CLEON, of Athens, the son of Clemnetus, was originally a tanner. Early in life he began to take an active part in the political affairs of Athens, and his success seems to have drawn him from his business. He set himself up as the champion of the people, and was especially vehement in their cause when their interests appeared to be opposed to those of the rich. The first important affair in which he took a prominent part was the discussion on the massacre of the Mitylennan prisoners, B.c. 427, who were sent to Athens after the reduction of the island by Paches. Such was the influence of Cleon on this occasion that he succeeded in persuading the assembly to pass a decree by which all the Mityloutean prisoners sent to Athens by Paches, and every citizen in Mitylene, should be put to death, and the women and children made slaves. Tho prisoners, who had been sent to Athena, were massacred the same day to the number of more than one thousand ; but the timely remorse of the Athenians prevented the execution of the remainder of the sentence. In an assembly called on the following day to reconsider the decree, Cleon came forward to support it with the utmost vehemence, and the majority of his opponent Diodotus was very small.
In n.c. 425 the Athenians built a small fort at Pyles, in Messenia, under the directibn of their general, Demosthenes. The Lacedmmo nians, with the view of destroying a post that would prove a great annoyance to them, made preparations to besiege it, and also threw a body of men into the small island of Sphacteria, which lay at the entrance of the harbour of Pyles. The island was immediately blockaded by the Athenians ; but as there seemed no prospect of its being speedily taken, the Athenians at home began to complain, and Cleon accused the generals of want of activity in pressing the blockade. " If he were in command," he said, " he would soon finish the business." The people took him at his word ; Nicias, one of the commanders at Pylos, insisted that Cleon should supersede him ; and the demagogue, much against his will, was obliged to accept the command. However, ha put the best face ou the matter, and said that he would be back at Athens in twenty days, and would either bring with him all tho Lacednmonians in the island prisoners, or he would not leave a man of them alive. Demosthenes was his colleague in the expedition. Ha was as good as his word, and brought the Lacediemonians prisoners to Athens within the twenty days. Thucydides, who rarely indulges iu reflections on the character of persons in the body of his history, could not abstain from a side-blow at the demagogue general. The most
sensible among the Athenians, he observes, were rather pleased at Cleon's being intrnsted with the affair of Pylos, for they thought that the result in any event could not be otherwise than good : they would either get rid of Cleon for ever, which they rather expected, or, if they were disappointed in this, he would probably take the place.
Whether any of the merit of this exploit belonged to Cleon seems more than doubtful. (Aristoph., apt.; 54, &c.) His prudence in the selection of his colleague cannot be questioned. The reputation which he gained for energy and promptitude in this affair, added to his inordinate vanity, completely turned ids head ; and it would seem by what followed as if many of his countrymen were so far deceived by this lucky business of Pyles as to think that Cleon actually had the talents that he pretended to. Accordingly in B.C. 422 he was fixed upon as the proper person to oppose the movements of the able Spartan general Brasidas in Macedonia and Thrace, and ho received the undi vided command of 1200 heavy-armed men and 300 horse, with still larger forces of Imbrians and Lemnians, and a fleet of 30 galleys. He did not march direct to Amphipolis, which was the principal object of the expedition, but stopped in his way to recover Torone. Brasidas, who had left the town, had stationed there a garrison which was inadequate for its.defence, and accordingly Cleon was successful in his attack ou the place. He sold all the women and children as slaves and seat more than ;00 men as prisoners to Athena. Procectlin: with inereased confidence In his own military powers, he stationed lomPrlf at Lies on the Strymoo, and delayed the attack on Amphipolis till ho had =aired reinforcements. During this Interval he made truffle= attempt is Steens.% but succeeded In his attack on Gs!opens. The murmurs of his soldiers, who from the first had not teen pleased with Cloon's being appointed to the command, soon induced him to move towards Amphipolis with view of reconnoitring, but not of fighting. Braaidss however, who was in Amphipolis, did not choose to let him of so easily: he made sudden sally out of the place, while Cron, who was quite unprepared for an attack, and had not the least intention to fight, was giving orders for a retreat. In the battle that ensued both the Lacedannonian and the Athenian generals fell, n.e. 422. Cleon, says Thucydides (with half malicious coolness), who had never had any idea of keeping his ground from the first, was caught as he ran away, and killed by Mytelnian targeteer. The remains of the Athenian army retnrned home.