Draft:Nicostratus (Athenian commander)

Nicostratus (Greek: Νικόστρατος) was an Athenian strategos (general and navarch) who was sent in 427 BC to Corcyra, in order to mediate the conflict that had erupted between the oligarchic and democratic factions on the island. He later fought Alcidas and Brasidas at sea when they tried to capture the island, he was able to hold against the two Spartan generals while facing unfavorable conditions.

Arrival at Corcyra

Nicostratus was the son of Diitrephes, not much is known about him before his mission to Corcyra. We first hear of him in 427 BC.

There had been a struggle for power in the island of Corcyra, after the democratic faction had won in the last battle that ensued, Nicostratus arrived on the island with 12 ships and 500 Messinian hoplites from Naupactus. He convinced both factions to cease hostilities and the 10 men who were responsible for the unrest would be judged in court, although they apparently had fled the island. Nicostratus had managed to form a defensive alliance between Corcyra and Athens, and thus he decided to depart. The leaders of the democratic faction though, persuaded him to leave them five of his vessels, in turn they would give him five of theirs, that would also be manned by their men. After an agreement was reached, the democratic leaders decided to man the ships they would send, with their oligarchic enemies, fearing of being sent to Athens, the oligarchs took refuge in the temple of Dioscuri. After hearing of this, Nicostratus tried to convince the oligarchs to come back and leave the temple, but to no avail. The commonalty, with the pretext that the oligarchs were planning to take over the island, went to the houses of the oligarchic leaders and took their weapons, Nicostratus intervened to stop them from killing anyone while they were doing it. The oligarchs who had taken refuge on the temple of Dioscuri, heard of this and took refuge at the temple of Hera. According to Thucydides they were at least 400. They later took refuge to the island opposite of the one with the temple of Hera, with the help of the commons who also supplied them with the required resources. The democrats did this in order to placate the 400 oligarchs, whom they were afraid would make a move.

Confrontation with Alcidas and aftermath

A few days later, 53 ships commanded by Alcidas with Brasidas as counsellor, anchored at Sybota, they had come from Cyllene after their return from Ionia. As soon as morning came, they sailed for Corcyra. The Corcyraeans were taken aback by the arrival of the Peloponnesian fleet and were thrown into disarray. They quickly assembled 60 ships which were sent into battle the moment they manned them, despite being advised to wait for the Athenian fleet to go out first. Two vessels deserted on the spot and in others there was infighting among its crew. The Corcyraeans were completely disorganized in their attack, the Peloponnesians noticed this and sent only 20 of their ships to fight the incapable Corcyraean fleet, sending the rest to fight the Athenian fleet commanded by Nicostratus. The Corcyraean fleet suffered heavy losses due to their strategic blunder. Nicostratus decided to attack on the flanks of the Peloponnesian fleet, and successfully sank 1 vessel. The Peloponnesians then decided to retreat and got into a circle formation, Nicostratus rowed around the circle to confuse the Peloponnesians. Seeing this happen, the division that was sent to deal with the Corcyraeans came to aid the main army, because they feared that a repeat of the battle of Naupactus would happen. The Athenians were overwhelmed and thus decided to retreat, while escorting their Corcyraean allies back to the island. The battle lasted until sunset.

The Corcyraeans worried that the Peloponnesians would continue their attack, or even worse, free the oligarchs. Took them from the island they were on, and placed them back in the temple of Hera, they also placed the city under watch. Alcidas with his remaining fleet and the 13 Corcyraean ships he had captured during the battle, decided to return back to the mainland. After recuperating, they returned to Corcyra, and refrained from attacking the main city, despite there being a lot of unrest amongst the Corcyraeans and Brasidas urging Alcidas to do so. In the end Alcidas decided to land on the promontory of Leukimme(near today's town of Lefkimmi), and laid waste to the countryside.

While Alcidas was ravaging the countryside, the Corcyraean democrats managed to come to an agreement with the oligarchs, and induced some of them to man their ships in order to fare against another Peloponnesian attack. Meanwhile, the Peloponnesians continued to ravage the country up until midday, when night hit, they were informed via beacon signals that an Athenian fleet composed of 60 ships was sailing torwards Corcyra from Leucas under the command of Eurymedon.

The Peloponnesians set off during the night, they carried their ships over the Isthmus of Leucas and managed to depart safely without being noticed. The Corcyraean democrats, with the joyful news of the departure of the Peloponnesian fleet and the arrival of the large Athenian one, called Nicostratus's Messinian hoplites into the city and ordered the ships manned by their oligarchic enemies to return to the harbor. It is unknown whether Nicostratus left the island with the arrival of Eurymedon, or if the remained there, if he did leave then he didn't take the Messinian hoplites with him. Nevertheless, the Corcyraeans slew any one who they considered to be their enemy, they then proceeded to kill the oligarchs who had boarded the ships. The ones who were still suppliants at the temple of Hera, were given a show trial and condemned to death, however only 50 agreed to the verdict, the rest refused to be executed and slew each other or hanged themselves from the trees, some killed themselves in any physical way they could. During this seven-day period that Eurymedon stayed at Corcyra, the whole island had erupted into chaos, the Corcyraean commons slew many civilians dubbing them as enemies and claiming it was for the preservation of democracy on the island. In general, unrest and lawlessness dominated during those 7 days.

Later Years and Death

Nicostratus was one of the strategoi who took part in an expedition against Cythera, the head of this expedition was Nicias. He also took part in a one-year truce between Sparta and Athens, being one of the generals who took the oath of peace..