Back Nikias ALS نيكياس Arabic نيكياس ARZ Нікій Byelorussian Никий Bulgarian Nícies Catalan Nikias German Νικίας Greek Nikio Esperanto Nicias Spanish
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Nicias | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Native name | Νικίας Νικηράτου Κυδαντίδης |
| Born | c. 470 BC Athens, Greece |
| Died | 413 BC (aged 56/57) Syracuse, Sicily |
| Allegiance | Athens |
| Rank | Strategos |
| Known for | Peace of Nicias |
| Battles / wars | |
| Other work | Peace of Nicias |
Nicias (/ˈnɪʃiəs/; Ancient Greek: Νικίας Νικηράτου Κυδαντίδης, romanized: Nikias Nikēratou Kydantidēs; c. 470–413 BC)[a] was an Athenian politician and general, who was prominent during the Peloponnesian War. A slaveowning member of the Athenian aristocracy, he inherited a large fortune from his father, and had investments in the silver mines around Laurion, in south-east Attica.
Following the death of Pericles in 429 BC, Nicias became the principal rival of Cleon and the democrats in the struggle for political leadership of the Athenian state. Politically a moderate conservative, he opposed the aggressive imperialism and warmongering of Cleon and Alcibiades. Despite his political views, he served as strategos (general) during the war, and led a number of expeditions, although these achieved little. Nicias' goal was to conclude a peace with Sparta on terms favourable to Athens, and he was largely responsible for the successful negotiations which led to the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC.
In 415 BC, Nicias was appointed commander of Athens' ill-fated Sicilian Expedition. A series of disasters led to the destruction of the Athenian forces, and Nicias was executed by the Syracusans in 413 BC.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).