21 Imperial Crisis - The Chalcidice and Mytilene

In the Chalcidice, the Athenians waged an uneven struggle against rebel cities backed by King Perdiccas II of Macedon. The Athenians came to appreciate the use of cavalry, benefiting from an alliance with the Thracian king Sitalces, who sent his mounted armies against Macedon. The fighting, however, was inconclusive and potentially dangerous to the Athenian Empire. Rebellions cut revenues and encouraged defections. The outbreak of revolts among the cities of the Hellespontine region imperiled the grain trade from the Black Sea and encouraged the Persian satraps to support Sparta. In 429 B.C., Potidaea surrendered on terms, but the siege had cost Athens one-third of her reserve. The defiant Potidaeans joined other rebels who, based at Olynthus, were just beyond the reach of Athenian forces operating from the sea. In 428 B.C., Mytilene, the largest of five cities on the isle of Lesbos, revolted from Athens. Mytilene possessed 50 triremes that could block the entrance to the Hellespont. The Athenians isolated Mytilene and compelled its surrender, but the rebellion nearly broke Athenian finances. In 427 B.C., a Spartan fleet even appeared off the Ionian coast, but the commander Alcidas soon retired. Thucydides saw this revolt and the ensuing debate in the Athenian assembly over the punishment of Mytilene as another turning point. The orator Cleon, who urged harsh punishment of Mytilene, emerged as the advocate for decisive victory. Yet in 427 B.C., the Athenians lacked the funds and manpower to achieve such a victory.