Peisistratos

Family: Athenian · Role: despot of the Athenians · First appears: Book 1 · §53–59

Born to Hippocrates after his father rejected Chilon’s advice to disown any son he might have, Peisistratos became ruler of the Athenians after joining supporters who seized the Acropolis. Not long afterwards, Megacles and Lycurgos united and drove him from power. He later accepted Megacles’ offer of his daughter in marriage in exchange for becoming despot, but after Megacles learned that Peisistratos was avoiding intercourse with her, he became indignant. Peisistratos left Athens for Eretria, where he took counsel with his sons; following Hippias’ advice, they prepared to regain power.

After ten years, Peisistratos returned with forces, took Marathon with help from Lygdamis, and received an oracle from Amphilytos before his forces defeated the Athenians. He regained control of Athens for a third time and firmly established his despotism. He conquered Naxos and entrusted it to Lygdamis, and cleansed Delos by removing graves from the area visible from the temple. Some Athenians died in battle, while others went into exile.

Peisistratos took Sigeion by force and appointed his natural son Hegesistratos, born of an Argive woman, as its despot. His sons later faced Spartan expeditions: after Anchimolios was killed by their cavalry, Cleomenes led a larger force by land. When the children of Peisistratos’ sons were captured during an attempt to remove them from Attica, the sons surrendered and agreed to leave within five days; their family had ruled Athens for thirty-six years. During Peisistratos’ exile from Athens, Callias (father of Hipponicos) bought his goods offered for sale by the state and acted against him.