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Cimon 510 BC-450 BC
Cimon was one of the(many would say THE)best Ancient Athenian generals.He was instrumental in creating and solidyfing great Athenian maritime Empire,largely continying Themistocles's policy of "Walls and ships",but with a much more friendly attitude toward Spartans.He also freed most of the Aegean from Persian control.
Son of a legendary general,Milthiades,Cimon showed early his promise,since destiny presented him a huge opportunity,the one we call "Second Persian Invasion",one of the most important conflicts in Ancient History.He distinguished himself in the monumental Battle of Salamis in 480 BCand the conflicts of subsequent year.This made it possible that Cimon would be promoted to principal commander of Delian League,when it was created in 477 BC.
During the period between 477-463 BC,he commanded most of the Legaue's operations(most of them brilliant successes).Those successes include:expelling Spartans under Pausanias out of Byzantium;capturing Eion and establishing an extremely important colony of Amphipolis;conquering Scyros and defeating piates who were based on that territory,and many others
Around 466 BC,he decided(by that time he had supreme,but unofficial control over the city,since Themistocles was banished 5 years earliar),to carry the war over to Asia Minor.Here came his most brilliant move of his life,the decisive Battle of Eurymedon,defeating expeditionary Persian forces SIMULTANEOSLY on ground and at sea.This battle is probaly the most underrated battle in Antiquity.Never again have Persians tried to invade mainland Greece.
After his briliant camaign in Asia Minor,he moved to Thracian Chersonesus and subdued a revolt there.He also succsfully laid siege to Thasos,capturing it.
Alcibiades
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Linear Mode
