Nicias facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nicias
Native name	Νικίας
Born	c. 470 BC Athens, Greece
Died	c. 413 BC (aged 56-57) Syracuse, Sicily
Allegiance	Athens
Rank	Strategos
Battles/wars	Peloponnesian War Sicilian Expedition
Other work	Peace of Nicias

Nicias (c. 470–413 BC) was an important politician and general in Athens. He lived during the time of the Peloponnesian War, a big conflict between Athens and Sparta. Nicias came from a rich family in Athens. He inherited a lot of money from his father. This money came from silver mines near Athens.

After a famous leader named Pericles died, Nicias became a main leader. He was a rival to Cleon, who led the more democratic group. Nicias was a moderate, meaning he preferred peaceful solutions. He wanted to make peace with Sparta as soon as possible. He hoped for terms that would be good for Athens.

Nicias was often chosen as a strategos (general) for Athens. He led some military trips, but they didn't achieve much. Still, he was key in making the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC. This peace treaty brought a temporary end to the war.

Later, Nicias disagreed with Alcibiades' big plans for Athens. Despite this, Nicias was chosen to join the Athenian invasion of Sicily. The Athenians tried to capture Syracuse. They were almost successful until a Spartan general named Gylippus arrived. Gylippus changed the situation, and the Athenians found themselves trapped. Nicias tried to lead his army to escape by land. But they were surrounded and defeated. Most of his army was lost. Nicias was respected by Gylippus, but he was killed by Syracuse's allies.

Early Life and Wealth

Nicias inherited a large fortune from his father, Niceratus. Most of his money came from Laurium's silver mines. It is said that Nicias owned over 1,000 slaves who worked in these mines. Nicias was known for being very generous with his wealth. He used his money to help people in Athens. He also paid for many religious festivals.

Nicias' Rise in Politics

Nicias became well-known after Pericles died in 429 BC. Nicias became a leading politician for the aristocratic (conservative) party. This made him a rival to Cleon's popular, or democratic, party.

Nicias was not known for being a great speaker. He also didn't have a lot of charm, according to the historian Plutarch. Instead, Nicias gained popularity by using his wealth. He paid for and organized many public events. These included choruses for Athenian plays and sporting events. He also funded public exhibitions and new or repaired statues and temples.

Plutarch tells a story about Nicias' generosity. Nicias paid for the festival of Delos. He even funded a bridge of boats between Delos and the Rhenean islands. The boats were decorated with garlands and rich tapestry. A beautifully dressed chorus walked across these boats. Nicias also gave 10,000 drachma to the people of Delos. This money was to make sure they would continue the event in the future. He asked them to pray for him. These instructions were carved onto a pillar.

Nicias as a Military Leader

Nicias served as a Strategos (general) in 427 BC and 425 BC. During these years, Nicias was a very careful general. He tried to avoid big or risky military actions. Plutarch said this helped him avoid many of Athens' problems. He avoided both military defeats and political troubles.

Plutarch wrote that "Nicias declined all difficult and lengthy enterprises." He preferred to do what was safe when he was in command. However, Plutarch also noted that Nicias was a fair fighter in battle. He fought as bravely as any other soldier.

The Peace of Nicias

After ten years of fighting in the Peloponnesian War, both Athens and Sparta were tired.

In 423 BC, the Athenian general Laches, with Nicias' help, asked for a truce with Sparta. This was to stop Sparta's general, Brasidas. But this "Truce of Laches" didn't stop Brasidas much. It ended within a year. Brasidas then captured Scione and Mende. He hoped to reach Athens and free Spartan prisoners. Athens sent more soldiers under Nicias, who recaptured Mende.

Later, Cleon ended the truce between Athens and Sparta. He wanted to save the town of Amphipolis in Macedonia. But Brasidas was a skilled general. The Spartans defeated the Athenians at the Battle of Amphipolis. Both Brasidas and Cleon were killed in this battle. This removed the main leaders who wanted to continue the war on both sides.

With the two main war-supporters gone, Nicias decided to seek peace. Nicias and Pleistoanax, the King of Sparta, negotiated the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC. This treaty brought a temporary end to the Peloponnesian War.

The main idea of the Peace of Nicias was to return to how things were before the war. Most things gained during the war were to be given back. Amphipolis would go back to Athens. Athens would release the prisoners taken at Sphacteria. Temples across Greece would be open to everyone. The oracle at Delphi would become independent again. Athens could still collect money from other states, but could not force them to be allies. Athens also agreed to help Sparta if their slaves, the Helots, revolted. Most of Sparta's allies signed the peace. But Boeotians, Corinth, Elis, and Megara did not.

Nicias and Alcibiades

While peace was being discussed, Alcibiades became more powerful in Athens. Alcibiades did not like the peace treaty. He strongly argued that Athens should keep fighting Sparta. His first big move was to convince Argos to become an ally of Athens.

