Biography of Alcibiades


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Alcibiades (al-se-bi'-a-deez), famous Athenian general, born at Athens about 450 B.C. and educated in the house of his uncle Pericles. He held joint command with Nicias over the expedition against Sicily; but, being accused of impiety during his absence, he fled to Sparta and then to Persia. Recalled to Athens, he forced the Lacedaemonians to sue for peace, and made several conquests; but again losing his popularity, he withdrew to the court of Pharnabazus, the Persian satrap, in Phrygia. His treacherous host, instigated by Lysander, King of Sparta, set fire to the place where Alcibiades lived, and in seeking to escape, he was assassinated, 404 B.C.