The Fall of the Athenian Empire-(A New History of the Peloponnesian War) Donald Kagan - (1987)

162 THE FALL OF THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE
at Samos and so unite the Athenian people under their rule. They
further must decide on a policy toward the empire. They must determine
what their policy should be toward their enemies, the Peloponnesians
and the Persians. Should they continue the war or seek
peace? If they chose war, what should be the strategy? If not, what
terms of peace should they accept? However they decided these questions
during the immediate crisis, what should be the character and
goals of Athens in the long run? Toward the end of June of 411 the
Four Hundred set out to answer the questions.
The first actions of the Four Hundred, as we have seen, were cautious,
aiming at the impression of moderation, legality, and continuity.
The council's presidents were chosen by lot, as in the democracy.
Callias, the democratically chosen archon for the year 412/11, and the
treasurers as well appear to have continued in office until the end of
their terms." There was no hurry about replacing these officials, but
the new government needed to be sure of the loyalty of the armed
forces in Athens, so they acted swiftly to appoint a new board of
generals, a cavalry commander, and ten tribal commanders. They may
have made those appointments in the week between their seizure of
power and the formal inauguration. They did not even follow the
procedure prescribed in the constitution for the immediate, provisional
regime, which required a preliminary muster of all hoplites after the
formal establishment of the council. It seems highly unlikely that they
ever chose a second set of officers following the new process." This
was a departure from legality and normality, but in matters involving
military force and, therefore, the immediate security of the regime,
the conspirators could not afford such niceties.
We know the names of six of the new generals and possibly a seventh.14
Alexicles, Aristarchus, Aristoteles, and Melanthius were from
llHCT V, I94-I95·
LJAth. Pol. 31.2 gives the description of these appointments and of the procedure
provided. For a discussion of some of the problems in this account, see HCT V, 2 J0-
2 31. Rhodes' view (Commentary, 401) that the leaders of the Four Hundred acted swiftly
and without regard to legalities in choosing new officers seems to explain the evidence
best.
14
8usolt (GC III:2, 1490, n. 3) provides the evidence for the sixth. To their number
Fornara (Generals, 66) adds Dieitrephes, citing 8.64.1-2. There we are told that Dieitrephes,
who was general-elect for 41 11Io, anticipated events by joining the oligarchs,
assuming his command in the Thraceward region and seizing Thasos on behalf of the
oligarchy. This would have occurred some months before the appointments in June.
The Four Hundred may well have chosen him as one of their generals at that time,
as Fomara assumes, but the assumption is not necessary. After all, Dieitrephes had