Phocion

Phocion (402 before J.C - 318 before J.C) was a Stratège and Athenian speaker .

He was the son of the manufacturer of turn Phocus.

Aristocratic party, it was re-elected 45 times strategist and pushed back the Macedonians Eubée and of Chersonèse.

Valorous general and combatant, it was however pacifist: with died of Alexandre Large the in 323 before J.C, it stained refréner the popular dash carried out by Léosthène and Hypéride, which claimed the war against the Macedonians. But it failed since the lamiaque Guerre took place. He was however an effective ambassador at Alexandre and of Antipatros.

Plutarque will note that he lived rather modestly since he always refused the silver present on behalf of the king Philippe II, in spite of the importance of his responsibilities.

In 318 before J.C, it was wrongfully condemned to poison itself in the nationalist exaltation of the Athenians. It will exchange a sentence with his friend Emphylète whom Plutarque will report:

- Ah! Phocion, what a unworthy treatment!
- I am not surprised; because it is the end which had the majority of the great men of Athens|Dialog between Emphylète and Phocion

In spite of its positions some times “macédonophiles” and partisanes of a bringing together with Macedonia (after Chéronée (- 338)), it was very estimated of Démosthène.

None of its writings remained.

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