Demosthenes story

5th-century BC Athenian military general

For the Athenian orator, see Demosthenes.

Demosthenes (Greek: Δημοσθένης, died BC), son of Alcisthenes, was an Atheniangeneral during the Peloponnesian War.

Early military actions

The military activities of Demosthenes are first recorded from BC when he led an Athenian invasion of Aetolia.^[1] This was a failure. Demosthenes lost about Athenians along with his second-in-command, Procles.^[2] Demosthenes' allies also suffered heavy losses.^[3] As a result of this loss, Demosthenes did not return to Athens, fearing for his life.^[4] However, later that year, Ambracia invaded Acarnania. The Acarnanians sought help from Demosthenes, who was now patrolling the coast of the Ionian Sea with twenty Athenian ships. He landed at Olpae and defeated a Spartan army under Eurylochus, which had come to assist the Ambraciots. Eurylochus was killed in the Battle of Olpae^[5] and th Demosthenes quotes.