Astyochus or Astyochos () was a Spartan navarch who served as commander of the collective Spartan naval forces along the coast of Asia Minor during 412–411 BC. He is regarded by many contemporaries and modern scholars as a key reason for Sparta's early failures in the Peloponnesian War. His expeditions consisting of encounters in Lesbos, Chios, Erythrae and Clazomenae all of which proved unsuccessful. He refused requests for help from Chios, causing the Spartan administration to become increasingly dissatisfied with his leadership. Thucydides portrayed Astyochus as timid and inept, and also de
Astyochus or Astyochos () was a Spartan navarch who served as commander of the collective Spartan naval forces along the coast of Asia Minor during 412–411 BC. He is regarded by many contemporaries and modern scholars as a key reason for Sparta's early failures in the Peloponnesian War. His expeditions consisting of encounters in Lesbos, Chios, Erythrae and Clazomenae all of which proved unsuccessful. He refused requests for help from Chios, causing the Spartan administration to become increasingly dissatisfied with his leadership. Thucydides portrayed Astyochus as timid and inept, and also depicted him as often in conflict with his peers in Ionia. Toward the end of his time as commander, he exhibited great reluctance to attack the Athenians and also failed to properly pay his troops, leading to riots and violence, and eventually, his removal as commander in 412 BC, to be replaced by the Spartan Mindarus.
== Involvement in the Peloponnesian War == In 412 BC, Astyochus replaced Melancridas as the leader of the naval forces, and was assigned to assist the cities on the mainland of Asia Minor, as well as the surrounding islands along the coast. His immediate task was to advance the Spartan agenda by weakening the allegiances of these communities to Athens, as well as to demonstrate through his presence Sparta's willingness to provide continued support and assistance. At this time, the Athenians had already lost their position in Sicily for a year, and had also just lost their foothold in Chios due to a revolt. Astyochus arrived off Chios with four galleys. However, Lesbos had recently transformed into a war zone, as the Chians had incited revolts in the key cities of Methymna and Mytilene. The Athenians stormed Mytilene in response, and Astyochus, upon his arrival, found that he could offer no help. The resulting Athenian recapture of Lesbos occurred as Astyochus withdrew to Chios.
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