CimonKimon

(507-449 BCE) An Athenian military leader, naval commander and statesman; the son of Miltiades the Younger.

Kimon came to prominence after the ouster of Themistokles (Themistocles) and in 479 BCE he was elected strategos which gave him almost unlimited powers in regard to Athenian military policy; he was less confrontational (some would say sympathetic) with Sparta and more focused on the subjugation of the islands and colonies of the Aegean Sea.

Kimon was finally forced to leave Athens in 461 BCE after a policy dispute with Perikles (Pericles); he was ostracized for ten years but in 457 BCE he tried to rejoin his “tribe” in the battle-lines when the Spartans invaded the district of Tanagra; this might have been proof positive that he had no confusion as to his loyalties but the followers of Perikles drove him from the ranks and would not let him fight for his city.

Perikles was instrumental in getting Kimon’s citizenship restored but some say that this was done with the condition that Kimon not become involved in politics and spend his time on foreign military campaigns; regardless, Kimon served his city in peace and war and was finally killed in battle on the island of Cyprus.