Demosthenes (general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Demosthenes
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Portrait of Demosthenes by Polyeuktos. 1881 Young Peoples' Cyclopedia of Persons and Places
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| Native name |
Δημοσθένης
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| Died | 413 BC Sicily |
| Allegiance | Athens |
| Years of service | 426–413 BC |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Peloponnesian War
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Demosthenes (Greek: Δημοσθένης, died 413 BC) was an important Athenian general during the Peloponnesian War. This was a huge war between Athens and Sparta, two powerful Greek city-states. Demosthenes was known for his clever military plans and his bravery. He played a big part in many battles.
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Demosthenes' Early Military Adventures
Demosthenes first became known as a military leader in 426 BC. He led an Athenian attack on a region called Aetolia. This attack did not go well. Demosthenes lost about 120 Athenian soldiers. He also lost his second-in-command, Procles. Because of this big loss, Demosthenes was afraid to go back to Athens. He worried about what would happen to him.
Later that same year, a city called Ambracia attacked Acarnania. The people of Acarnania asked Demosthenes for help. At this time, Demosthenes was sailing near the Ionian Sea with twenty Athenian ships. He landed his troops at a place called Olpae. There, he fought and defeated a Spartan army. This Spartan army was led by a general named Eurylochus. Eurylochus had come to help the Ambraciots. Eurylochus was killed in the Battle of Olpae. After this victory, Acarnania and Ambracia signed a peace treaty.
Big Wins in the Peloponnese
In 425 BC, Demosthenes was still with his fleet in the Ionian Sea. He was ordered to sail to Sicily to help Athens stop a revolt there. But a big storm changed his plans. Instead, Demosthenes landed his ships at Pylos in the Peloponnese. This area was very close to Sparta.
To keep busy, his soldiers decided to build a fort on the land. Demosthenes had wanted to do this, but he couldn't convince the other generals. This new fort gave Athens a strong base. It was only about 45 miles from Sparta. Sparta quickly sent an army to a nearby island called Sphacteria. Demosthenes moved his men to the beach. He wanted to stop the Spartans from landing there. The Spartan generals were Thrasymelidas and Brasidas. Demosthenes and his men successfully pushed back the Spartan landing. Soon after, the main Athenian fleet arrived. It had turned back from its journey to Sicily. The Athenian fleet chased away the Spartan ships.
Back in Athens, the Spartans tried to make peace. But the talks failed. Then, an Athenian leader named Cleon came to help Demosthenes. Demosthenes was planning to attack Sphacteria. The Athenian forces successfully attacked the island. They forced the Spartans to surrender. This was very unusual for Spartans, who were known for fighting to the death. You can read more about these events in the articles about the Battle of Pylos and the Battle of Sphacteria.
More Battles in the Peloponnesian War
In 424 BC, Demosthenes and another general, Hippocrates, tried to capture Megara. But they were defeated by the Spartan general Brasidas. After this, Demosthenes went to Naupactus. He wanted to support the democratic revolution there. He also gathered troops for an attack on Boeotia. Demosthenes and Hippocrates could not get their attacks to happen at the same time. Hippocrates was defeated at the Battle of Delium. Demosthenes then attacked Sicyon and was also defeated.
Demosthenes was one of the people who signed the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC. This treaty ended the first part of the Peloponnesian War. (Another person named Demosthenes also signed for Sparta.)
In 417 BC, Demosthenes helped Athenian troops leave Epidaurus. This happened after the Battle of Mantinea. It is said that he organized athletic games. While the people of Epidaurus were watching the games, the Athenian troops secretly escaped.
The Sicilian Expedition
In 415 BC, Athens attacked Sicily. A Spartan fleet arrived to help their allies in Syracuse. This led to a difficult situation where neither side could win. In 413 BC, Demosthenes and another general, Eurymedon, were sent with a new fleet. They had seventy-three ships and 5,000 hoplites (heavy infantry soldiers). Demosthenes landed his troops and led a brave night attack on the Syracusan forces.
At first, the Athenians were successful. But then, they became disorganized in the dark. It turned into a very messy night battle. The Spartan commander, Gylippus, completely defeated them.
After this defeat, Demosthenes saw that the Athenian camp was full of sick soldiers. He suggested that they should stop the siege and go back to Athens right away. Athens needed them to defend the city from a Spartan attack. Nicias, the main Athenian commander, at first said no. He only agreed when more Spartans arrived. However, as they were getting ready to leave, there was a lunar eclipse. This was seen as a bad sign, so they delayed their departure. This delay allowed the Syracusans and Spartans to trap the Athenian forces in the harbor. Eurymedon was killed in the battle that followed.
The Spartans forced the Athenians to move their forces onto land. Demosthenes still thought they could escape by ship. But Nicias wanted to find safety on land. After a few days of marching, Demosthenes and Nicias got separated. Demosthenes was ambushed by the Syracusans and had to surrender. Nicias was captured soon after. Both generals were executed by the Syracusans. This happened even though Gylippus, the Spartan commander, wanted them to be brought back to Sparta as prisoners.
Demosthenes in a Play
Demosthenes was also a character in a play called The Knights. This play was written by Aristophanes. In the play, Demosthenes and Nicias are slaves. They overthrow a character called "the Paphlagonian," who represents the real Athenian leader Cleon. The characters in the play were based on real people who lived at the same time as Aristophanes.
