THIRTY TYRANTS (of Athens). In the year B.C. 404, when, after the Peloponnesian war, Athens had fallen into the hands of Sparta, through the treacherous designs of the oligarchical party, the Spartans themselves did not interfere in any direct way with the political constitution of Athens (Diodorus, xiv. 4), but their negocia tions with Theramenes and others of the same party had convinced them that even without their interference the democracy would soon be abolished. In this expectation they were not disappointed, as this was really the object of the oligarchical party. But as this party did not sufficiently trust its own power, Lysander, who had already sailed to Samos, was invited to attend the Assembly at Athens, in which the question of reforming the constitution was to be considered. The presence of Lysander and other Spartan generals with their armies, and the threats that were uttered, silenced all opposition on the side of the popular party, and on the proposition of Theramenes a decree was passed that thirty men should be elected to draw up a new constitution. (Xenophon, Hellen.,' ii. 3, 2.) Lysias ('in Eratosth.,' p. 126, ed. Steph.) gives a more satisfactory account of the proceedings on that memorable day than Xenophon. These thirty individuals were invested with the sovereign power of the republic. Theramenes himself nominated ten, the Athenian ephors ten others, and the election of the remaining ten was left to the people. The names of the Thirty are preserved in Xenophon ('Hellen.,' ii. 3, 2). Their government, a real reign of terror, which fortunately did not last more than one year, was called in Athenian history the year of anarchy, or the reign of the Thirty Tyrants. From the moment that they had thus acquired an apparently legal power, they filled the vacancies in the senate and the magistracies with their own friends and creatures. The new code of laws which they were to draw up was never made, that they might not put any restraints upon themselves, and might always be at liberty to act as they pleased. A similar board, consisting of ten men, perhaps appointed by Lysander himself, was intrusted with the government of Piraeus. The object of the tyrants was to reduce Athens to the condition of an unimportant town, and to make the people forget the greatness to which it had been raised by Themistocles and Pericles. The splendid arsenal of Athens was sold and pulled down, and several of the fortresses of Attica were destroyed. To establish their tyranny the Thirty found it necessary to get rid of a number of persons obnoxious to them. The first that were put to death were the sycophants, who during the time of the democracy had contributed most towards its overthrow by their shameful practices; and the senate, as well as every well-meaning citizen, was glad to see the republic delivered of such a pestilence. The senate acted in these trials as the supreme court of justice, and the Thirty presided in it. All the votes of the senators however were given openly, that the tyrants might be able to see which way each senator voted. This mode of proceeding, though it was at first only directed against individuals equally obnoxious to all parties, became alarming when all the distinguished men, who had been imprisoned before the day on which the new constitution was established, in order that they might not frustrate the plans of the oligarchs by their opposition, were in like manner sentenced to death. The apprehensions of the people were but too well founded, and Critias, the most cruel among the Thirty, gave sufficient indications that the Tyrants did not mean to go on with the same moderation. That they might always have at hand an armed force to support them, they sent an embassy to Sparta to ask for a garrison to occupy the Acropolis. This was granted, and came

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THIRTY TYRANTS (OF ROME).

under the command of Callibius as harmostes. His arrival rendered the Thirty secure. They courted the Spartan harmostes in the most obsequious manner, and he in return placed his troops at their disposal for whatever purpose they might wish to employ them in establishing their dominion more firmly. The assistance to the senate in the trials for political offences began to be dispensed with, and the number of the unhappy victims increased at a fearful rate. Not only persons who opposed or showed any dissatisfaction with the rule of the Tyrants, but all who by their merits had gained favour with the people, were regarded as dangerous persons, who, if they could choose, would prefer a popular government, and were condemned to death in a very summary manner. The reign of the Thirty now began to display all its horrors, and no one could feel safe. To be possessed of wealth, especially in the case of aliens, was sufficient to bring a man to ruin, for the tyrants, independent of all political considerations, began to murder for no other purpose than that of enriching themselves by the confiscation of the property of their victims. The remonstrances of Theramenes against this reckless system of bloodshed were not followed by any other consequences than that the Thirty selected 3000 Athenians who were to enjoy a kind of franchise, and who could not be put to death without a trial before the senate. The rest of the citizens were compelled to give up their arms, and were treated as outlaws. By this expedient the Thirty hoped to strengthen themselves, and to become more independent of the Spartan garrison. The opposition of Theramenes to this arrangement involved his own destruction. [THERAMENES.] The horrors which were now perpetrated became every day more numerous and fearful, and numbers of Athenians fled from their native country to seek refuge at Argos, Megara, Thebes, and other places, where they met with an hospitable and kind reception. The tyrants soon began to be uneasy at the crowds of exiles who thus gathered round the frontiers of Attica, and applied to Sparta to interfere. The Spartans issued a proclamation empowering the Thirty to arrest the exiles in any part of Greece, and forbidding any Greek state to interfere on their behalf. This command was entirely disregarded by the Greeks, especially the Thebans, who even declared that the Athenian fugitives should be received and protected in all the towns of Boeotia. Thebes, whose mode of action was not dictated by a generous and humane feeling towards the unhappy Athenians, but rather arose from jealousy of Sparta, thus became the rallying point for a great number of exiles, among whom Thrasybulus was the most enterprising. In what manner the rule of the Thirty Tyrants was at last overthrown, and the democratical constitution was restored at Athens, is related in the article THRASYBULUS.

(Xenophon, Hellen., ii. 3; Diodorus, xiv. 3, &c.; Thirlwall; Grote.) THIRTY TYRANTS (under the Roman Empire). This name has been given to a set of usurpers who sprung up in various parts of the Roman empire in the reigns of Valerian (A.D. 253-60) and Gallienus (261-68). This appellation of the Thirty Tyrants, in imitation of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens, is highly improper, and bears no analogy to the Thirty of Athens. They rose in different parts, assuming the title of emperor, in irregular succession, and were put down one after another. Their number moreover does not amount to thirty, unless women and children, who were honoured with the imperial title, are included. Trebellius Pollio, who, in his work on the Triginta Tyranni,' describes the adventures of each of them, has taken great pains to make out that their number was thirty: there were however

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