DEMADES’ EMBASSIES TO MACEDON AND TO THE MACEDONIANS IN PLUTARCH
DEMADES’ EMBASSIES TO MACEDON AND TO THE MACEDONIANS IN PLUTARCH

Summary/Abstract: The paper is an analysis of Plutarch’s assessment of Demades’ politicalcareer and of his activities connected with the Macedonians in the crucial period of the Athenian history from 338 to 319 BC. Although Demades does not satisfy Plutarch’s high moral standards and often provides a bad example in ethical discussions, Plutarch still appreciates some of Demades’ political acts, especially regarding the complex and delicate Athenian diplomatic missions to the Macedonians in which Demades served. In some of these events, indeed, like for example, the peace treaty concluded between Athens and Philip II aft er the battle of Chaeronea, Plutarch does not explicitly mention Demades as personally involved in negotiations, although Demades was the one who secured an honourable peace. But in other instances he points out his contribution in negotiating favourable terms for Athens vis-à-vis the Macedonians. He particularly refers to Demades’ attempts to secure peace between Athens and Alexander the Great after the destruction of Thebes in 335 BC, and the way he secured Athenian neutrality at the beginning of the Agis’ war in Greece in 331 BC. In the end, Demades lost his life in his last embassy to Macedonia in 319 BC, because he had allegedly conspired against his protector Antipater.

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