NikiasNicias

(died 413 BCE) An Athenian statesman and general during the time of the Peloponnesian War; the son of Nikeratus (Niceratus).

His most notable accomplishment during the Peloponnesian War was a peace treaty he negotiated in the spring of 421 BCE which became known as the Peace of Nikias; the treaty maintained an uneasy peace between Athens and Sparta until 416 BCE when full blown hostilities resumed.

Nikias was not considered to be an outstanding military commander because of his inherently peaceful nature; his poor health and his opposition to the Athenian expedition to the island of Sicily caused the disastrous defeat of the Athenian army, where he met his death along with many of the Athenian soldiers he commanded; he is mentioned often in the book History of the Peloponnesian War by Thukydides (Thucydides).