Aisymnety
Aisymnetie (ancient Greek aisymneteía ) was the political rule over a city-state in ancient Greece by an arbitrator chosen apart from all usual procedures or requested by a friendly city . So it rarely came about, usually as a last resort after unsuccessful civil wars . It was essential that the Aisymnet had come to power neither under the old constitution nor by a coup, as is usually the case with a tyrant .
As in tyranny , the powers of an aisymnete went far and also allowed him constitutional reforms, general functions and the power to conclude treaties with other states ( Poleis ). Politically, he was heavily dependent on his statesmanship and, of course, on the political forces that had called him.
When he resigned, this extraordinary form of government usually changed into a constitutional other, often with democratic features.
Perhaps the historically most successful Aisymnet was Timoleon, requested by Syracuse from its mother city Corinth .
The ancient philosopher Aristotle discussed the form of government in his work Politiká (Book III.14 [1285c], Book IV.10 [1295a]). He distinguished it from other tyrannical rule because it was not hereditary. In addition, he stressed that it can be exercised for life as well as temporarily.
literature
- Aristotle: politics. Based on the translation by Franz Susemihl with an introduction, bibliography and additional comments by Wolfgang Kullmann . Based on an arrangement by Nelly Tsouyopoulos and Ernesto Grassi, newly edited by Ursula Wolf . 2nd edition, new edition. Rowohlt-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Reinbek near Hamburg 2003, ISBN 3-499-55545-X .