Athenian coup of 411 BC

Athenian coup
Part of the Peloponnesian War
Date	June 9, 411 BC
Location	Athens
Type	Coup
Cause	A revolution by members of the Athenian elite after a fiscal crisis caused by the failure of the Sicilian Expedition
Organised by	Alcibiades
Outcome	Overthrow of the democratic government of ancient Athens and replacement with a short-lived oligarchy known as the Four Hundred

The Athenian coup of 411 BC was the result of a revolution that took place during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The coup overthrew the democratic government of ancient Athens and replaced it with a short-lived oligarchy known as the Four Hundred.

In the wake of the financial crisis caused by the failed Sicilian Expedition of the Athenian military in 413 BC, some high-status Athenian men, who had disliked the broad-based democracy of the city-state for a long time, sought to establish an oligarchy of the elite. They believed that they could manage foreign, fiscal, and war policies better than the existing government.^[1]

The movement toward oligarchy was led by a number of prominent and wealthy Athenians, who held positions of power in the Athenian army at Samos in coordination with Alcibiades.

^ "Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander". Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University.

[Martin-1] "Thomas R. Martin, An Overview of Classical Greek History from Mycenae to Alexander". Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University.

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