Cimon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cimon
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| Born | c. 510 BC Athens |
| Died | 450 BC (aged c. 59–60) Citium, Cyprus |
| Allegiance | Athens |
| Rank | Strategos (general) |
| Battles/wars | Persian Wars and Wars of the Delian League:
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| Children | Lacedaemonius Oulius Thessalus Cimon Miltiades Peisianax |
| Relations | Miltiades (Father) |
Cimon (pronounced SEE-mon) was a famous Athenian general and politician who lived a long time ago, from about 510 BC to 450 BC. He was known for his bravery and his important role in ancient Greece.
Cimon was the son of Miltiades, another well-known Athenian general. Cimon first became famous for his courage during the naval Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. This battle was a big part of the Persian Wars, where the Greeks fought against the powerful Persian Empire.
After his success, Cimon was chosen as one of Athens' top generals. He helped create the Delian League in 478 BC. This was a group of Greek city-states that joined together to protect themselves from Persia. Cimon became the main leader of this league and led many important battles, like the Siege of Eion.
In 466 BC, Cimon led a Greek force to Asia Minor. There, he won a huge victory against the Persians at the Battle of the Eurymedon river. He destroyed their fleet and army. Later, he stopped a rebellion on the island of Thasos. These events helped turn the Delian League into a powerful Athenian Empire.
Cimon was also very involved in Athenian politics. He often supported the wealthy families and disagreed with those who wanted to expand Athenian democracy. He believed Athens and Sparta should work together. In 462 BC, he convinced Athens to send help to Sparta when their enslaved people, called helots, revolted. However, the Spartans surprisingly sent the Athenian army home, which was a big insult. This made Cimon very unpopular in Athens, and he was sent into exile for ten years in 461 BC.
After his exile, Cimon returned to Athens in 451 BC. He quickly helped arrange a truce with Sparta. He then led a large fleet to Cyprus to fight the Persians again. Cimon began a siege of the city of Kition, but he passed away around 450 BC.
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Cimon's Early Life and Family
Growing Up in Athens
Cimon was born into a noble family in Athens around 510 BC. His family, the Philaidae, was well-known. His grandfather, Cimon Coalemos, was famous for winning three Olympic victories with his chariot.
Cimon's father was the respected general Miltiades. His mother was Hegesipyle, whose father was a king from Thrace. She was also related to the famous historian Thucydides.
When Cimon was young, his father faced a large fine from the Athenian government. Because Miltiades could not pay, he was put in prison and died there in 489 BC. Cimon inherited this debt. He also had to care for his sister, Elpinice. A wealthy man named Callias offered to pay Cimon's debts if he could marry Elpinice, and Cimon agreed.
In his youth, Cimon was known for being very straightforward and sometimes a bit rough around the edges. People even said he was more like a Spartan than an Athenian in his manner.
Cimon's Family Life
Cimon later married a woman named Isodice. She was the granddaughter of Megacles and came from the important Alcmaeonidae family. Cimon and Isodice had several children. Their twin sons were named Lacedaemonius and Eleus. Lacedaemonius later became an Athenian commander. Their third son, Thessalus, also became a politician.
Cimon's Military Achievements
Early Victories and the Delian League
Cimon showed great courage during the Battle of Salamis. This battle was a key moment in the Persian Wars.
From 478 BC to 476 BC, many Greek cities near the Aegean Sea wanted to avoid Persian rule. They decided to join forces with Athens. This alliance was called the Delian League. Cimon was chosen as the main commander of this new league.
As a general, Cimon led many important missions for the Delian League. He and another leader, Aristides, helped remove the Spartans from Byzantium. Cimon also captured the city of Eion from the Persians. He cleared out pirates from the island of Scyros. When he returned to Athens, he brought back what were believed to be the bones of the legendary hero Theseus. This was a big deal for the Athenians!
The Great Victory at Eurymedon
Around 466 BC, Cimon led the fight against Persia into Asia Minor. He achieved a huge victory at the Battle of the Eurymedon river. Cimon's forces defeated both the Persian army and their fleet. They destroyed or captured 200 Persian warships.
After this victory, Athens gained many new allies for the Delian League. Cimon also helped establish a new Athenian settlement called Amphipolis. Some historians believe Cimon might have even arranged a peace agreement with the Persians after this battle. His leadership during the Persian Wars was truly impressive.
Ending the Thasian Revolt
After his victories in Asia Minor, Cimon went to the Thracian Chersonesus. He brought the local tribes under control. He also stopped a rebellion by the people of Thasos between 465 BC and 463 BC. Thasos had left the Delian League because of disagreements over trade and a gold mine. Cimon's fleet defeated the Thasian fleet, and Athens then laid siege to the island.
Cimon's Political Journey
Facing Accusations
Even with all his successes, Cimon faced a legal challenge. He was accused of taking gifts from Alexander I of Macedon. Pericles, another important Athenian leader, was involved in the accusation. Cimon defended himself by saying he always focused on helping Athens, not on getting rich. He explained that he brought wealth to Athens from his victories. In the end, Cimon was found innocent.
A Diplomatic Setback with Sparta
Cimon believed strongly that Athens and Sparta should work together. He even named one of his sons Lacedaemonius, which was another name for a Spartan. In 462 BC, Sparta faced a big problem: their enslaved people, called helots, revolted. Cimon convinced the Athenians to send 4,000 soldiers to help Sparta.
However, this mission did not go well. The Spartans became worried that the Athenians might actually help the helots instead. So, they sent Cimon's army back home. This was a huge insult to Athens and greatly damaged Cimon's popularity.
Cimon's Exile from Athens
Because of this insult, Cimon's popularity in Athens dropped sharply. As a result, he was ostracized from Athens for ten years, starting in 461 BC. Ostracism was a process where citizens voted to exile a person for a period of time.
During Cimon's exile, other leaders like Ephialtes and Pericles made changes to Athenian government. They gave more power to the citizens and less to the older councils. Some of Cimon's policies, like his friendly approach to Sparta, were changed.
Return and Final Mission
Around 451 BC, Cimon was allowed to return to Athens. Although he didn't have as much power as before, he quickly helped negotiate a five-year truce with the Spartans.
Later, Cimon suggested a new expedition to fight the Persians, who were causing trouble in Cyprus. He gained Pericles' support and sailed to Cyprus with 200 warships. He also sent some ships to help an Egyptian revolt against the Persians. Cimon then used the rest of his ships to help the Greek cities in Cyprus.
Rebuilding Athens
Cimon used the money and resources gained from his many military campaigns and the Delian League to fund many building projects in Athens. These projects were very important for rebuilding the city after the Persian attacks. He helped expand the Acropolis and the city walls. He also oversaw the construction of public roads, gardens, and important government buildings.
Cimon's Death
Cimon led a siege against the city of Citium on the coast of Cyprus in 450 BC. This city was a stronghold for the Phoenicians and Persians. Cimon passed away during or shortly after this failed attempt. His death was kept a secret from the Athenian army for a while. Even after his death, the Athenian forces won an important victory against the Persians in Cyprus. Cimon was later buried in Athens, and a monument was built to remember him.
Why Cimon Was Important
Cimon was a very important figure in Athenian history. While his political ideas at home, which favored the wealthy, didn't last, his military achievements and foreign policy had a huge impact. He helped ensure that the Persian Empire largely stopped attacking Greece directly. He also believed that Athens should be the main naval power and Sparta the main land power in Greece. This idea likely helped delay the start of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.
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See also
In Spanish: Cimón de Atenas para niños
- Long Walls
- Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (450 BC)
- Amphictyonic League
