"On the Liberty of the Rhodians" ( grc, Ὑπὲρ τῆς Ροδίων ἐλευθερίας) is one of the first political orations of the prominent

Athenian Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

statesman and orator

Demosthenes Demosthenes (; el, Δημοσθένης, translit=Dēmosthénēs; ; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prow ...

. It is generally dated to 351/0 BC, shortly after the

First Philippic The "First Philippic" was delivered by the Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes between 351 BC-350 BC. It constitutes the first speech of the prominent politician against Philip II of Macedon. Historical framework Since 357 BC, when Philip sei ...

, and constitutes one of the initial political interventions of Demosthenes. The island of

Rhodes Rhodes (; el, Ρόδος , translit=Ródos ) is the largest and the historical capital of the Dodecanese islands of Greece. Administratively, the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the So ...

had been part of the

Second Athenian League The Second Athenian League was a maritime confederation of Aegean city-states from 378 to 355 BC and headed by Athens, primarily for self-defense against the growth of Sparta and secondly, the Persian Empire. Background In 478 BC, Athens founded ...

, but in 357 it was one of the states which rebelled against Athens in the Social War, and gained independence from Athens. The oligarchic faction of Rhodes came into power, with the help of support from

Mausolus Mausolus ( grc, Μαύσωλος or , xcr, ��𐊠��𐊸𐊫𐊦 ''Mauśoλ'') was a ruler of Caria (377–353 BCE) and a satrap of the Achaemenid Empire. He enjoyed the status of king or dynast by virtue of the powerful position created by h ...

of Halicarnassus. The democratic faction correspondingly asked for Athenian support, and Demosthenes' speech was composed for the debate in the Assembly about whether to give them help. "On the Liberty of the Rhodians" makes the case for Athenian intervention in Rhodes, though makes no specific proposals as to what form that support might take – other speakers in favour of intervention were presumably expected to make such proposals, and Demosthenes' speech would have been to support those. Athens in the end did not intervene in Rhodes.

References

External links

Text of the speech at the Perseus Digital Library
{{DEFAULTSORT:On The Liberty Of The Rhodians Works by Demosthenes Ancient Rhodes 351 BC Ancient Greek orations