Thrasybulus: Encyclopedia II - Thrasybulus - The Coup of 411 BC

Thrasybulus - The Coup of 411 BC

In 411 BC, in the wake of the Athenian defeat in Sicily, aristocrats at Athens who had long desired to overthrow the democracy began to work towards that goal. The leaders of this movement began their conspiracy at Samos, where Thrasybulus was stationed as a trierarch, and they conspired with aristocrats in that city to overthrow the democracy there as well^[1]).

Upon their return to Athens, the conspirators succeeded in ending democratic rule and imposing a narrow oligarchy of 400 rulers. At Samos, however, the coup did not go forward so smoothly. Samian democrats learned of the conspiracy and notified four prominent Athenians, including Thrasybulus. With the support of these men and the Athenian soldiers in general, the Samian democrats were able to defeat the conspirators when they attempted to seize power^[2]).

A ship was dispatched to Athens to notify the populace of this success against the oligarchs. Upon its arrival, however, the crew was arrested, since the coup at Athens had succeeded and messengers of democracy were no longer welcome. Learning of this, the army at Samos deposed its generals and elected new generals who were believed to be more steadfast in their support of democracy, Thrasybulus and his colleague Thrasyllus among them. The army, stating that they had not revolted from the city but that the city had revolted from them, resolved to stand by the democracy while continuing to prosecute the war against Sparta^[3])).

One of the first actions Thrasybulus took as general was to convince the soldiers of the need to have Alcibiades recalled, a policy that he had supported since before the coup. When this motion himself, Thrasybulus sailed to retrieve Alcibiades and returned with him to Samos. The aim of this policy was to win away Persian support from the Spartans, as it was believed that Alcibiades had great influence with Tissaphernes. Alcibiades was elected as general alongside Thrasybulus and the others (Thucydides 8.81). Shortly after this, following the revolt of Euboea, the government of the 400 was overthrown and replaced by a broader oligarchy, which would eventually give way to democracy. Alcibiades was recalled to the city itself, a major victory for the moderate party of Thrasybulus^[4]).

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The Coup of 411 BC", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki