Hippias (tyrant)
The last tyrant of Athens from the Peisistratid dynasty, ruling between 527 and 510 BC.
Quick Facts: Who was Hippias (tyrant)?
- Subject:
- Hippias (tyrant)
- Known for:
- The last tyrant of Athens from the Peisistratid dynasty, ruling between 527 and 510 BC.
- Born:
- 600 BC
- Died:
- 490 BC
- Century / Era:
- -600s Historical Era Archive
- Verified Source:
- 2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives
Origins & Early Life
Hippias (Ancient Greek: Ἱππίας, romanized: Hippías; c. 570 BC – 490 BC) was the last tyrant of Athens, ruling from 527 to 510 BC. He was one of the Peisistratids, a group of tyrants from the same family in ancient Greece. His father was Pisistratus, who preceded him as ruler of Athens, while his brother Hipparchus may have ruled jointly with him. Hippias also had an illegitimate son, Hegesistratus, whom he made tyrant of Sigeion. He was deposed when Cleomenes I of Sparta successfully invaded Athens and forced him to flee to the Achaemenid Empire.
Career & Major Achievements
Hippias was born around 570 BC as the eldest son of Pisistratus, the first tyrant of Athens. When his father was forced to flee to Eretria after insulting Megakles by having intercourse with his daughter in an indecent way, Peisistratos held counsel with his sons. Hippias suggested that they should retake the tyranny, which his father agreed to. Preparations began for which Athens fell to Peisistratos for the third time in 546 BC. Hippias succeeded Peisistratos as tyrant of Athens in 528/7 BC when his father died of advanced age.
Enduring Legacy & Impact
Hippias was greatly supported by the family of the polemarch Charmus, his father's former eromenos and ally, in the restoration of tyranny in Athens, and Pisistratus gave him in marriage the "extraordinarily beautiful" daughter of Charmus. Hippias was a patron of poets and craftsmen and under his rule Athens experienced a time of prosperity. His brother Hipparchus, who may have ruled jointly with him, was murdered by Harmodius and Aristogeiton (the tyrannicides) in 514 BC during the Panathenaic festival. Aristogeiton was resentful at the advances made by Hipparchus toward Harmodius and with a small group of accomplices he had planned to kill both Hipparchus and his brother. When the plot failed and only Hipparchus was slain, the group was captured by Hippias' soldiers.
Chronological Milestones & Life Events
Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Hippias (tyrant)
True or False: “Hippias was immediately restored to power in Athens after the democratic revolution of 510 BC.”
Answer (FALSE ❌): After his deposition by Cleomenes I in 510 BC, Hippias fled and spent time in exile before any later attempts at restoration.
Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines
- Cyrus the Great — Contemporary (Born in -600) (-600): Founder of the Achaemenid Empire, renowned for tolerance and vast conquests.
- Draco (legislator) — Contemporary (Died in -600) (-600): The first legislator of Athens, known for his harsh written legal code.
- Gelon — Contemporary (Born in -600) (-600): Founder of the Deinomenid dynasty in Sicily, a powerful Greek tyrant.
- Pheidippides — Contemporary (Died in -490) (-490): Athenian courier famed for running from Marathon to Athens after the Persian Wars.
- Polykleitos — Contemporary (Born in -490) (-490): Master sculptor of Classical Greece, famed for establishing the ideal human proportion.
- Protagoras — Contemporary (Born in -490) (-490): Pre-Socratic philosopher known for the doctrine of subjective truth and rhetoric.
- Mahavira — Contemporary figure (Born in -599) (-599): 24th Tirthankara of Jainism; spiritual reformer from the 6th century BCE.
- Croesus — Contemporary figure (Born in -596) (-596): Last King of Lydia, famed for immense wealth and defeat by Cyrus the Great.
- Nabopolassar — Contemporary figure (Died in -605) (-605): Founder and first king of the powerful Neo-Babylonian Empire.
- Necho II — Contemporary figure (Died in -595) (-595): Pharaoh of the 26th Dynasty, known for ambitious military campaigns and construction.
- -600 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -600
- -490 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -490
Frequently Asked Questions about Hippias (tyrant)
Who was Hippias (tyrant) and what are their primary contributions?
The last tyrant of Athens from the Peisistratid dynasty, ruling between 527 and 510 BC. Origins & Early Life: Hippias (Ancient Greek: Ἱππίας, romanized: Hippías; c. 570 BC – 490 BC) was the last tyrant of Athens, ruling from 527 to 510 BC. He was one of the Peisistratids, a group of tyrants from the same family in ancient Greece. His father was Pisistratus, who preceded him as ruler of Athens, while his brother Hipparchus may have ruled jointly with him. Hippias also had an illegitimate son, Hegesistratus, whom he made tyrant of Sigeion. He was deposed when Cleomenes I of Sparta successfully invaded Athens and forced him to flee to the Achaemenid Empire.
When was Hippias (tyrant) born and during which historical era did they live?
Hippias (tyrant) was born on -600 and passed away on -490. For complete historical world events during this era, explore the -600 Chrono-Archive.
Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Hippias (tyrant)?
Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia