General Hermocrates

Hermocrates
Syracuse
Statesman, General
???? – c. 407 BC

Background
       Hermocrates was the son of a man named Hermon, though it is believed that without the Athenian Expedition of Sicilian, odds are no one would have ever heard of either of them. Hermocrates was a democratic leader in Syracuse. He is credited with bringing together the city-states of Sicily in agreeing to stay out of both Peloponnesian Wars. After aiding Sparta in the latter years of the war, Hermocrates would be exiled by a rival democrat who took power back home in Syracuse. Hermocrates would die in the winter of 408/407 trying to return home.

Peloponnesian War Contribution
       Hermocrates ultimately united Syracuse and persuaded Sparta to aid them in fighting off the Athenians after the First Battle of Syracuse. Leading the Syracuse defense effort, for a short time it was believed to be a lost cause until General Gylippus and his Spartan forces showed up and crushed the Athenian fleet in 413 BC. Hermocrates would go on to support Sparta throughout the remainder of the Peloponnesian War.