Lacedaemonius
Template:Short description Template:Special characters Lacedaemonius (Template:Langx)Template:Refn was an Athenian general of the Philaid clan.<ref>Thucydides History of the Pelopponesian War I.45</ref> He served Athens, notably in the naval Battle of Sybota against the Corinthians in 433 BC.
Biography
Lacedaemonius was the son of Cimon, a pro-Sparta general and Athenian political figure,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Isodice who was the daughter of Euryptolemus I, a cousin of Pericles.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He was a grandson of the famous Miltiades IV. An account cited that he had a twin called Oulius.<ref name=":2" /> He was also the brother of Miltiades V.<ref name=":2" />
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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> This is part of the series of events that led to the Peloponnesian War.<ref name=":0" /> According to Plutarch, Lacedaemonius sailed with ten ships and was sent forth against his will.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Lacedaemonius, who according to Thucydides was sent with 2 other generals: Diotimus (son of Strombichus), and Proteas (son of Epicles),<ref>History of the Peloponnesian War, 1.45</ref> was ordered not to engage with the Corinthians unless they attacked Corcyra.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> The Athenian fleet joined the Corcyraeans when the Corinthians finally invaded under Xenocleides.<ref name=":1" />
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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Notes and references
- Notes
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