Alcibiades became important when he pushed for Athens to be more aggressive. This was even after the Peace of Nicias was signed. Historians believe that Alcibiades was upset. The Spartans had negotiated the treaty through Nicias and Laches. They had ignored Alcibiades because he was young.

Arguments about the treaty led Sparta to send messengers to Athens. These messengers had full power to settle all problems. The Athenians first welcomed these messengers. But Alcibiades met with them secretly. He told them that the Athenian Assembly was proud and ambitious. He urged them to give up their power to represent Sparta. Instead, he said he would help them using his influence in Athens. The messengers agreed. They were impressed with Alcibiades. They started to distance themselves from Nicias. This was even though Nicias truly wanted to reach an agreement with Sparta.

The next day, during the Assembly, Alcibiades asked the messengers what powers Sparta had given them. They replied, as agreed, that they did not have full powers. This was the opposite of what they had said the day before. Alcibiades used this chance to criticize them. He made people suspicious of their goals. This destroyed their trustworthiness. This trick made Alcibiades more powerful. It also embarrassed Nicias. Alcibiades was then appointed General. He used his growing power to create an alliance. This alliance was between Argos, Mantinea, Elis, and other states. This threatened Sparta's power in the region. However, this alliance was defeated in 418 BC at the Battle of Mantinea.

The Sicilian Expedition

In 415 BC, people from the Sicilian city of Segesta came to Athens. They asked Athens for help in their war against Selinus. During the discussions, Nicias strongly opposed Athens getting involved. He argued that the campaign would cost too much money to be successful. He also criticized Alcibiades, who strongly supported the expedition. Alcibiades argued that a Sicilian campaign would bring wealth to Athens. He said it would also expand the empire, just like the Persian Wars had.

Even though Alcibiades was very excited about the plan, Nicias made it much bigger. He turned a small idea into a huge campaign. He made the conquest of Sicily seem possible and safe. Nicias suggested making the fleet much larger. It went from 60 ships to "140 triremes, 5,100 hoplites, and about 1,300 archers, slingers, and light armed men." It seems Nicias wanted to shock the assembly with his high estimate. But instead of stopping them, his numbers made them even more eager.

Against his wishes, Nicias was appointed General. Alcibiades and Lamachus were also appointed. All three were given full power to do what was best for Athens in Sicily.

Before the fleet sailed, a religious scandal happened. This was seen as a bad sign for the mission. Alcibiades was accused of destroying religious statues. He was also accused of disrespecting sacred rituals. His opponents wanted him to sail as planned. They said he should stand trial when he returned. Alcibiades was suspicious. He asked to be tried immediately, even if it meant death, to clear his name. This request was denied. In 415 BC, the fleet sailed, with the charges against Alcibiades still unresolved.

When they arrived in Catana, Sicily, the three commanders had different plans for attacking Syracuse. While there, an Athenian ship arrived. It told Alcibiades he was under arrest. This was for the statue destruction and for disrespecting the rituals. Alcibiades agreed to return on his ship. But when the ship stopped in southern Italy, he escaped. He sailed to the Peloponnese. There, he found safety in Sparta. He soon started giving advice to the Spartans. He told them how to use the situation in Syracuse to hurt Athens. In Athens, he was sentenced to death in his absence. His guilt seemed proven.

Nicias led the Athenian forces. They landed at Dascon near Syracuse but achieved little. Hermocrates led the Syracusan defense. Meanwhile, Alcibiades convinced the Spartans to send Gylippus to help Syracuse. As a result, a Spartan fleet soon arrived to support their allies in Syracuse. A stalemate began.

In 414 BC, Athens sent more help to Nicias. They sent 73 ships and 5,000 soldiers to Sicily. These were under the command of generals Demosthenes and Eurymedon. They were to help Nicias with the siege of Syracuse.

The Athenian army tried to capture Syracuse. A large fleet of Athenian ships blocked the city from the sea. After some early success, the Athenian troops became confused during a night attack. They were completely defeated by Gylippus. The Athenian commanders Lamachus and Eurymedon were killed. Nicias, even though he was ill, was left in sole charge of the siege of Syracuse.

After this defeat, Demosthenes suggested that the Athenians should give up the siege. He thought they should return to Athens. They were needed there to defend against a Spartan invasion. This invasion was inspired by Alcibiades. But Nicias refused. According to Plutarch, Nicias said he would rather be killed by the enemy. He feared being killed by the Athenians if they were defeated.

Nicias' Death

In 413 BC, the Syracusans and Spartans, led by Hermocrates, trapped the Athenians in the harbor. The Athenians suffered huge losses in the second Battle of Syracuse. Demosthenes was ambushed by the Syracusans and forced to surrender. Nicias was soon captured as well. Both were executed by allied forces, even though Gylippus had ordered them to be spared. Most of the surviving Athenian soldiers were kept in stone quarries near Syracuse. There was no other room for them. Many died slowly from disease and hunger. Few survivors ever returned to Athens.

See also

In Spanish: Nicias para niños