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"The Liberation of Rhodes: Independence in 389 BCE"
In 389 BCE, the island of Rhodes, a strategically vital maritime power in the eastern Mediterranean, successfully gained its independence from Athenian dominance. This event marked a significant shift in the balance of power in the Aegean during the Corinthian War (395-387 BCE), a conflict that pitted Sparta and its allies against an alliance led by Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Persia.
Rhodes had been part of the Delian League, an Athenian-led alliance, since the mid-5th century BCE. However, Athenian hegemony was often resented by member states due to heavy tributes and political interference. Following Athens' defeat in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE), Rhodes briefly fell under Spartan influence before returning to Athenian control as Athens sought to rebuild its empire.
By 391 BCE, Rhodes, along with other Greek states, grew disillusioned with Athenian dominance. The island's oligarchic factions, possibly supported by Persian funding (as Persia sought to weaken Athens), instigated a rebellion. In 389 BCE, Rhodes successfully expelled Athenian forces and declared independence.
While specific details of the 389 BCE revolt are sparse in surviving ancient sources, its broader implications for Aegean geopolitics were profound, weakening Athens' revived ambitions and reinforcing the shifting alliances of the era.
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