Today's Passage
This passage occurs during Brasidas's campaign in northern Greece (424 BCE), a crucial phase of the Archidamian War.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Brasidas himself was sent out by the Lacedaemonians mainly at his own desire, although the Chalcidians also were eager to have a man so thorough as he had shown himself whenever there was anything to be done at Sparta, and whose after-service abroad proved of the utmost use to his country. At the present moment his just and moderate conduct towards the towns generally succeeded in procuring their revolt, besides the places which he managed to take by treachery; and thus when the Lacedaemonians desired to treat, as they ultimately did, they had places to offer in exchange, and the burden of war meanwhile shifted from Peloponnese. Later on in the war, after the events in Sicily, the present valour and conduct of Brasidas, known by experience to some, by hearsay to others, was what mainly created in the allies of Athens a feeling for the Lacedaemonians. He was the first who went out and showed himself so good a man at all points as to leave behind him the conviction that the rest were like him.
Meanwhile his arrival in the Thracian country no sooner became known to the Athenians than they declared war against Perdiccas, whom they regarded as the author of the expedition, and kept a closer watch on their allies in that quarter.
Upon the arrival of Brasidas and his army, Perdiccas immediately started with them and with his own forces against Arrhabaeus, son of Bromerus, king of the Lyncestian Macedonians, his neighbour, with whom he had a quarrel and whom he wished to subdue. However, when he arrived with his army and Brasidas at the pass leading into Lyncus, Brasidas told him that before commencing hostilities he wished to go and try to persuade Arrhabaeus to become the ally of Lacedaemon, this latter having already made overtures intimating his willingness to make Brasidas arbitrator between them, and the Chalcidian envoys accompanying him having warned him not to remove the apprehensions of Perdiccas, in order to ensure his greater zeal in their cause. Besides, the envoys of Perdiccas had talked at Lacedaemon about his bringing many of the places round him into alliance with them; and thus Brasidas thought he might take a larger view of the question of Arrhabaeus. Perdiccas however retorted that he had not brought him with him to arbitrate in their quarrel, but to put down the enemies whom he might point out to him; and that while he, Perdiccas, maintained half his army it was a breach of faith for Brasidas to parley with Arrhabaeus. Nevertheless Brasidas disregarded the wishes of Perdiccas and held the parley in spite of him, and suffered himself to be persuaded to lead off the army without invading the country of Arrhabaeus; after which Perdiccas, holding that faith had not been kept with him, contributed only a third instead of half of the support of the army.
Modern Translation
The Spartans sent out Brasidas primarily because he himself was eager to go, though the Chalcidians were also keen to have someone with his proven track record—a man who had demonstrated exceptional competence in every task he undertook at Sparta, and whose subsequent service abroad would prove invaluable to his country. At this particular moment, his fair and moderate treatment of the cities generally succeeded in winning them over to revolt, in addition to those places he managed to capture through subterfuge. This gave the Spartans bargaining chips when they eventually sought to negotiate peace, allowing them to offer captured territories in exchange while shifting the theater of war away from the Peloponnese. Later in the war, following the Sicilian expedition, it was the reputation of Brasidas—his valor and conduct known to some through direct experience, to others by report—that primarily fostered pro-Spartan sentiment among Athens' allies. He was the first Spartan commander to venture abroad and prove himself so exemplary in every respect that he left behind the conviction that all Spartans were of similar caliber.
Meanwhile, as soon as the Athenians learned of his arrival in Thrace, they declared Perdiccas an enemy, holding him responsible for inviting this expedition, and they tightened their surveillance over their allies in the region.
