Athenian Generals: Military Authority in the Classical Period (Mnemosyne, Bibliotheca Classica Batava. Supplementum, 182)

This investigation into Athenian military authority considers both the role played by generals in the deliberative and final stages of Athens' military expeditions and the relationship which obtained between strategoi and their subordinates, colleagues, and the Athenian demos itself. ATHENIAN GENERALS: MILITARY AUTHORITY IN THE CLASSICAL PERIOD TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments List of Tables and Figures Abbreviations of Ancient Authors and Texts Bibliographic Abbreviations Introduction PART ONE STRATEGOI AND THE CAMPAIGN 1. Deliberation and Preparation for War 1. Deliberation 1.1. The Convening of Ekklesiai 1.2. The Influence of Generals on the Formulation of Military Policy 2. The Appointment of Generals to Commands 3. The Selection of Troops and Military Personnel for Particular Expeditions 3.1. The Enrollment of Citizen Hoplites 3.2. The Appointment ofTrierarchs Excursus: Attested Instances of Involvement by Generals in Campaign-Related Deliberation 2. The Aftermath of Combat 1. Negotiating Terms of Surrender 2. The Profits of War 2.1. The Disposal of Booty in Athenian Armies 2.2. The Distribution of Booty among Contingents of Allied Annies 3. Prisoners of War and Conquered Populations 3.1. Prisoners Taken in the Course of Military Operations 3.2. The Captive Populations of Conquered Cities PART TWO STRATEGOI AND THEIR SUBORDINATES 3. Athens' Generals and their Troops and Subordinate Officers 1. Military Discipline 1. 1. The Disciplinary Authority of Generals in the Field 1.2. Military Tribunals in Athens 2. The Awarding of Aristeia 3. The Role of Subordinates in Decision-Making 3.1. The Influence of the Rank-and-File on Decisions of the Athenian Command 3.2. The Participation of Subordinate Officers in Councils of-War PART THREE STRATEGOI AND THEIR COLLEAGUES 4. Strategoi and the Polemarch 5. Authority in the Strategia 1. Evidence for Generals with Special Powers 1.1. Multiple Representation in the Strategia and Election exhapanton 1.2. The αύτόϛ-Formula and Other Emphatic Terminology 1.3. Thuc. 2.21.3: ατρατηγòϛ ὢν ούκ ἐпεξἀγοι 1.4. Thuc. 2.22.1: ἐκκλησĭαν τε ούκ ἐποĭει αύτῶν ούδἐ ξύλλογον ούδἐνα 1.5. Thuc. 2.65.4: πἀντα τἀ πρἀγματα ἐπἐτρεψαν 2. The Division of Authority among Generals in the Field 2.1. Rotation of Command 2.2. Decision-Making in the Field: The Sicilian Expedition 6. Athens' Strategoi and Allied Commanders 1. The Hellenic League 2. Other Allied Operations of the Fifth Century 3. Fourth-Century Leagues and Alliances 4. Summary PART FOUR STRATEGOI AND THE DEMOS 7. The Demos and Generals in the Field 1. Campaign Instructions and Mid-Campaign Communication 2. The Threat of Disciplinary Action 2.1. Fear of Punishment 2.2. Witnesses for the Prosecution: Colleagues and Subordinates as Potential Threats 8. Disciplinary Action 1. Deposition 2. Euthynai 3. Frequency of Prosecution 4. Sentences Excursus: Depositions and Trials of Strategoi, 501/0-322/1 9. Conclusions Appendix 1. Manning the Walls and Manning the Pnyx Appendix 2. The Miltiades Decree Appendix 3. 490/89: Miltiades' Parian Expedition Appendix 4. Themistokles and the Athenian Response to the Second Persian Invasion Appendix 5. c. 476/5: Kimon's Skyrian Expedition Appendix 6. 456/5: Tolmides' Periplous of the Peloponnese Appendix 7. Kimon's Alleged Recall from Ostracism and the 451/0 Expedition to Cyprus Appendix 8. 440/39: Perikles, Aspasia, and the Expedition to Samos Appendix 9. 433/2: Perikles and the Expedition to Corcyra Appendix 10. Vote on Aristeia at the Isthmus of Corinth, 480n9 Appendix 11. The Strategos epi tous Hoplitas Appendix 12. On the Status of Menandros and Euthydemos in 413/12 Appendix 13. Strategoi Autokratores Appendix 14. Fatalities Appendix 15. Note on the Retirement of Alkibiades to the Chersonese in 407/6 Appendix 16. Note on Philokles' Generalship Texts Bibliography General Index Index of Passages Cited Index of Strategoi Index of Modem Authors SUPPLEMENTS TO MNEMOSYNE This Study Of The Athenian Strategia Is Concerned With Identifying The Locus Of Military Authority In The Athenian Polis. This Volume Is Important Reading For Anyone Who Is Interested In Ancient Military History Or The Question Of Sovereignty In Athens. Pt. 1. Strategoi And The Campaign. 