Histiaios

Family: Ionian · Role: despot of Miletos · First appears: Book 4 · §135–142

At Ister, Histiaios opposed Miltiades son of Kimon’s call to free Ionia, arguing that the Ionian despots ruled through Dareios. The leaders followed his view and resolved to feign breaking the bridge; Histiaios told the Scythians they would seek freedom, then brought out the ships and repaired the bridge so the Persian army could cross.

At Sardis, Dareios summoned Histiaios and offered him a reward. As despot of Miletos, Histiaios asked for Myrkinos to found a city. Later, Dareios summoned him from Myrkinos to serve as counsellor, saying, “coming with me to Susa, have whatsoever things I have, eating at my table and being my counseller.” Histiaios was the son of Lysagoras and also named as the son of Tymnes; Aristagoras was his cousin and son-in-law.

At the same time that Aristagoras and his supporters resolved on revolt after receiving Histiaios’s message, Histiaios was seized by craft at Myus. He persuaded Dareios to release him to go to Ionia, under orders to return to Susa. Later, after papers sent through Hermippos implied that Histiaios had been arranging a revolt with the Persians at Sardis, the Chians learned he was an enemy to the king and released him. On his way to the king, Artaphrenes and Harpagos put him to death. His son was Phylacos.