Kallikratidas

Kallikratidas ( Greek Καλλικρατίδας Kallikratídas ; † 406 BC ) was a Spartan naval leader in the Peloponnesian War .

He was born in 406 BC. . BC as the successor Lysander commander of the Spartan fleet ( nauarchos appointed). After securing his authority, he united the fleet in Miletus and sought a decisive battle with the Athenians . He threatened Konon , the Athenian fleet commander , that he would end his liaison with Neptune , and when the latter allowed himself to be irritated, Kallikratidas actually succeeded in chasing him with the bulk of the Athenian fleet near Lesbos into the port of Mytilene and from there from land and sea to include. When the Athenians sent a relief fleet, Kallikratidas let them attack despite being numerically inferior. The Peloponnesians suffered a heavy defeat in the following battle near the Arginus , in which Kallikratidas was also killed.

Kallikratidas is portrayed as a typical laconian: without subtle manners in dealing with people, personally undemanding, incorruptible, brave, straightforwardly representing his opinion. Because of these traits, he had problems with the allies, who would have preferred the more lithe Lysander to be an admiral. He also had a hard time with the Persian Prince Cyrus , on whose monetary payments the fleet depended. When he was refused an audience with him, because the prince was "drinking", he is said to have said: "Well, I'll wait. until he has emptied his cup. ”Kallikratidas, who was against the alliance with the Persians, tried to replace the Persian payments with payments from the city of Miletus, where the headquarters of his fleet was located.

The main sources for Kallikratidas' life are Xenophon ( Hellenika 1, 6, 1–33) and Diodor (13, 70–79 and 97–99).

literature

• Ione Mylonas Shear : Kallikrates In: Hesperia 32, 1963, pp. 375-424.
• Joseph Roisman: Kallikratidas. A Greek Patriot? In: Classical Journal 83, 1987, pp. 21-33.
• JL Moles: Xenophon and Callicratidas . In: Journal of Hellenic Studies 114, 1994, pp. 70-84.