Theramenes

Family: Four Hundred · Role: general · First appears: Book 8 · Chapter 25 · Part 5

At Athens, Theramenes, son of Hagnon, was among the leading supporters of the Four Hundred, established after the assembly ratified the new constitution without opposition. The Four Hundred took power, and removed people by killing, imprisoning, or banishing them; afterwards they sought peace with Agis and sent envoys to Lacedaemon.

Soon after, Theramenes and Aristocrates joined other critics of the oligarchic administration, urging that the Five Thousand exist in reality and that the constitution be fairer. When heavy infantry in Piraeus seized Alexicles, Theramenes defended himself and said he was ready to help rescue him. At Piraeus, he agreed to demolish the fortification in Eetionia; the heavy infantry then released Alexicles, pulled it down, and later agreed to hold an assembly to restore concord.