Athenian coup of 411 BC facts for kids

The Athenian coup of 411 BC was a sudden, forceful change in government. It happened during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. This event ended Athens' democratic government. In its place, a small group of powerful people took over. This new government was called the Four Hundred, but it did not last long.

Athens faced a big money problem after a military disaster. This was the failed Sicilian Expedition in 413 BC. Some wealthy and important Athenian men saw this as a chance. They had always disliked the wide-ranging democracy in their city-state. They wanted to create an oligarchy, a government ruled by a few elite people.

These men believed they could manage Athens' money, war, and relations with other countries better. The plan to change the government was led by rich and powerful Athenians. Many of them held important positions in the Athenian army at Samos. They worked with a famous general named Alcibiades.

Why the Coup Happened

Athens' Government and Society

By the time of the Peloponnesian War, Athens had been a democracy for about 100 years. Most rich people accepted this system. They either tried to become leaders within it or stayed out of politics. Before the war, most Athenian politicians came from noble families.

Athens' democracy was unusual. Most other Greek city-states were ruled by kings (tyrannies) or by a few powerful families (oligarchies). Historians like Thucydides and Aristotle said the coup happened because Athens lost badly in Sicily.

Old Ideas About Rulers

Even with democracy, old Greek traditions favored noble families. Famous poems by Homer celebrated a world where nobles made decisions. Common people were expected to follow.

Poems by Theognis of Megara and Pindar were popular among Athenian nobles. These poems suggested that democracy was unfair. They said it forced "good" people (nobles) to be equal with "common" people. These poets believed that qualities like good judgment and fairness were born, not taught. They thought only a few noble people had these qualities. This made them seem better than everyone else.

During the war, a pamphlet called Constitution of the Athenians was written. The author, known as the "Old Oligarch", criticized democracy. He wrote that democracy gave too much power to common people. He believed it should go to the "good" (noble) people. This writer liked the "good laws" of Sparta and Corinth, which were oligarchies. He wished Athens would let only the "best and most qualified" people make laws. He thought this would naturally lead to common people serving the nobles.

Money Problems for Athens

The Peloponnesian War cost Athens a lot of money. This burden grew heavier as the war continued. Athens needed a large navy to protect its food supply from Sparta. At the same time, the government kept spending money on its citizens.

Athens also lost money from states that used to pay tribute. Trade slowed down because of the war, reducing taxes. All this put a huge strain on Athens' treasury.

The economy was so bad that fewer citizens could afford to pay for public services. Before the war, about 25,000 men were wealthy enough to serve in the army or pay for public duties. By 411 BC, this number dropped to about 9,000. Many had died from plague or in battle. This meant far fewer people were left to pay the city's expenses.

Wealthy Athenians had many duties. They paid special war taxes and funded religious events. They also paid for plays, contests, and ship races. They had to equip warships for battle. They also paid a special tax called eisphora when needed, usually during wartime.

Historians believe that many rich Athenian families lost much of their wealth during the war. By 411 BC, the huge costs were deeply felt. People knew more demands would come.

Despite these payments, Athens' financial crisis continued. By June 411 BC, Athenian leaders told their soldiers they could no longer pay them. Soldiers even had to ask for donations to get supplies.

Changes in Leadership

Another problem was that many respected noble leaders were gone by 415 BC. People like Cimon, Pericles, and Nicias were replaced. New leaders came from lower classes, like Cleon and Hyperbolus. Even the noble-born Alcibiades was seen as disreputable. Alcibiades had been accused of disrespecting a god and sentenced to death. He fled Athens and joined Sparta.

Without respected leaders, Athenian society became more divided. Groups called hetairiai gained power. These clubs were a way for people to oppose democracy. After the military defeat in Sicily, even ordinary people became unhappy with the government.

Old Rumors of Plots

The historian Thucydides noted that people suspected plots against democracy before. There were rumors of a conspiracy in 457 BC. More rumors spread just before the Sicilian expedition in 415 BC.

Alcibiades' Early Role

Athenians strongly supported their democracy. Even with bad policies and financial problems, the aristocrats in Athens did not start the coup. Instead, the idea came from outside the city, from Alcibiades.

