Who was Demosthenes? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 62

Family:

father: Demosthenes

mother: Kleoboule

siblings: Thrasylochus

Greek Men

Died on: 322 BC

place of death: Island of Kalaureia

City: Athens, Greece

Diseases & Disabilities: Stammered / Stuttered

Cause of Death: Suicide

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1

What was Demosthenes known for?

Demosthenes was known for being a prominent Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens.
2

What role did Demosthenes play in Greek history?

Demosthenes played a significant role in Greek history by opposing the expansion of Philip II of Macedon and advocating for Greek independence.
3

How did Demosthenes influence Athenian politics?

Demosthenes influenced Athenian politics through his powerful speeches and efforts to rally Athenians against external threats.
4

What was Demosthenes' stance on the Macedonian threat?

Demosthenes was strongly opposed to the Macedonian threat and worked tirelessly to unite the Greek city-states against the growing power of Philip II and later Alexander the Great.
5

How did Demosthenes' speeches impact Greek society?

Demosthenes' speeches inspired and mobilized the Athenian populace, contributing to a sense of unity and resistance against foreign domination.

Childhood & Early Life

Demosthenes was born in 384 BC. His father, also named Demosthenes was a wealthy sword-maker belonging to the local tribe, Pandionis.

He was orphaned at the age of seven. His father had left him a hefty inheritance, but his legal guardians misused the wealth that was rightfully his.

He suffered from a speech impediment as a youngster and had to work hard to overcome it.

When he was 20, he sued his guardians for his inheritance but was able to retrieve only a portion of what his father had actually left him.

While fighting for his legal rights he began improving his oratory skills in order to effectively defend his case. From 364-361 BC, he delivered five orations against his guardians.

He underwent training to improve his oration. Different historians provide varying details of his training but it is widely accepted that he was trained under Isaeus.

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Career

Demosthenes became a logographer—one who writes speeches for those involved in judicial cases—in 361 BC. He could manage any kind of cases and had many influential clients. His legal career paved the way for a political career later on.

He served as a trierarch in 363 and 359 BC. A trierarch was an officer who commanded a trireme, or a ship.

He continued practicing law from 355-541 BC. He also wrote speeches against individuals who tried to repeal tax exemptions. His speeches were in opposition of corruption and were directed against people accused of illegal activities.

He delivered his first political oration, ‘On the Navy’ in 354 BC. In this speech, he proposed reforming boards in order to fund the Athenian fleet.

In 352 BC, he gave the speech, ‘For the Megalopolitans’ followed by ‘On the Liberty of the Rhodians’ in 351 BC. He opposed Eubulus, the most powerful Athenian statesman in both of these speeches.

Athens had been at war with Macedonia since 357 BC. King Philip of Macedon had already seized Amphipolis and Pydna, and was trying to annex Athens. Demosthenes viewed the King as a danger to the independence of all Greek cities and launched a series of speeches directed against him.

He delivered the First Philippic in 351 BC in which he urged the Athenians to be ready for war and advocated the creation of a flexible military force to fight Philip’s army.

Philip II attacked Olynthus in 349 BC. Athens and Olynthus were allies and he urged Athens to help Olynthus through three speeches known as the ‘Olynthiacs’ delivered in 349 BC.

Demosthenes went to Peloponnese to detach certain cities from Macedon’s influence but was unsuccessful in doing so. He delivered the Second Philippic as a bitter attack against Philip in 344 BC.

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He delivered the Third and Fourth Philippics in 341 BC.

Philip II was assassinated in 336 BC and Alexander III was made the new King of Macedon. Demosthenes celebrated the death of Philip II with his fellow Athenians.

Major Works

Demosthenes is regarded as the most prominent orator of ancient Greek, best known for his speeches directed against King Philip II of Macedon, the worst enemy of Athens. He delivered four such speeches, known as the four Philippics in his attacks against the king.

Personal Life & Legacy

He was married to the daughter of Heliodorus, a prominent Athenian citizen. The name of his wife is not known. He had one daughter who died young and unmarried.

After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, the new ruler demanded that Demosthenes be handed over to him. Demosthenes was sentenced to death but he managed to escape to a sanctuary in Kalaureia. However, he was soon discovered and he committed suicide by drinking poison in order to escape his capture.

The Athenians erected a statue in his honour years after his death and decreed that free meals be provided to his descendants in the Prytaneum.

Facts About Demosthenes

Demosthenes was known for his exceptional memory and ability to recite long passages of text from memory, making him a powerful orator in ancient Greece.

Despite suffering from a speech impediment, Demosthenes worked diligently to overcome it through speech therapy and practice, eventually becoming one of the greatest public speakers in history.

Demosthenes was also a skilled writer, and his speeches and legal arguments are still studied and admired for their eloquence and rhetorical techniques.

In addition to his political career, Demosthenes was also known for his sharp wit and sense of humor, often using clever wordplay and sarcasm to make his points in debates and speeches.

Demosthenes was a passionate advocate for Greek independence and democracy, and his speeches played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of ancient Athens.

Demosthenes Biography

You wanted to know

What was Demosthenes known for?

What role did Demosthenes play in Greek history?

How did Demosthenes influence Athenian politics?

What was Demosthenes' stance on the Macedonian threat?

How did Demosthenes' speeches impact Greek society?