It’s nice to see Drakus again. We had a long and fascinating discussion about Alkibiades several years ago at AS. At that time he did manage to convince me that Alkibiades was a better general that I had given him credit for, but the man’s deep personal flaws really kept (and keep) him from getting more recognition.

There is no question that Alkibiades could have won the Sicilian campaign, though that could perhaps be said of any reasonably capable general other than Nikias. On the other hand, he did practice something of a go slow policy during the brief period he was in charge of the campaign. Most analysts that I have read agree with Thucydides that a rapid strike against Syracuse before they had time to prepare would have brought about the results Athens hoped for. I have always found Alkibiades’ delays curious.

Drakus also mentions Alkibiades leading the procession to Eleusis under the walls of Dekelaia and the noses of the Spartan garrison there. That “snub of Spartan power” may have brought joy to the hearts of Athenians, but I wonder how many of them thought long and hard about the fact that the man leading them safely past the Spartans was also responsible for them being there in the first place.

The reason that Alkibiades doesn’t get the recognition he may have earned as a commander is plain to see. It is the man himself. His flaws, his ambition for personal power, his treason and his decadent reputation all prevent Alkibiades’ generalship from earning the respect it may deserve.