Miltiades the Younger

The son of Kimon (Cimon) and the third member of his family to rule the Khersonese (Chersonese) as tyrant.

Miltiades was the youngest of two sons and when his brother, Stesagoras, was murdered he became the tyrant of the Khersonese; he was living in the city of Athens (circa 495 BCE) where his father, Kimon, was a prominent citizen as well as a renowned chariot racer.

Unbeknownst to Miltiades, the sons of the tyrant, Pisistratus, murdered his father and sent Miltiades to the Khersonese to assume the throne after the death of his older brother, Stesagoras, in order to have him away from Athens.

Miltiades faced many trials while he was in the Khersonese but he finally had to leave permanently when the Phoenicians were ready to invade (circa 493 BCE); Miltiades loaded his possessions on to five warships and sailed for Athens; one of the ships was captured by the Phoenicians and Miltiades’ eldest son, Metiokhus (Metiochus) was taken prisoner; the Phoenicians gave Metiokhus to the Persian king, Darius, and he lived the rest of his life in Persia.

After Miltiades returned to Athens, he alternately earned the trust and ire of the Athenian people; he was strategos at the battle of Marathon and earned favor; his unsuccessful attack on the island of Paros caused him to be fined, impeached and, if that was not enough punishment, he died from injuries he received during the battle; his son Kimon (Cimon) became a renowned Athenian statesman but he was no match for the political aspirations of Perikles (Pericles).

• Histories, book 6, chapters 39-41