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The battle of Phyle in 403 was the first of three battles that saw the
Athenian democrats led by
Thrasybulus overthrow a Spartan-supported oligarchy that was then ruling in
Athens. In the aftermath of defeat in the
Peloponnesian War
the democratic system at Athens was replaced by a new Spartan-backed oligarchy,
largely imposed on the city by the Spartan leader
Lysander. Power was held
by the Council of Thirty, led by
Critias, and supported by a
garrison of 700-750 Spartan hoplites commanded by the harmost Callibius. These
'Thirty Tyrants' cut down the franchise, splitting the previous citizen body
into a privileged 'Three Thousand' and an unarmed, disenfranchised majority.
They murdered prominent democrats, and then as the money began to run short
turned on the wealthy, confiscating their money and murdering many of them.
Others fled into exile, including the successful commander of the later stages
of the war Thrasybulus, who fled to Thebes. Wealthy non-citizens, the metics,
were a particular target. The blood bath began to cause arguments within the
thirty, but Critias arrested and murdered his main opponent
Theramenes. Around 1,500
people were killed during this purge, and all former citizens not picked to
join the 'Three Thousand' were expelled from the city. Many of these exiles
ended up at Thebes, where they joined Thrasybulus and Anytus. At the head of a
small force of seventy democrats, these men crossed back into Attica, and
seized the unoccupied fort at Phyle, north-west of Athens in the southern
foothills of Mount Parnes. The leaders of the Thirty realised that this was a
real challenge to their power - if the rebels were allowed to establish
themselves at Phyle then they would attract an increasing number of other
exiles. This was the first real test of their regime, and things didnt go
well. The Three Thousand were mobilized, and marched to Phyle. Soon after they
reached the fort, some of the younger members of the Three Thousand attempted
to attack the fortress, but they were forced to retreat without achieving
anything. When the Thirty arrived they decided to besiege Phyle, but the
weather intervened. This was all happening in the middle of winter, and
overnight a snow storm made the attacker's position very uncomfortable. The
defenders of Phyle were also active, and carried out raids on the Oligarch's
camp. The Thirty were forced to abandon the siege and returned to Athens. Now
the Thirty turned to their Spartan troops. Callibius, most of his men, and two
divisions of Athenian cavalry were sent out to blockade the Democrats at Phyle
and protect them from plundering nearby farms. The Spartans took up a position
a mile and a half from the fort, from where they could block access to more
fertile areas. By now Thrasybulus had around 700 men at Phyle, and he decided
to go onto the offensive. Overnight he advanced from Phyle to a position close
to the Spartan camp. Just before dawn, as the Spartans and their Athenian
allies were just waking and going around their normal business, Thrasybulus
ordered his men to charge. The Spartans were caught entirely by surprise. Some
were killed in the initial attack, and the rest fled. According to Xenophon
move than 120 of the Spartan hoplites were killed, presumably many in the
pursuit, along with three of the Athenian cavalrymen, caught in their beds.
Amongst them was one named Nicostratus and known as 'the beautiful'. In the
aftermath of this victory Thrasybulus had a victory trophy erected and then
returned to Phyle. By the time the rest of the Athenian cavalry arrived from
the city the camp was empty, so after allowing the dead to be retrieved they
returned to Athens. In the aftermath of this defeat the Thirty decided to
prepare a refuge at Eleusis, expelling most of the population, a sign that they
were beginning to lose their nerve. They also approached Thrasybulus to see if
they could win him over to their side, but their offer of a place amongst the
Thirty was rejected. In contrast the Democrats were greatly encouraged by this
success. Their numbers rose to around 1,000, and Thrasybulus decided to occupy
Piraeus, the port of Athens, and now a hotbed of democratic support after the
Thirty exiled many of their opponents there.
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