For the Indo-Greek king, see Nicias
Nicias or Nikias (470-413 BC) was a statesman and a Strategos, in Ancient Athens.
Nicias was a member of the Athenian upper class because, from his father, he had inherited a large fortune, which was invested by Nicias, into the silver mines at Attica's Mt. Laurium. However, Nicias' family hadn't been patrician.
By reason of his wealth, Nicias was naturally integrated into the aristocratic party, from which he did all his politics. After Pericles' death, in 429 BC, Nicias became this party's leader, rivaling Cleon 's popular party.
In 421 BC, Nicias was Peace of Nicias' sole agent, bringing Athens into peace with the belligerent Sparta, after ten years of ferocious Peloponnesian War. Then, for limited time, all Athenians believed that Nicias had been their savior until, imposing his own plans, the so controversial aristocrat Alcibiades decided restarting the war.

His Fortune
Nicias didn't have noble ancestors His politics
Nicias was Strategos, in both 427 BC and 425 BC. About these years, Nicias was afraid because the Athenians had so caustic use that their greatest military leaders had ended condemned by some reason. Consequently, he avoided engaging in any important military enterprise, as commander. Indeed, good fortune accompanied Nicias because, for years, he could dodge the worst Athenian misfortunes, which were either military or political.

His Military Profile
In 426 BC, Nicias invaded Minoa Island, which was right in front of Nisaea port. He intended blockading Megara closely for it was allied with Sparta. Nicias destroyed the enemy's garrison, from the sea, and then he launched an amphibious attack. He spent few days building a wall, on the near mainland, and garrisoning Minoa.

Capturing Minoa (426 BC)
In 425 BC, 60 ships were commended to Nicias. Initially, he attempted subduing Melos island, which was completely independent from the Athenian Empire. Nicias defeated the local forces but, still, Melos refused joining Athens.

Raiding Greek Mainland (425 BC)
By General Demosthenes --who wasn't the statesman--, Athens could garrison Pylos but 400 Spartan soldiers remained at the frontal Sphacteria island. Most Athenian wanted to capture them. However, at Sphacteria, the blockading Athenian forces were under harsh geographical conditions so they couldn't resolve the battle.

Struggling about Pylos (424 BC)
Then, also in 424 BC, Nicias sailed 80 warships with 1,200 soldiers, toward Corinth. The expedition disembarked in Solygeia. The aware Corinthians awaited him, almost with their entire army, but Nicias defeated the defenders.

Throughout Northeastern Peloponnesus (424 BC)
In 423 BC, together with other two commanders, Nicias led the expedition to capture Kythira. This island was the main defense, for all Laconia's sea routes. The Athenian expedition comprised 60 battleships and 2,000 soldiers. The Athenians could capture Kythira city because Nicias negotiated so no citizen would be expelled. The island was captured and garrisoned, by Athens. For the next week, the Athenian forces laid waste, throughout Laconia gulf's shore.

Invading Kythira (BC 423)
In 422 BC, with other commander, Nicias led the assault against both Mende and Scione, at Chalkidiki. The expedition was composed of 50 ships and 1,700 soldiers. Nicias landed in Potidaea. The enemy was assisted by some Peloponnesian forces. After some bitter confrontations, at which Nicias was wounded even, both cities surrendered. The region was further plundered whereas much inhabitant was massacred for retaliation.

Attacking Chalkidiki (422 BC)
After fighting for a decade in the Peloponnesian War, both Athens and Sparta were exhausted. After the two Athenian generals who were opposing peace Cleon and Brasidas were slain in battle, Nicias decided actuating the Athenians for peace. Also, he spoke with the Spartans and, particularly, they listened after Nicias restored the prisoners, who had been captured at Pylos. These prisoners had important families, who were members of the Spartan aristocracy.

Main article: Peace of Nicias Peace of Nicias
At the same time, Alcibiades was a rising Athenian politician, who had been opposing peace. Particularly, Alcibiades --who had a wild personality-- was jealous because he resulted ignored whilst, instead, the entire peace affair was strengthening Nicias' political stand up. When some Athenians began distrusting Sparta, Alcibiades launched an open campaign for war. His first move was convincing Argos to form an alliance.

Against Alcibiades
Between Nicias and Alcibiades, the duel was so bitter that people decided that one had to end ostracized. Indeed, as both were politicians of great caliber, all Athenians followed the process attentively. Beside the war issue, Nicias was more disliked for he was deemed as an aristocrat, whose policies were unpopular. However, it was clear that the controversial Hyperbolus would occupy the political vacancy, which would be left by the ostracized politician. Before this might happen, Nicias and Alcibiades decided setting the dispute aside and they conjoined forces, to ostracize the venturing Hyperbolus, in 417 BC.

The Sicilian Expedition
Plains, passes, rivers, and bridges were quickly obstructed by Gylippus. To flee afoot, the Athenians divided in two groups, which were respectively commanded by Nicias and Demosthenes. Being seriously ill, Nicias strove to keep his authority up, with optimistic speeches.
How far it is just to attribute to his excessive caution and his blind faith in omens the disastrous failure it is difficult to say. So many chances for Athenian success were lost, but as always, one always views hindsight events in 20/20 vision. He was a man of conventional respectability and mechanical piety, without the originality which was required to meet the crisis which faced him. His popularity with the aristocratic party in Athens is, however, strikingly shown by the lament of Thucydides over his death: "He assuredly, among all Greeks of my time, least deserved to come to so extreme a pitch of ill-fortune, considering his exact performance of established duties to the divinity" (vii. 86, Crete's version).

His Fatal Ending
Popularly, Nicias' personality was well known, and this was reflected in many contemporary comedies. Publicly, Nicias acted like being afraid, of other people. Further, Nicias suffered both despair and depression. Consequently, Nicias acted with much caution and deference. Indeed, these somehow courteous attitudes benefited Nicias' initial political image popularly although he was an aristocratic politician, who shared typical unpopular traits.

Trivia