The Four Hundred

The Four Hundred briefly replaced Athenian democracy with an oligarchy and weakened Athens’ ability to fight the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B. C.E.).

Date: Spring-summer, 411 b. c.e.

Category: Organizations and institutions Locale: Athens, Greece

Summary Afailed Sicilian expedition (415-413 b. c.e.) left Athens militarily weak and financially desperate. The revolution began in the Athenian fleet at Samos when Alcibiades of Athens promised to win Persian support for Athens if he was recalled from exile and limits were imposed on the democracy. After fruitless negotiations with the Persian satrap Tissaphernes, the oligarchical leaders broke with Alcibiades and carried through a coup d’etat at Athens, putting power in the hands of a handpicked Council of Four Hundred. Their promise to share power with an assembly of Five Thousand (citizens with full rights) was not kept.

Diplomatic missions to Sparta produced no peace agreement but inspired rumors of a plot to betray the harbor of Piraeus. Civil war seemed possible. Under pressure, the Four Hundred agreed to enroll the Five Thousand. After a naval defeat off Euboea, the Four Hundred fell; some leaders fled or were executed. The Five Thousand, led by moderates, soon gave way to full democracy.

Significance Bitter memories of 411 b. c.e. continued to divide Athens. After Athens’ defeat, former members of the Four Hundred participated in the Thirty Tyrants.

Further Reading

Kagan, Donald. The Fall of the Athenian Empire. Ithaca, N. Y.: Cornell University Press, 1987.

The Peloponnesian War. New York: Viking, 2003.

Sealey, Raphael. A History of the Greek City States. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1976.

Stockton, David. The Classical Athenian Democracy. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.

George E. Pesely

See also: Alcibiades of Athens; Athens; Thirty Tyrants.