles, who, like Aristides, was strategos of his tribe. Their tribes were placed in the middle of the battle front where the Persians were tightly concentated and where the fiercest fighting took place.
After the Athenian victory, Aristides was left to protect the treasures captured in the battle as he was regarded as incorruptible. Additionally, he also looked after the prisoners of war.[4]
As a consequence of the distinction with which he served in the battle, he was elected Chief Archon for the ensuing year (489 BC –488 BC).
[edit] His Political Career
Though comrades in arms at Marathon, Aristides and Themistocles were constant opponents in the Athenian assembly. Pursuing the aristocratic party policy which focused on maintaining Athens as a land power, Aristides was among the chief opponents of the pro-naval policies of Themistocles.
Aristides was very critical of Themistocles, noting that Themistocles was "a clever man, however with an itching palm".[5]
Indeed, this struggle forced Aristides to oppose any political initiative that could benefit Themistocles, even if it would have been of benefit to the people of Athens. In the Athenian assembly, Aristides is said to have stated that unless they sent both Themistocles and himself to the barathrum (a deep pit, into which criminals were thrown), there could be no safety for Athens.[6]
By 484 BC, Themistocles was left face-to-face with Aristides, the last hope of the conservative aristocratic party. Both sought popularity by making themselves useful to their fellow citizens by offering to resolve disputes. Therefore, they criticised each other for setting themselves up as judges and bypassing the courts of law. Themistocles favoured developing an Athenian navy, a policy more popular with the poor than with the rich, who would have had to pay for it. Themistocles had no doubt that the Persians would try and invade again, and that this time they would come by sea. Aristides argued in favour of retaining land forces as the troops were provided by the richer members of Athens and were not paid (and therefore place little cost on the Athenians).
The conflict between the two leaders ended in the ostracism of Aristides around 483 BC. Themistocles argued that Aristides had weakened the Athenian courts by requiring all Athenians to seek arbitration through Aristides' office. Thus, Themistocles argued that Aristides would effectively become "king of Athens" although "he didn't have any bodyguard, yet." .[7]
It is said that, on this occasion, an illiterate voter, who did not know Aristides, came up to him, and giving him his voting sherd, desired him to write upon it the name of Aristides. The latter asked if Aristides had wronged him. "No," was the reply, "and I do not even know him, but I am tired of hearing him everywhere called, 'The Just'." After hearing this Aristides wrote his own name on the sherd. He was then exiled for a period of five years.
Leaving Athens, Aristides raised his hands and he prayed that "no crisis may force that Athens may have to remember me."[8]
[edit] Defending Athens in Salamis
Early in 480 BC Aristides took advantage of the Athenian decree recalling exiles. It is thought that Themistocles did this to ensure that Aristides did not join the Persian forces in their renewed invasion of Attica. It also reflected the desire of the Athenian people for Aristides' return.
After returning from exile in Aegina, Aristides was appointed strategos and immediately joined Themistocles in developing the defence of Athens.[9]
In the Battle of Salamis, the Persians were about attacking, by Themistocles' cheat, and Aristides was among the first individuals --who had perceived the Persian maneuvers--. On that night, from Aegina, Aristides rushed, sailing dangerously through the enemy's blockade, toward Salamis, to meet Themistocles' at his tent. Then, Themistocles thought that, with his well known reputation, Aristides could help, inciting the Greek navy, talking particularly to the difficult Spartan Admiral Eurybiades. Subsequently, --with reconciling tone-- Themistocles confessed to Aristides that --indeed-- he had provoked the enemy. Then, Aristides supported this decision and he defended him, before any other general. Right after, Aristides commanded the toughest Athenian infantry, at Psyttaleia, destroying this Persian garrison. Therein, he captured notable Persians, among whom three Xerxes I's nephews were. Before the battle, these children were sacrificed, in Bacchus' behalf. By this capture, Aristides got strategic advantage because --right there-- the main naval fights happened.[10]
Salamis was an historically decisive Athenian victory. Right after it, the Persian Aegean navy ended completely dismembered, being unable to support their stranded troops. Aristides was inquired by Themistocles because –initially-- the popular Athenian leader wanted to tear Dardanelle's Persian bridges down. Immediately, Aristides opposed this, convincing Themistocles, so Persia may drain his stranded 300,000 man army, out of both Boeotia & Attica, somehow. Consequently, Themistocles dispatched a missive --which menaced, with destroying the bridges, imminently--, right to Xerxes I, and --indeed-- the Persians believed the lie, recalling most troops.[11]
[edit] Warring at Plataea
With unlimited powers, Aristides was reelected as strategos, for other year. Thus, in 479, he commanded the Athenian army, at the Battle of Plataea, along the Asopus river. There, the whole Greek army was led by the Spartan Pausanias whereas the Persians were led by Mardonius.
