Peace of Nicias

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The peace treaty of 421 BC becomes the peace of Nicias . Between Athens and Sparta , which brought the Peloponnesian War to a temporary end. In a figurative sense, the term is also used for a “lazy peace”.

With the death of Kleon and Brasidas at the Battle of Amphipolis in 422 BC. The two sharpest opponents of an understanding between the two main actors of the war had failed. The Athenian politician and military leader Nikias , who had previously advised an understanding with Sparta (this was in line with Kimon's policy , which Nikias continued), finally negotiated peace with the Spartan King Pleistoanax . According to Thucydides , the peace treaty dates back to April 9, 421 BC. To date.

The peace was concluded for 50 years and was based on the status quo ante : The Athenian bases Pylos and Kythera were to be exchanged for the Amphipolis occupied by Sparta . There was also to be an exchange of prisoners (which also included the Spartians captured in the Battle of Sphakteria ). Skione, which had converted to Sparta, had to be extradited, other Thracian cities were supposed to pay taxes ( phoroi ) and remain untouched for them. Thebes kept Platää , for which Athens was allowed to keep a port of Megara , which it had previously conquered. Free access to the Panhellenic sanctuaries was also agreed.

The Peace of Nicias was also referred to as a "lazy peace" because the causes of the conflict were not eliminated and the interests of the Spartan allies were not taken into account (especially since Megara lost a port and Corinth did not get the hoped-for profits). Already at the beginning there were disputes: Sparta had to start by lot, but the Spartan troops in Amphipolis did not want to surrender the city, whereupon Athens did not vacate Pylos.

Eventually Corinth refused to agree, while Thebes and Megara did not agree to all points. In addition, Sparta's slogans for freedom, which were circulated during the war, had proven to be empty phrases. Soon afterwards there were unrest in Sparta's Peloponnesian League and an interplay of coalitions.

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  • Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War , 5, 16–24.

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