Cimon (c. 510 – 450 BCE) was an Athenian statesman and, as strategos, frequent commander of the Athenian fleet when the city was at the height of its power. He won military glory by defeating Spartan rival Pausanias and then the Persians in both a land and sea battle to expand the membership and power of the Delian League which he led for over a decade. Not helped by his political rival Pericles, Cimon was later exiled from Athens and never recovered his former political position but he had already done enough to establish a lasting reputation as one of Athens' greatest generals. He is the subject of one of Plutarch's Lives biographies.
More about: CimonDefinition
Timeline
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c. 510 BCE - 450 BCELife of Athenian statesman and general Cimon.
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480 BCEFuture Athenian general Cimon fights in the battle of Salamis
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479 BCEFuture Athenian general Cimon is sent on a diplomatic mission to Sparta.
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476 BCE - 463 BCEDelian League operations are led by Athenian commander Cimon
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c. 475 BCEAthenian general Cimon drives the Dolopian pirates out of the Aegean island of Scyros.
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c. 475 BCEAthenian general Cimon defeats Spartan general Pausanias and takes Byzantium.
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475 BCECimon captures Eion in Thrace for Athens.
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c. 466 BCEAthenian general Cimon twice defeats the Persians at Eurymedon on the southern coast of Asia Minor.
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465 BCE - 463 BCEAthenian general Cimon conquers Chersonesus in Thrace and the north-Aegean island of Thasos.
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463 BCEPericles leads a prosecution of Cimon on charges of corruption but he is acquitted.
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461 BCECimon is voted in an ostracism in Athens and exiled from the city.
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450 BCEAthenian general Cimon dies on Cyprus fighting the Persians.