1. Deliberation And Preparation For War. 2. The Aftermath Of Combat -- Pt. 2. Strategoi And Their Subordinates. 3. Athens' Generals And Their Troops And Subordinate Officers -- Pt. 3. Strategoi And Their Colleagues. 4. Strategoi And The Polemarch. 5. Authority In The Strategia. 6. Athens' Strategoi And Allied Commanders -- Pt. 4. Strategoi And The Demos. 7. The Demos And Generals In The Field. 8. Disciplinary Action. 9. Conclusions -- App. 1. Manning The Walls And Manning The Pnyx -- App. 2. The Miltiades Decree -- App. 3. 490/89: Miltiades' Parian Expedition -- App. 4. Themistokles And The Athenian Response To The Second Persian Invasion -- App. 5. C. 476/5: Kimon's Skyrian Expedition -- App. 6. 456/5: Tolmides' Periplous Of The Peloponnese -- App. 7. Kimon's Alleged Recall From Ostracism And The 451/0 Expedition To Cyprus -- App. 8. 440/39: Perikles, Aspasia, And The Expedition To Samos. App. 9. 433/2: Perikles And The Expedition To Corcyra -- App. 10. Vote On Aristeia At The Isthmus Of Corinth, 480/79 -- App. 11. The Strategos Epi Sous Hoplitas -- App. 12. On The Status Of Menandros And Euthydemos In 413/12 -- App. 13. Strategoi Autokratores -- App. 14. Fatalities -- App. 15. Note On The Retirement Of Alkibiades To The Chersonese In 407/6 -- App. 16. Note On Philokles' Generalship. By Debra Hamel. Indexes: P. [223]-250 Includes Bibliographical References (p. [217]-222) Preliminary Material -- Introduction -- Deliberation and Preparation for War -- The Aftermath of Combat -- Athens' Generals and their Troops and Subordinate Officers -- Strategoi and the Polemarch -- Authority in the Strategia -- Athens' Strategoi and Allied Commanders -- The Demos and Generals in the Field -- Disciplinary Action -- Conclusions -- Manning the Walls and Manning the Pnyx -- The Miltiades Decree -- 490/89: Miltiades' Parian Expedition -- Themistokles and the Athenian Response to the Second Persian Invasion -- c. 476/5: Kimon's Skyrian Expedition -- 456/5: Tolmides' Periplous of the Peloponnese -- Kimon's Alleged Recall from Ostracism and the 451/0 Expedition to Cyprus -- 440/39: Perikles, Aspasia, and the Expedition to Samos -- 433/2: Perikles and the Expedmon to Corcyra -- Vote on Aristeia at the Isthmus of Corinth, 480/79 -- The Strategos epi tous Hoplitas -- On the Status of Menandros and Euthydemos in 413/12 -- Strategoi Autokratores -- Fatalities -- Note on the Retirement of Alkibiades to the Chersonese in 407/6 -- Note on Philokles' Generalship -- Texts -- Bibliography -- General Index -- Index of Passages Cited -- Index of Strategoi -- Index of Modern Authors -- Supplements to Mnemosyne by J. M. Bremer , L. F. Janssen , H. Pinkster , H. W. Pleket , C. J. Ruijgh and P. H. Schrijvers This study of the Athenian strategia is concerned with identifying the locus of military authority in the Athenian polis . Consideration of the role played by generals in the deliberative and final stages of military expeditions and of the relationship between strategoi and their subordinates, colleagues, and the Athenian demos itself suggests that Athens' generals did not exercise significant authority over their city's military operations. Rather, the demos controlled its generals both by means of its direct involvement in decision-making related to campaigns and by establishing in Athens a climate of fear which was very often sufficient to dissuade generals from acting in opposition to the Athenians' will. This volume is important reading for anyone who is interested in ancient military history or the question of sovereignty in Athens.