By a mystical incident, Aristides provoked that Plataea relinquished the battlefield, to Attica, so the Athenians were fighting inside their own territory --under the Delphian gods' demands--.[12]
Later, Aristides was particularly upset after much Athenian soldiers --who were former aristocrats, whose lands had been spoilt by the Persian occupation-- began conspiring, in Persian behalf.[13]
Right before the battle, the Macedonian King Alexander sneaked out of the Persian camp and he told Aristides that Mardonius --whose troops were starving-- was about attacking.[14] During the very same battle, a crisis was unleashed and Aristides' Athenian troops spent the whole battle fighting against many revolting Athenian soldiers --who turned for Persia, just-then--, among whom the Thebans were the most decided. Subsequently, With his Athenian troops, Aristides struk the large Persian camp --whose walls were wooden--, instead of the Spartans --who didn't have sufficient experience, in besieging--.[15]
After the Greek victory, Aristides led Greece politically, in many decisions which affected the whole nation. These were about the fled Persians' booty's division, about the religious celebrations, & about a levy --which would finance a new Greek army--.[16]
Aristides respected that all Athenians had fought, as heroes, against Persia, so --being back in Athens-- he supported the popular decision that --henceforth-- the Eponymous Archon began being democratically elected, out from common Athenians.[17]
[edit] At the Aegean Sea
In 478, --against Persia-- Aristides was commanded to Ionia and, there, he won the local Greek cities' trust because he opposed the tyrannic policies which were implemented by the same Pausanias --on Spartan behalf--. The Ionian revolt shook the Spartan policies although Sparta stayed in power. However, these Greek colonies gave absolute discretion to Aristides so he may fix the contributions of the newly formed confederacy, the Delian League. Aristides' annual 460 talent assessment was universally accepted as equitable, and continued as the basis of taxation for the greater part of the league’s duration.[18] Subsequently, Aristides organized ceremonies, which celebrated the league's bonding. He ordered that all local Greeks pledged against Persia. Then, he threw red burning iron wedges into the Aegean Sea so the gods "may treat any traitor similarly."[19]
However, --back in Athens-- Aristides took an extremely nationalist attitude. Even, he defended that Athens should seize the League's treasury, from Delos, betraying the inked treaties. He explained that "this isn't a just idea but it's expedient."[20]
[edit] His Last Years
Afterward, he continued to hold a predominant position in Athens. At first he seems to have remained on good terms with Themistocles, whom he is said to have helped in outwitting the Spartans over the rebuilding of the walls of Athens. Indeed, Aristides witnessed his ostracism although both he abstained declaring against Themistocles and he didn't celebrate the condemnation.[21]
Later, Aristides was legally accused, by doubtful charges, and he was found guilty. However, many other statesmen suffered similar unjustified legal aggressions, in that moment.[22]
Some authorities said that Aristides died at Athens --with popular cherishing-- whereas other sources pointed that Aristides died on an official journey to the Black Sea, at Pontus. The date of his death is given by Nepos as 468. This was before Pericles' rising. In any case, Aristides' tomb was located at Phalerum whereas it was built by public funds.
Aristides' estate seems to have suffered severely from the Persian invasions, for apparently he did not leave enough money to defray the expenses of his burial, and it is known that his descendants even in the 4th century received state pensions.
[edit] His Humble Traits
Leaving the public function, Aristides was poorer than he was when he started it. Indeed, --personally-- Aristides flaunted that he was more proud by his poverty than he was by his whole career's victories. Ironically, Plutarch explains that Aristides could have been legally rich for the rest of his life, just by taking some booty from any battlefield.[23]
For instance, in a trial --at which Aristides' quite rich cousin Callias faced the capital charge--, the officials depicted Aristides, in these years. They described that --publicly-- Aristides showed himself, wearing the same cloak --which was worn out, already--, that --outdoors-- Aristides shivered by malnourishment, and that his common necessaries remained unsatisfied.[24]
[edit] Quotes
- "For a better commander, relinquishing isn't a disgrace but it's an act, which is both noble and necessary."[25]
- "Whilst the yonder sun continues its course, Athens will be Persia's enemy because both its lands have been ravaged and its temples have been desecrated."[26]
- "People, who is inescapably poor, have to be ashamed by themselves but people, who is poor by their own election, glory by their situation."[27]
[edit] Trivia
- Indeed, Aristides knew Themistocles, from their wee life. Both fought about a woman, whose name was Ariston & who was from Chios. Additionally, they rivaled, in many sports where --even then-- Aristides distinguished always by his clean play.[28]
- Plutarch points that Aristides was there, in the most glorious Athenian victories, which were Marathon, Salamis, & Plataea, although --never-- Aristides distinguished conspicuously. At Marathon, the victory was credited to Militiades. At Salamis, Themistocles got absolutely all glory. At Plataea, Pausanias was most celebrated.[29]
[edit] References and notes
- ^ The Histories of Herodotus, Book 8
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Plutarch compares both Aristides & Marcus Cato. It is in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
- ^ Aristides by Plutarch, in Wikisource.
[edit] References
Cornelius Nepos, Aristides (German)(Latin)
 Athenian statesmen | Ancient Greece  |
|---|
| Aeschines - Agyrrhius - Alcibiades - Andocides - Archinus - Aristides - Aristogeiton - Aristophon - Autocles |
| Callistratus - Chremonides - Cimon - Cleisthenes - Cleophon - Cleon - Critias |
| - Demades - Demetrius Phalereus - Demochares - Democles - Demosthenes |
| Ephialtes - Eubulus - Hyperbolus - Hypereides - Laches- Lycurgus - Lysicles |
| Miltiades - Moerocles - Nicias - Peisistratus - Pericles - Philinus - Phocion - Themistocles |
| Theramenes - Thrasybulus - Thucydides - Xanthippus |
| The Works of Plutarch | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Works | Parallel Lives | The Moralia | Pseudo-Plutarch | |
| The Lives |
Alcibiades and Coriolanus1 • Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar • Aratus of Sicyon & Artaxerxes and Galba & Otho2 • Aristides and Cato the Elder1 |
|
| The Translators | John Dryden | Thomas North | Jacques Amyot | Philemon Holland | Arthur Hugh Clough | |
|
1 Comparison extant 2 Four unpaired Lives |
||
