o further use for
his former aristocratic associates, he broke off all connexion with
them, and thus felt at liberty to attack the secret combinations for
political purposes, the oligarchical clubs to which they mostly
belonged. Whether he also introduced a property-tax for military
purposes, and even held a high position in connexion with the treasury,
is uncertain. His ruling principles were an inveterate hatred of the
nobility, and an equal hatred of Sparta. It was mainly through him that
the opportunity of concluding an honourable peace (in 425) was lost, and
in his determination to see Sparta humbled he misled the people as to
the extent of the resources of the state, and dazzled them by promises
of future benefits.

In 427 Cleon gained an evil notoriety by his proposal to put to death
indiscriminately all the inhabitants of Mytilene, which had put itself
at the head of a revolt. His proposal, though accepted, was, fortunately
for the credit of Athens, rescinded, although, as it was, the chief
leaders and prominent men, numbering about 1000, fell victims. In 425,
he reached the summit of his fame by capturing and transporting to
Athens the Spartans who had been blockaded in Sphacteria (see PYLOS).
Much of the credit was probably due to the military skill of his
colleague Demosthenes; but it must be admitted that it was due to
Cleon's determination that the Ecclesia sent out the additional force
which was needed. It was almost certainly due to Cleon that the tribute
of the "allies" was doubled in 425 (see DELIAN LEAGUE). In 422 he was
sent to recapture Amphipolis, but was outgeneralled by Brasidas and
killed. His death removed the chief obstacle to an arrangement with
Sparta, and in 421 the peace of Nicias was concluded (see PELOPONNESIAN
WAR).

The character of Cleon is represented by Aristophanes and Thucydides in
an extremely unfavourable light. But neither can be considered an
unprejudiced witness. The poet had a grudge against Cleon, who had
accused him before the senate of having ridiculed (in his _Babylonians_)
the policy and institutions of his country in the presence of foreigners
and at the time of a great national war. Thucydides, a man of strong
oligarchical prejudices, had also been prosecuted for military
incapacity and exiled by a decree proposed by Cleon. It is therefore
likely that Cleon has had less than justice done to him in the portraits
handed down by these two writers.

AUTHORITIES.--For