Aeschines (389–314 BC)

Athenian orator and principal rival of Demosthenes, with whom he was ambassador to Macedonia 348. His conflict with Demosthenes came to a head 330 and caused Aeschines to go into exile. He established a school of public speaking in Rhodes.

Demosthenes and Timarchus prepared to prosecute Aeschines for treason because of Aeschines's attempts to reconcile the Athenians to Macedonia's expansion into Greece during negotiations between Athens and Macedonia that resulted in the peace of Philocrates 346 BC. In retaliation, Aeschines successfully indicted Timarchus for gross immortality, and at his own trial 343 BC he was narrowly acquitted. In 336 BC Aeschines brought a suit against a certain Ctesiphon for illegally proposing the award of a crown to Demosthenes in recognition of his services to Athens. The trial of the case 330 BC concluded with the overwhelming defeat of Aeschines, largely because of Demonsthenes's brilliant speech for Ctesiphon (‘On the Crown’).