The Four Hundred (oligarchy)
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The Four Hundred (Greek: οἱ τετρακόσιοι) was a short-lived oligarchic body that held power in Athens during the Peloponnesian War from June to September of 411 BC. The movement toward oligarchy was induced by Alcibiades' promise in the summer of 412 to get Persian aid for the Athenians against Sparta if only an oligarchy ruled Athens in place of the democracy.
In May of 411 the Athenian assembly met and was pressured into electing five men who were to set up a council of 400 men who were to rule Athens for a short period and then hand over power to a larger group of 5,000.
