Last week in a piece on populism, Pericles’ and Cleon’s methods of persuading the Athenian assembly to do their bidding were analysed: Pericles calm and persuasive, Cleon taking to court or viciously slandering his elite rivals for power. But Cleon did also have his moment of glory, in circumstances quite extraordinary even by the standards of Athenian democracy. It was described by the historian Thucydides, a contemporary but in exile for an earlier military failure.

In 425 bc, in the lengthy war between Athens and Sparta, the Athenians – who ruled the sea – had trapped 400 Spartans on the island of Sphacteria. They wanted to take them hostage, but had been unable to do so, and with winter approaching, making sailing impossible, the situation was desperate. Back in Athens the people’s assembly was becoming more and more angry at this failure, wishing Cleon had not persuaded them to turn down an earlier offer of negotiations. Now unpopular, Cleon claimed the reports were all lies, but backed down when told to join a team to see for himself, instead demanding that an additional force be sent out.

Nicias, a general appointed for that year, was present and Cleon turned on him, wondering if he was a real man and saying he (Cleon) could take the Spartans, no problem. Nicias told him to get on with it. Cleon took fright and recanted, but Nicias offered Cleon his command. The more Cleon backtracked, the more the crowd shouted at him (‘as crowds do’) and told Nicias to hand over the command. At this point, being a real democracy, the people got what they wanted. Cleon accepted the command, saying he would get the Spartans off in 20 days or kill them on the spot. The assembly fell about, but some were delighted: either Cleon would succeed, or that would be the last of him.

Incredibly, Cleon delivered on his promise, and in 20 days too. And it paid off: this gained him the prestige he probably longed for, and in 424 bc he was made a general – a member of the elite, at last! But not for long: he was killed on campaign two years later.