Thirty Tyrants


Thirty Tyrants,

oligarchy of ancient Athens (404–403 B.C.). It was created by LysanderLysander
, d. 395 B.C., Spartan naval commander and statesman. Toward the end of the Peloponnesian War he was made admiral and built up the Spartan fleet so that it defeated (407 B.C.) the Athenians off Notium. Later he was responsible for the capture (405 B.C.
..... Click the link for more information.
 under Spartan auspices after the Peloponnesian War. CritiasCritias
, c.460–403 B.C., Athenian political leader and writer. A relative of Plato, he was an aristocrat and had early training in philosophy with Socrates and wrote poems and tragedies.
..... Click the link for more information.
 and TheramenesTheramenes
, c.455–404? B.C., Athenian statesman. He helped to establish (411 B.C.) the oligarchical Four Hundred but was later active in overthrowing them. He fought in the Peloponnesian War, notably in the battle of Cyzicus (now in Turkey) and in the capture of Byzantium.
..... Click the link for more information.
 were prominent members. It was overthrown at Piraeus (now Piraiévs) by ThrasybulusThrasybulus
, d. c.389 B.C., Athenian statesman. A strong supporter of the democratic and anti-Spartan party, he successfully opposed (411 B.C.) the oligarchical Four Hundred and later had Alcibiades recalled.
..... Click the link for more information.
.

Thirty Tyrants

 

an oligarchical board consisting of 30 members who held power in Athens from April to December 404 B.C. The Thirty Tyrants were elected by the Assembly under pressure from Sparta after the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 B.C.). Led by Critias, they were implacable foes of democracy. They limited citizenship with full rights, which they based on stringent property qualifications, to 3,000 Athenians, none of whom, however, was ever called to sit in the Assembly. They also condemned at least 1,500 persons to death and confiscated their property. A revolt against the Thirty Tyrants was instigated at Piraeus, the harbor of Athens, by returning exiled democrats under Thrasybulus. Critias was killed, and his supporters fled from Athens. The city then reestablished democracy.