Papers by Wojciech Duszyński
Florilegium. Studia ofiarowane Profesorowi Aleksandrowi Krawczukowi z okazji dziewięćdziesiątej piątej rocznicy urodzin pod redakcją E. Dąbrowy, T. Grabowskiego i M. Piegdonia, 2017
The control of the Athenian demos over military commanders:
the case of Thrasybulus’ strategia (3... more The control of the Athenian demos over military commanders:
the case of Thrasybulus’ strategia (390–389 BC.)
Thrasybulus was an important Athenian military commander between the late 5th and the beginning of the 4th century BC. The paper deals with his last campaign in the Aegean, during the Corinthian War (395–387/6 BC). The much debated question of campaign chronology is raised and the author argues for dating the whole expedition to the years 390–389. After the overall description of military actions, the article focuses on the problem of Thrasybulus relations with the native authorities, and the degree of his freedom to make decisions in the field. The testimony of a pair of Lysias’ speeches (Against Ergocles and Against Philocrates) is analysed in such a context and compared with the information transmitted by Xenophon and Diodorus. It is very probable that the accusations formulated in the court speeches were true to a significant degree. Thus, Thrasybulus’ movements were quite wilful and even contrary to the commands of the Athenian demos (like sailing north instead of Rhodes, where he was sent), who had serious problems with executing control over the commander. The question of relations between military commanders is also raised. We hear from the speeches that other officers (besides Thrasybulus) participated in the campaign. They could have been a potential organ of the polis’ control. In such a situation, filling the military with one’s own supporters was very useful in decreasing the controlling power of the Athenian demos. This had probably been done by Thrasybulus.
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Papers by Wojciech Duszyński
the case of Thrasybulus’ strategia (390–389 BC.)
Thrasybulus was an important Athenian military commander between the late 5th and the beginning of the 4th century BC. The paper deals with his last campaign in the Aegean, during the Corinthian War (395–387/6 BC). The much debated question of campaign chronology is raised and the author argues for dating the whole expedition to the years 390–389. After the overall description of military actions, the article focuses on the problem of Thrasybulus relations with the native authorities, and the degree of his freedom to make decisions in the field. The testimony of a pair of Lysias’ speeches (Against Ergocles and Against Philocrates) is analysed in such a context and compared with the information transmitted by Xenophon and Diodorus. It is very probable that the accusations formulated in the court speeches were true to a significant degree. Thus, Thrasybulus’ movements were quite wilful and even contrary to the commands of the Athenian demos (like sailing north instead of Rhodes, where he was sent), who had serious problems with executing control over the commander. The question of relations between military commanders is also raised. We hear from the speeches that other officers (besides Thrasybulus) participated in the campaign. They could have been a potential organ of the polis’ control. In such a situation, filling the military with one’s own supporters was very useful in decreasing the controlling power of the Athenian demos. This had probably been done by Thrasybulus.
the case of Thrasybulus’ strategia (390–389 BC.)
Thrasybulus was an important Athenian military commander between the late 5th and the beginning of the 4th century BC. The paper deals with his last campaign in the Aegean, during the Corinthian War (395–387/6 BC). The much debated question of campaign chronology is raised and the author argues for dating the whole expedition to the years 390–389. After the overall description of military actions, the article focuses on the problem of Thrasybulus relations with the native authorities, and the degree of his freedom to make decisions in the field. The testimony of a pair of Lysias’ speeches (Against Ergocles and Against Philocrates) is analysed in such a context and compared with the information transmitted by Xenophon and Diodorus. It is very probable that the accusations formulated in the court speeches were true to a significant degree. Thus, Thrasybulus’ movements were quite wilful and even contrary to the commands of the Athenian demos (like sailing north instead of Rhodes, where he was sent), who had serious problems with executing control over the commander. The question of relations between military commanders is also raised. We hear from the speeches that other officers (besides Thrasybulus) participated in the campaign. They could have been a potential organ of the polis’ control. In such a situation, filling the military with one’s own supporters was very useful in decreasing the controlling power of the Athenian demos. This had probably been done by Thrasybulus.