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

172 THE FALL OF THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE
Samian phase, since they included those who had taken part in the
oligarchy in the new oath to which they swore the Athenian and
Samian armed forces: "to be governed by democracy and to live in
harmony, to pursue the war against the Peloponnesians vigorously, to
be enemies to the Four Hundred and not to enter into negotiations
with them. " 54 Hereafter, Athenians and Samians would stand together
against the Four Hundred in Athens as well as the Peloponnesian
enemy. But Thucydides also tells us that these men were the leaders
of the movement that had restored democracy to the Athenian forces
on Samos and to the Samians themselves, a goal they now proclaimed
openly." We must not forget, however, that Thrasybulus was one of
the trierarchs who had played a part in the movement that brought
about the oligarchy. Clearly, his actions in the interim must have led
the Samian and Athenian democrats on the island to forgive and forget
his participation. Our analysis of Thucydides' account, however, reveals
that Thrasybulus had been a member of the movement to alter
the democracy, later became a most trusted and respected democratic
leader, and was at the same time a moderate. For the rest of his career
he remained an unwavering democrat, opposed to involvement with
any kind of oligarchy. Had it been otherwise, he too like his fellow
demesman Theramenes, might have been called by his enemies an
opportunist seeking only to advance his personal ambitions. His performance
in 411, however, reveals that he was a patriot, comfortable
with democracy but prepared to curtail it somewhat, at least temporarily,
to enhance Athens' chances of victory in the war. When the
oligarchic movement promised to recall Alcibiades and gain the expected
aid from Persia, Thrasybulus joined it, along with others who
shared his views. When the more extreme elements took control and
excluded Alcibiades from the plan, Thrasybulus quickly and effectively
disassociated himself from the movement. Thereafter, he opposed
the oligarchs, whom he no longer trusted, and put his hopes for
victory in a plan to persuade the democratic forces on Samos to bring
back Alcibiades. He prevented violence against his former colleagues
in the movement and supported an amnesty similar to the one observed
in 403 with which he is so gloriously associated. 56 In short, he revealed
himself to be a moderate.