27 Collapse of the Peace of Nicias

The peace and alliance between Athens and Sparta in 421 B.C. alienated leading members of the Peloponnesian League and, in the opinion of Thucydides, doomed peace in the Greek world. Over the course of 421 B.C., the Corinthians sought to build a new alliance around Argos in the hope of shocking the Spartans into renewing the war. Their efforts failed, but Corinthian diplomatic machinations eroded trust between Athens and Sparta. In 420 B.C., the charismatic Alcibiades challenged Nicias and the peace. At Sparta, two ephors, Cleobulus and Xenares, intrigued to win over the oligarchs of Argos and thus secure a vital ally to renew the war against Athens. Alcibiades outmaneuvered his foes, domestic and foreign, and concluded a defensive alliance between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis. In 420 B.C. Alcibiades had the Peloponnesian allies and an Athenian assembly, frustrated by broken Spartan promises, ready to fight a decisive hoplite battle. He advocated support of Argos, a democracy bent on avenging past defeats at the hands of Sparta. Nicias stood for peace with Sparta, recovery of Amphipolis, and consolidation of the empire. At Sparta, too, opinions were divided, but few Spartans wished to renew the war unless the Athenians openly violated the oaths of the treaty. In 418 B.C., Mantinea and Argos, supported by Athens, clashed with the Spartans in a battle that was supposed to decide the issue.