Alcibiades was working for the Spartans at the time. He encouraged the oligarchs' ideas. He claimed he could get money for Athens from Persian governors. These governors, like Tissaphernes, were protecting him. Alcibiades promised this money if Athens ended its democracy. This would also allow Alcibiades to return from exile.

Alcibiades' dealings with the Persians made Spartans suspicious. They worried he only cared about himself. He had also angered one of the Spartan kings.

Alcibiades sent messages to important Athenian generals and leaders. He asked them to tell "the best people" about his influence with Tissaphernes. He said he wanted to return. But only if the "unfair" democratic system was replaced by an oligarchy. Then, he would bring Tissaphernes' support to Athens.

The Athenians did not know that Alcibiades' relationship with Tissaphernes was unstable. Both men were looking out for themselves. Their partnership would not last.

Events at Samos

The historian Thucydides wrote that Alcibiades' plan worked. Athenian soldiers at Samos believed he had influence with Tissaphernes. They sent messengers from their camp to talk to him.

Thucydides said Alcibiades was not entirely to blame. He believed the coup would have happened anyway. The Athenian ship commanders and important men at Samos wanted to end democracy.

Meeting with Alcibiades

Historian Donald Kagan noted that the response at Samos was mixed. Some wanted to side with Alcibiades to create an oligarchy. Others, like the commander Thrasybulus, disliked oligarchy. But they felt Alcibiades should return to help Athens. This might mean making small changes to the government.

A group was sent to talk to Alcibiades. Thrasybulus was in this group. He was open to moderate changes for Persian aid. Also in the group was Peisander. He had not favored oligarchy before. He was known as a popular leader.

Another person who heard about Alcibiades' offer was Phrynichus. There is no proof he was in the group that met Alcibiades. Phrynichus was also a popular leader. He had been elected general.

According to Thucydides, Alcibiades promised the group more than Tissaphernes' support. He also promised the support of the Great King of Persia. This would happen "if they did not keep the democracy." Alcibiades seemed to understand his guests' mood. He changed his demand for an oligarchy. He only asked that Athens' direct democracy not continue.

Back at Samos, the group and other important men met. Soldiers from Samos also joined them. They made a secret agreement. They discussed Alcibiades' proposal. The group told the soldiers that the King would be their friend. He would give them money if they brought back Alcibiades. And if they stopped being a democracy. The soldiers were a bit annoyed but became quiet. They hoped for money from the King.

Historian Donald Kagan believes they were not just greedy. He says they wanted to save their city. They feared their city might be destroyed by their enemies. By agreeing, they could get money to win the war.

Phrynichus' Objections

After talking to the military, the leaders met to decide on Alcibiades' offer. Everyone agreed except Phrynichus. He was completely against it.

Phrynichus argued that the Great King would not side with Athens. Persia's interests were against Athens. Athens no longer controlled the sea. It had lost cities to the Spartans. So, Persia had no reason to offer money. Athens and Persia had a long history of fighting. Persia and Sparta did not.

Another leader argued that if Athens became an oligarchy, rebel cities might return. Many of them were oligarchies. This change might also stop other cities from rebelling. Phrynichus disagreed. He said no city would want to be enslaved. They would rather be free under any local government. He also said these cities would prefer a democratic ruler. This is because rich people benefit most from empires.

Phrynichus' main point was that Alcibiades could not be trusted. He did not care about any government type. He only wanted a change in Athens' government. This would let his friends in Athens demand his return. Phrynichus felt Alcibiades' return would cause civil unrest. This was the last thing they needed. Phrynichus advised them to stick to their current plan. He told them to reject Alcibiades' dangerous offer.

Given the crisis, Phrynichus' idea to stay the course was rejected. The group decided to accept Alcibiades' offer. They sent a group led by Peisander to Athens. Their goal was to end the democratic system. This would allow Alcibiades to return and win Persia's support.

After the meeting, Phrynichus sent a letter to a Spartan admiral. He told him about the plan and Alcibiades' role. He excused his betrayal. He said it was okay to plot against an enemy, even if it hurt the state.

