Hermocrates

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Hermokrates ( Greek  Ἑρμοκράτης Hermokrátēs ; † 407 BC ) was a Syracusan statesman and general. His exact date of birth is not known.

In 424 BC He first appeared politically at the Gela peace congress ; he successfully challenged the Sicilian Greeks to resolve their internal disputes. He campaigned for the independence of Sicily from outside powers and advised 415 BC. BC to form a coalition against Athens that went beyond Sicily and wanted to force the island into its sphere of influence. For a short time he was one of the three strategists , but was then ousted by competitors.

As a politician, he remained a main driving force of the Sicilian resistance against Athens and was later the most important advisor and helper of the Spartan Gylippos , who directed the military actions of Syracuse against the Athenian expeditionary corps in Sicily. By his stratagem he prevented 413 BC An undisturbed withdrawal of the enemies in distress and thus had a decisive share in the complete victory of the Syracusans over Athens.

412 BC He was sent to Asia Minor as an admiral , where he arrived after the Battle of Miletus to fight with a Syracuse fleet on the Spartan side. 411 BC He was involved in the naval battles of Kynossema and Abydos under the Spartan sea ​​lord Mindaros . After the defeat at the Battle of Kyzikos in 410 BC. He was replaced and banished together with his admiral colleagues from the democratic party that had meanwhile come to power in Syracuse.

As part of the Spartan politics, he and his brother Proxenos participated in a diplomatic mission to the Persian great king. The Persian satrap Pharnabazos supported him with larger funds that allowed him to equip mercenaries and triremes for the return trip to Syracuse. After the conquest of Selinus and Himera by the Carthaginians, he returned in 408 BC. BC returned to Sicily, gathered troops in the ruins of Selinus and restored its walls. In an attempt to force his recall from exile by force, he found 407 BC. In the context of a failed coup against Syracuse in a street fight.

The future tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius I , who came from a humble background, was one of his political supporters and, after he came to power, married a daughter of the famous politician.

Hermocrates appears in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias , in which the story of Atlantis is presented. Plato probably originally planned a third dialogue called Hermocrates .

Hermocrates was popular with his soldiers for his care, dedication and affability. He was highly esteemed in the council of war and was considered an excellent speaker and advisor. Thucydides (6:72) calls him a "man who was in all fields inferior to no one in insight and had proven himself in war through experience and distinguished himself through bravery". Plato regarded him as one of the most capable statesmen of his time.

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literature

  • HD Westlake: Hermocrates the Syracusan. In: Revue bénédictine. Volume 41, 1958/59, pp. 237-268.

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personal data
SURNAME Hermocrates
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Syracusan statesman and general
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 407 BC Chr.
Place of death Syracuse