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private sphere from the public,
and love affairs from the conduct of warfare. This was precisely something that Pericles
took care not to do, for once he had entered political life, he refused to attend
even the most modest private banquet. 10 The episode also shows to what extent the magistracy of a stratēgos was unspecialized, even though the people did in fact take care to elect true specialists
in military matters to the college of the ten stratēgoi —men such as the military experts Myronides and Phormion.
Among all the fifth-century stratēgoi , Pericles stands out as having had a quite exceptional career.
An Exceptional Stratēgos
Pericles was exceptional on two counts: first, the numerous times that he was reelected
as stratēgos . He occupied the post at least fifteen times and consequently exerted a lasting influence
on the destiny of the city. His first attested election took place in 448/7 and then,
between 443/2 and 429/8 B.C., he was, according to Plutarch, reelected fourteen times
in succession. 11 Second, Pericles may have distinguished himself from his colleagues through the manner
of his elections: according to some historians, he was sometimes elected by all the
Athenians ( ex hapantōn ), not solely by the members of his own tribe ( kata phulas ). This was a great honor for, in the early fifth century, elections in principle
took place separately within each of the tribes. In certain years, the Akamantis tribe,
to which Pericles belonged, seems to have provided the college of stratēgoi with two representatives. For example, in 441/440 Pericles and Glaukon both appear
in the list provided by the Atthidographer, Androtion, despite the fact that they
were both members of the same tribe. 12
Since the late nineteenth century, most historians have believed that stratēgoi were appointed according to two different methods: while the first nine were elected
by their tribes, the tenth was elected ex hapantōn , by the entire body of Athenians. This stratēgos , chosen by the entire civic community would, for that very reason, have enjoyed greater
prestige than his colleagues; and it is thought that Pericles was not alone in being
elected in this distinctive fashion. It is believed that, after the War of Samos in
440/439, the stratēgos Phormion was likewise elected in this fashion and that this soldier of genius was
reelected ex hapantōn in 430/429 at the very time when Pericles was relieved of his responsibilities and
subjected to an extremely heavy fine. 13
However, the hypothesis of a twofold system of election remains tenuous. It is based
on an extract from the Constitution of the Athenians (61.1) that attests that in Aristotle’s day the stratēgoi were elected no longer by their tribes but by the people as a whole. But this passage
does not record the point at which this change took place. It could very well have
happened as early as the first half of the fifth century, which would explain the
simultaneous presence of stratēgoi from the same tribe, without implying the coexistence of two different modes of election. 14 As early as Pericles’ time, stratēgoi may have been elected by the community as a whole, and this would have bestowed upon
them reinforced popular legitimacy, although it would at the same time havedeprived them of the chance to stand out individually from the rest of the other stratēgoi .
Exceptional though Pericles’ career as a stratēgos was, he was never invested with the preeminent position of running the business of
the city on his own, as some historians have claimed. That hypothesis is based on
an overhasty reading of a passage in Thucydides in which the historian mentions Pericles’
return to grace soon after being removed from office in 430 B.C.: at this point the
Athenians elected him stratēgos yet again and entrusted him with “all affairs” ( panta ta pragmata ) (2.65.4). Some interpreters have regarded
and love affairs from the conduct of warfare. This was precisely something that Pericles
took care not to do, for once he had entered political life, he refused to attend
even the most modest private banquet. 10 The episode also shows to what extent the magistracy of a stratēgos was unspecialized, even though the people did in fact take care to elect true specialists
in military matters to the college of the ten stratēgoi —men such as the military experts Myronides and Phormion.
Among all the fifth-century stratēgoi , Pericles stands out as having had a quite exceptional career.
An Exceptional Stratēgos
Pericles was exceptional on two counts: first, the numerous times that he was reelected
as stratēgos . He occupied the post at least fifteen times and consequently exerted a lasting influence
on the destiny of the city. His first attested election took place in 448/7 and then,
between 443/2 and 429/8 B.C., he was, according to Plutarch, reelected fourteen times
in succession. 11 Second, Pericles may have distinguished himself from his colleagues through the manner
of his elections: according to some historians, he was sometimes elected by all the
Athenians ( ex hapantōn ), not solely by the members of his own tribe ( kata phulas ). This was a great honor for, in the early fifth century, elections in principle
took place separately within each of the tribes. In certain years, the Akamantis tribe,
to which Pericles belonged, seems to have provided the college of stratēgoi with two representatives. For example, in 441/440 Pericles and Glaukon both appear
in the list provided by the Atthidographer, Androtion, despite the fact that they
were both members of the same tribe. 12
Since the late nineteenth century, most historians have believed that stratēgoi were appointed according to two different methods: while the first nine were elected
by their tribes, the tenth was elected ex hapantōn , by the entire body of Athenians. This stratēgos , chosen by the entire civic community would, for that very reason, have enjoyed greater
prestige than his colleagues; and it is thought that Pericles was not alone in being
elected in this distinctive fashion. It is believed that, after the War of Samos in
440/439, the stratēgos Phormion was likewise elected in this fashion and that this soldier of genius was
reelected ex hapantōn in 430/429 at the very time when Pericles was relieved of his responsibilities and
subjected to an extremely heavy fine. 13
However, the hypothesis of a twofold system of election remains tenuous. It is based
on an extract from the Constitution of the Athenians (61.1) that attests that in Aristotle’s day the stratēgoi were elected no longer by their tribes but by the people as a whole. But this passage
does not record the point at which this change took place. It could very well have
happened as early as the first half of the fifth century, which would explain the
simultaneous presence of stratēgoi from the same tribe, without implying the coexistence of two different modes of election. 14 As early as Pericles’ time, stratēgoi may have been elected by the community as a whole, and this would have bestowed upon
them reinforced popular legitimacy, although it would at the same time havedeprived them of the chance to stand out individually from the rest of the other stratēgoi .
Exceptional though Pericles’ career as a stratēgos was, he was never invested with the preeminent position of running the business of
the city on his own, as some historians have claimed. That hypothesis is based on
an overhasty reading of a passage in Thucydides in which the historian mentions Pericles’
return to grace soon after being removed from office in 430 B.C.: at this point the
Athenians elected him stratēgos yet again and entrusted him with “all affairs” ( panta ta pragmata ) (2.65.4). Some interpreters have regarded
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