Lacedaemonius ( Greek: Λακεδαιμόνιος) [n 1] was an Athenian general of the Philaid clan. [3] He served Athens, notably in the naval Battle of Sybota against the Corinthians in 433 BC.
Lacedaemonius was the son of Cimon, a pro-Sparta general and Athenian political figure, [4] and Isodice who was the daughter of Euryptolemus I, a cousin of Pericles. [5] [6] He was a grandson of the famous Miltiades IV. An account cited that he had a twin called Oulius. [5] He was also the brother of Miltiades V. [5]
Lacedaemonius came from Lacedaemon, another name for the city state of Sparta. His father so admired the Spartans that as a sign of goodwill he named his son after their city. Lacedaemonius was also identified as the proxenos of the Spartans in Athens. [7]
Accounts cited Lacedaemonius as one of the Athenian generals sent to aid Corcyra in its conflict with Corinth after an alliance agreement concluded in 433. [8] This is part of the series of events that led to the Peloponnesian War. [8] According to Plutarch, Lacedaemonius sailed with ten ships and was sent forth against his will. [9] Lacedaemonius, who according to Thucydides was sent with three other generals: Diotimus, Strombichus, and Proteas, was ordered not to engage with the Corinthians unless they attacked Corcyra. [10] The Athenian fleet joined the Corcyraeans when the Corinthians finally invaded under Xenocleides. [10]
A view, which had been advanced by Plutarch, held that giving Lacedaemonius command with a meager fleet for his campaign was an insult to the sons of Cimon due their sympathy for Sparta. [11] Modern historians see Lacedaemonius appointment as a political move on the part of Pericles, who wanted to destroy political opposition by cementing his ties with the Cimonians. [12] There are also those who propose that Lacedaemonius appointment, his mission, and the size of his fleet was part of a strategy of "minimal deterrence" against Corinth. [13]
Lacedaemonius ( Greek: Λακεδαιμόνιος) [n 1] was an Athenian general of the Philaid clan. [3] He served Athens, notably in the naval Battle of Sybota against the Corinthians in 433 BC.
Lacedaemonius was the son of Cimon, a pro-Sparta general and Athenian political figure, [4] and Isodice who was the daughter of Euryptolemus I, a cousin of Pericles. [5] [6] He was a grandson of the famous Miltiades IV. An account cited that he had a twin called Oulius. [5] He was also the brother of Miltiades V. [5]
Lacedaemonius came from Lacedaemon, another name for the city state of Sparta. His father so admired the Spartans that as a sign of goodwill he named his son after their city. Lacedaemonius was also identified as the proxenos of the Spartans in Athens. [7]
Accounts cited Lacedaemonius as one of the Athenian generals sent to aid Corcyra in its conflict with Corinth after an alliance agreement concluded in 433. [8] This is part of the series of events that led to the Peloponnesian War. [8] According to Plutarch, Lacedaemonius sailed with ten ships and was sent forth against his will. [9] Lacedaemonius, who according to Thucydides was sent with three other generals: Diotimus, Strombichus, and Proteas, was ordered not to engage with the Corinthians unless they attacked Corcyra. [10] The Athenian fleet joined the Corcyraeans when the Corinthians finally invaded under Xenocleides. [10]
A view, which had been advanced by Plutarch, held that giving Lacedaemonius command with a meager fleet for his campaign was an insult to the sons of Cimon due their sympathy for Sparta. [11] Modern historians see Lacedaemonius appointment as a political move on the part of Pericles, who wanted to destroy political opposition by cementing his ties with the Cimonians. [12] There are also those who propose that Lacedaemonius appointment, his mission, and the size of his fleet was part of a strategy of "minimal deterrence" against Corinth. [13]