Conon

Conon the Athenian came forward into public life in the Peloponnesian War, and his service in it was great. For he both commanded the land armies as general and, as admiral of the fleet, accomplished great things at sea. For these reasons especial honour was paid him. For he alone was set in command over all the islands, and in that office he took Pherae, a colony of the Lacedaemonians. He was also general at the very end of the Peloponnesian War, when the forces of the Athenians were defeated by Lysander at the river Aegospotami. But at that time he was absent, and so the affair was the worse conducted: for he was both skilled in military matters and a careful commander. And so it was doubtful to no one in those times that, had he been present, the Athenians would not have met with that disaster.

But when their affairs were ruined, and he heard that his country was besieged, he did not seek where he himself might live in safety, but whence he might be a protection to his fellow-citizens. And so he betook himself to Pharnabazus, satrap of Ionia and Lydia and likewise the king's son-in-law and kinsman; and to be of great influence with him, he wrought by much toil and many perils. For when the Lacedaemonians, the Athenians being defeated, did not abide in the alliance which they had made with Artaxerxes, and had sent Agesilaus to make war in Asia — chiefly impelled by Tissaphernes, who, one of the king's intimates, had fallen away from his friendship and had joined alliance with the Lacedaemonians — against this Pharnabazus was reckoned commander, but in very truth Conon directed the army, and everything was managed at his discretion. He much hindered that supreme leader Agesilaus and often opposed his designs; nor indeed was it not plain that, had he not been there, Agesilaus would have wrested Asia from the king as far as the Taurus. After Agesilaus was recalled home by his fellow-citizens, because the Boeotians and Athenians had declared war on the Lacedaemonians, Conon none the less continued among the king's officers and was of great use to them all.

Tissaphernes had revolted from the king, yet this was not so plain to Artaxerxes as to others: for by many and great services he stood in favour with the king, even when he did not abide in his duty. Nor was it to be wondered at, if the king was not easily brought to believe it, remembering that by his help he had overcome his brother Cyrus. To accuse this man, Conon was sent by Pharnabazus to the king. When he arrived, he first, after the custom of the Persians, approached Tithraustes, the chiliarch, who held the second rank of command, and showed that he wished to confer with the king. To him Tithraustes said: 'There is no delay; but do you deliberate whether you would rather confer in person or treat by letter of what you have in mind. For it is necessary, if you come into his presence, that you do reverence to the king — what they call prostration (for no one is admitted without this). If this is grievous to you, you will none the less, by giving me your commission, accomplish what you wish.' Then Conon said: 'To me indeed it is no grievance to pay any honour to the king; but I fear lest it be a reproach to my state, if I, who have come from one which has been accustomed to rule over other nations, should follow the custom of barbarians rather than of her.' And so he handed him in writing what he wished.

Having learned these things, the king was so moved by his authority that he both judged Tissaphernes an enemy, and ordered the Lacedaemonians to be pursued in war, and granted to Conon to choose whom he would to disburse the money. Conon said that this was not for his counsel to decide, but for the king's, who ought best to know his own people; but that he advised that he give that charge to Pharnabazus. From there, loaded with great gifts, he was sent to the sea, to levy ships of war upon the Cyprians and Phoenicians and the other maritime states, and to make ready a fleet with which he could protect the sea in the coming summer, Pharnabazus being assigned to him as a helper, as he himself had wished. When this was announced to the Lacedaemonians, they conducted the matter not without anxiety, because they judged that a greater war was impending than if they were contending with the barbarian alone. For they saw that a brave and prudent leader would be in charge of the king's resources and would do battle against them, whom they could overcome neither in counsel nor in forces. With this thought they gathered a great fleet: they set out under Pisander as commander. These Conon attacked off Cnidus and routed in a great battle, took many ships, and sank a good many. By this victory not only Athens, but all Greece too, which had been under the sway of the Lacedaemonians, was set free. Conon came with part of his ships to his country and saw to the rebuilding of both walls, of the Piraeus and of Athens, which had been demolished by Lysander, and gave to his fellow-citizens the fifty talents which he had received from Pharnabazus.

There befell him what befalls other mortals, that he was less circumspect in prosperous than in adverse fortune. For when the fleet of the Peloponnesians had been defeated, and he thought he had avenged the wrongs of his country, he coveted more than he could accomplish. Yet these things were not impious nor blameworthy, in that he chose rather that the resources of his country be increased than those of the king. For when by that naval battle which he had fought off Cnidus he had won great authority for himself not only among the barbarians but also in all the states of Greece, he began secretly to take pains to restore Ionia and Aeolia to the Athenians. When this was kept secret with too little care, Tiribazus, who was in command at Sardis, summoned Conon, pretending that he wished to send him to the king on a great matter. Obeying this summons, when he had come, he was cast into prison, in which he remained for some time. From there some have left it written that he was carried off to the king and there perished. On the other hand, the historian Dinon, whom we trust most concerning Persian affairs, has written that he escaped: this only he leaves doubtful, whether it was done with the knowledge of Tiribazus or without it.