Demades

Athenian orator and politician. A bitter enemy to Demosthenes, he supported Philip II of Macedon, and after the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC) secured an honourable peace. In 332 BC, after Antipater had crushed a revolt against Macedonian rule, Demades procured the death of Demosthenes and his followers, but was himself executed by Cassander, the son of Antipater.

Demades (c.

He was born into a poor family and was employed at one time as a common sailor, but he rose partly by his eloquence and partly by his unscrupulous character to a prominent position at Athens.

He fought against the Macedonians in the Battle of Chaeroneia, and was taken prisoner. Having made a favorable impression upon Philip, he was released together with his fellow-captives, and was instrumental in bringing about a treaty of peace between Macedonia and Athens.

He continued to be a favorite of Alexander, and, prompted by a bribe, saved Demosthenes and the other obnoxious Athenian orators from his vengeance.

His conduct in supporting the Macedonian cause, yet receiving any bribes that were offered by the opposite party, caused him to be heavily fined more than once;

In 318 (or earlier), having been detected in an intrigue with Perdiccas, Antipater's opponent, he was put to death by Antipater at Pella, when entrusted with another mission by the Athenians.

A fragment of a speech, bearing his name, in which he defends his conduct, is to be found in C Müller's Oratores Attici, ii.