Statesman · 524 BC – 459 BC
Themistocles
Persuaded Athens to build a great fleet, then used it to win the decisive naval Battle of Salamis against Persia in 480 BC, securing Greek freedom and the future rise of Athens.
Military Feats
- Lured and destroyed the Persian fleet at the Battle of Salamis.
- Built Athens into the leading naval power of Greece.
Political Achievements
- Persuaded Athens to invest its silver windfall in a fleet of warships.
- Fortified Athens and its harbor at Piraeus.
Impact Analysis
Themistocles's foresight and cunning saved Greece from conquest and set Athens on the path to its golden age as a naval power.
Historical influence score: 79/100