Themistocles was born in Athens in 524 BCE. He was the son of Neocles a middle class Athenian and a non-Athenian concubine mother. He was a citizen of Cleisthenes which in 508 BCE which made all Athenians free men. This contributed to his democratic tendencies. Themistocles lived in Athens for his entire life but often traveled because he was part of the Athenian military.
Themistocles most important achievements began when he was elected Archon Eponymous, the chief judicial and civilian executive officer in Athens, also the highest government office of Athens in 493 BCE. His democratic stance as a politician supported the lower class Athenians. He courted and wooed them which granted him many followers from the lower class. The love by the lower class caused him to be at odds with Athenian nobility, which will later play into him being exiled. While he was archon he worked to build harbors along the rocky bays of Piraeus creating a better protected coast of Phaleron which will also later play into his military career …show more content…
He would convince Athens to increase their sea power and build a fleet of 100 triremes by using the profits from the newly discovered silver line found in state owned mines of Laurium. In 480 BCE he commanded the Battle of Salamis. During this battle he would send a false message convincing the Persian Navy that he was wanting to switch sides that drew the fleet into the narrow Straits of Salamis. This tactical move allowed the Athenian Navy to overcome the Persian fleet causing a major turn in the invasion. A year later Athens would declare victory over the Persian Navy at the battle of Plataea. In the years after the Battle of Salamis he became the most famous politicians and military strategists in
Themistocles most important achievements began when he was elected Archon Eponymous, the chief judicial and civilian executive officer in Athens, also the highest government office of Athens in 493 BCE. His democratic stance as a politician supported the lower class Athenians. He courted and wooed them which granted him many followers from the lower class. The love by the lower class caused him to be at odds with Athenian nobility, which will later play into him being exiled. While he was archon he worked to build harbors along the rocky bays of Piraeus creating a better protected coast of Phaleron which will also later play into his military career …show more content…
He would convince Athens to increase their sea power and build a fleet of 100 triremes by using the profits from the newly discovered silver line found in state owned mines of Laurium. In 480 BCE he commanded the Battle of Salamis. During this battle he would send a false message convincing the Persian Navy that he was wanting to switch sides that drew the fleet into the narrow Straits of Salamis. This tactical move allowed the Athenian Navy to overcome the Persian fleet causing a major turn in the invasion. A year later Athens would declare victory over the Persian Navy at the battle of Plataea. In the years after the Battle of Salamis he became the most famous politicians and military strategists in