The unexpected tactics of Brasidas
The lack of wisdom in the Athenian decision to refuse the Spartan offer of peace
after the
battle of Pylos in 425 B.C1 became clear with the next unexpected development of the war: a sudden
reversal in the Spartan policy against waging military expeditions far from home.
In 424 the Spartan general Brasidas led an army on a daring campaign against
Athenian strongholds in far northern Greece2 hundreds of miles from Sparta. His most important victory
came with the
conquest of Amphipolis,
3 an important Athenian colony near the coast that the
Athenians regarded as essential to their strategic position. Brasidas' success there
robbed Athens of access to gold and silver mines and a major source of timber for
building warships. Even though he was not directly involved in the battle at
Amphipolis,
Thucydides lost his command and was forced into exile because he was
the commander in charge of the region4 when the city was lost and was held responsible for the
catastrophe.