When Brasidas arrived with his forces, Perdiccas immediately mobilized them alongside his own troops against Arrhabaeus, son of Bromerus, the king of the Lyncestian Macedonians. This neighboring ruler was Perdiccas's enemy, and he intended to subjugate him. However, when they reached the mountain pass leading into Lyncus, Brasidas insisted that before initiating hostilities, he wanted to attempt diplomatic negotiations with Arrhabaeus to bring him into alliance with Sparta. Arrhabaeus had already indicated through intermediaries his willingness to accept Brasidas as mediator, and the Chalcidian envoys traveling with the expedition had cautioned Brasidas not to eliminate Perdiccas's concerns entirely, ensuring his continued enthusiasm for their cause. Moreover, Perdiccas's ambassadors had promised the Spartans that he would bring many neighboring territories into their alliance, which led Brasidas to believe he should consider the Arrhabaeus question more broadly.
Perdiccas objected vehemently, arguing that he hadn't brought Brasidas to arbitrate disputes but to destroy the enemies he designated. He insisted that since he was paying for half the army's maintenance, Brasidas's negotiations with Arrhabaeus constituted a betrayal. Despite Perdiccas's protests, Brasidas proceeded with the talks anyway and allowed himself to be convinced to withdraw without invading Arrhabaeus's territory. In response, Perdiccas, feeling betrayed, reduced his financial support from half to only one-third of the army's expenses.
Historical Context
This passage occurs during Brasidas's campaign in northern Greece (424 BCE), a crucial phase of the Archidamian War. Brasidas, Sparta's most capable general, has been sent to Thrace and Macedonia to stir up revolts among Athenian allies and establish a Spartan presence in the region. The passage reveals the complex diplomatic situation: Perdiccas II of Macedon has invited Spartan help against his local enemies but finds Brasidas pursuing broader Spartan strategic interests rather than simply serving as a mercenary. This tension between local and imperial agendas would characterize much of Brasidas's northern campaign. The passage also emphasizes Brasidas's exceptional reputation—unusual for Thucydides, who rarely praises individuals so highly—suggesting his unique role in challenging Athenian power through diplomacy as much as military force.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Brasidas's Northern Campaign
Brasidas's expedition to Thrace (424-422 BCE) represented Sparta's first major offensive operation outside the Peloponnese. His success in detaching Athenian allies, particularly the capture of Amphipolis, forced Athens to seek peace negotiations and demonstrated that Sparta could project power beyond traditional boundaries.
Learn more →Macedonian Politics
Perdiccas II ruled Macedonia (c. 454-413 BCE) during a period of weakness, constantly maneuvering between Athens and Sparta while dealing with internal rivals like Arrhabaeus. His shifting alliances exemplified the survival strategies of smaller powers caught between the great powers of the Peloponnesian War.
Learn more →Spartan Foreign Policy
Traditionally focused on maintaining hegemony in the Peloponnese, Sparta's decision to send Brasidas north marked a significant shift in strategy. This expedition demonstrated Sparta's growing willingness to challenge Athenian power directly in its sphere of influence rather than simply defending the Peloponnesian homeland.
Learn more →Military Finance in Ancient Greece
The dispute over payment reveals how ancient military campaigns depended on local financial support. Perdiccas's reduction of support from half to one-third of costs shows how financial leverage could be used to express political displeasure and influence military operations.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.67-68)
Diodorus provides a parallel account of Brasidas's expedition to Thrace, though with less detail about the diplomatic complexities with Perdiccas and more focus on the military achievements.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Nicias (10.1-2)
Plutarch mentions Brasidas's northern campaign in the context of its impact on Athenian morale and Nicias's subsequent peace negotiations, confirming Thucydides's assessment of Brasidas's effectiveness.
Read passage →Aristotle: Politics (5.1311a)
Aristotle discusses Macedonian royal politics and the chronic instability caused by disputes over succession and territory, providing context for understanding Perdiccas's conflict with Arrhabaeus.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Brasidas's insistence on negotiating with Arrhabaeus reflect broader tensions between Spartan imperial strategy and local allies' immediate needs?
- What does this passage reveal about the nature of military alliances in the ancient Greek world, particularly regarding financial obligations and strategic priorities?
- Why might Thucydides emphasize Brasidas's exceptional qualities so strongly, given his usually restrained approach to individual praise?
- How does the conflict between Perdiccas and Brasidas illustrate the challenges faced by smaller powers trying to use great power rivalries to their advantage?