Uprising at Samos

According to Thucydides, in 412 BC, the people of Samos heard about the plot. They went to their leaders, including Thrasybulus. He seemed to always oppose the plotters. Thrasybulus and his friends gathered the Athenian sailors. They defended the Samian democracy.

The plotters were defeated. The democratic groups made all soldiers promise loyalty to democracy. Especially those who had been involved with the oligarchs. The democratic army then removed its generals. They elected new ones who supported democracy. Thrasybulus was one of these new generals.

Historian Donald Kagan believes Thrasybulus and his supporters did not want to end democracy completely. They were willing to limit its powers for a short time. This was to deal with the immediate danger from Athens' enemies. So, when they met Alcibiades, he changed his words. He no longer used the word "oligarchy." He promised to return if "the Athenians were not under a democracy." This small change was likely a compromise. It was for men like Thrasybulus. They were ready to change the government but not create an oligarchy.

Even knowing Alcibiades' terms, Thrasybulus convinced the Athenian forces at Samos to let him return. They voted to forgive him and make him a general. He then sailed to Tissaphernes and brought Alcibiades back to Samos. Thucydides wrote that Thrasybulus believed Athens' only safety was to get Tissaphernes' financial support away from the Spartans.

The Probouloi (Advisers)

When Athens heard about the defeat in Sicily, people feared an invasion. They thought the Sicilians would send a fleet to Attica. Winning the war seemed impossible. The city might even be destroyed. To deal with this fear, Athens needed action.

Because of this emergency, a group of elders was chosen in 413 BC. They were called probouloi (preliminary advisers). Their job was to find money and wood for ships and defenses. They also had to help the economy. They were seen as wise men who could calm the panic.

From the play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, these probouloi took over many duties. These duties used to belong to the council. They kept order, arranged ambassadors, and gave money to the navy. Aristotle discussed how these probouloi affected democracy.

The speaker Lysias said Theramenes helped create the oligarchy. His father, one of the probouloi, was also involved. Aristotle recalled that one probouloi, the writer Sophocles, approved of setting up the Four Hundred. He said it seemed bad, but "there was nothing better to be done."

Those who wanted an oligarchy convinced the assembly to let special officials rewrite the constitution. Thucydides said there were ten such officials. Aristotle said there were 20, plus the ten probouloi.

The new constitution replaced the old council. The new council had 400 men. They would not be paid. This meant poorer people could not join. Five men would be chosen as "presidents." They would choose 100 men for the council. Each of these 100 would choose three more. This made a total of 400. They claimed this was "according to the ancestral constitution." The 400 would choose 5,000 Athenians. Only these 5,000 could attend assemblies.

The Coup Itself

The oligarchs planned two coups. One was in Athens. The other was at Samos, where the Athenian navy was based.

The coup in Athens happened as planned. On June 9, 411 BC, the plotters took control. The city came under the rule of the Four Hundred. It is not known how many people actively helped. Some historians guess it was closer to 50 than 400.

Unlike in Athens, the plotters in Samos failed. Samian democratic leaders and pro-democracy leaders in the Athenian fleet stopped them. When the fleet learned of the coup in Athens, they removed their generals. They elected new ones. They announced that Athens had rebelled against them, not the other way around. The new fleet leaders brought Alcibiades back to Samos. They declared they would continue the war against Sparta.

Problems and Fall of the Four Hundred

The government of the Four Hundred in Athens was unstable. Conflicts quickly arose between moderate and extreme oligarchs. The moderates, led by Theramenes and Aristocrates, wanted a broader oligarchy. They wanted "the 5,000" to rule. This group would include all citizens who could afford to be zeugitai (a certain social class) or higher.

Under pressure, the extreme leaders started peace talks with Sparta. They also began building a fort in the harbor of Piraeus. The moderates believed this fort was meant to give Spartan armies access to Athens. After Phrynichus was killed, the moderates became bolder. They arrested an extremist general in Piraeus. A fight broke out. The soldiers in Piraeus tore down the new fort. A few days later, the Four Hundred were officially replaced by the 5,000. This group ruled for several months. They ruled until Athens won the Cyzicus.