Cleon

Family: Athenian · Role: speaker · First appears: Book 3 · Chapter 9 · Part 5

At Athens, Cleon, son of Cleaenetus, was a powerful speaker among the commons. During the reconsideration of the decree ordering the deaths of Mitylene’s adult men and the enslavement of its women and children, he argued for putting the prisoners and the adult male population to death; more than a thousand people identified as prime movers in the rebellion were executed on his motion. Later, he persuaded the Athenians to demand the islanders’ surrender and the restoration of several places before agreeing to a truce.

When Nicias taunted him by offering him command of the expedition against Pylos, Cleon accepted, promising to capture or kill the Lacedaemonians within twenty days. The Athenians chose him and Theagenes as commissioners, then voted him command; he selected Demosthenes as his colleague. At the island, Cleon and Demosthenes halted the fighting and offered terms, and after Styphon and his companions surrendered, Cleon brought the prisoners to Athens within the promised time.

The next summer, Cleon’s forces captured Torone, taking its commander Pasitelidas and other men prisoner; the women and children were enslaved. He also took Galepsus by storm and sent envoys to Perdiccas and Polles to summon troops. After advancing toward Amphipolis, his army was defeated by the forces of Brasidas and Clearidas. Cleon fled and was killed; he and Brasidas, who had opposed peace on their respective sides, both died after the defeat.