Themistocles was an Athenian statesman. He was born in 514 BC and died in 449 BC. Themistocles realised the capacity for maritime development within Greece and the imperial advantages that naval supremacy could bring, and after engineering the removal of Aristides in 483 achieved influence in Athenian policy.
When the Persians invaded Greece in 480, Themistocles evacuated the civilian population from the invaded area and conscripted all available men into the fleet which engaged the Persians in the Bay of Salamis and defeated them. Themistocles negotiated with Sparta to attackPersia, thereby reducing Persia's ability to launch a land assault upon Greece. Themistocles was subsequently charged with treason and was exiled, fleeing to Asia where he supposedly committed suicide. Research Themistocles
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