When the rule of a narrow group of aristocrats became oppressive, a tyrant was often appointed by a broader group of the citizens to take over rule and govern for a wide sector of the community.
One weakness in this was that the tyrant needed to have a bodyguard to protect him from assassination by the aristocrats, and to pay for them had to levy a tax, and taxes were very unpopular, and this was exploited for Propaganda purposes by the lurking aristocrats.
Tyrants saved Athens from civil war for fifty years, but eventually people tired of them and expelled them.
The rule of tyrants was characterized by the concentration of power in the hands of one person, who often seized power forcefully and ruled with absolute authority, without any regard for the rights and welfare of the people. In contrast, the rule of aristocrats was based on hereditary privilege, where power was controlled by a small group of wealthy and influential individuals whose authority was often based on their lineage or social status. The aristocrats typically had some level of accountability and responsibility towards their subjects, whereas tyrants ruled with complete autonomy.
Initially the kings were hereditary. When they were replaced by aristocrats, they formed ruling councils from amongst themselves. When these became too oppressive, tyrants seized power by popular consent to rule or all levels of the city-state. When they became too oppressive, they were replaced by democratic government of the people. When democracy failed, kings, aristocrats (oligarchs) and tyrants returned, according to the needs and preferences of each of the various 2,000 city-states which comprised the Greek world. city
ending the rule of tyrants.
Athens was under control of self-serving aristocrats who stood heavily on the majority who were small-farmers. While Solon had been appointed in 594 BCE to resolve a looming revolution because of this, he compromised heavily, and the problem was not solved. Peisistratos was appointed tyrant by popular acclaim to resolve the next looming crisis. He and his successor sons did a good job in equalising peoples' living conditions. The weakness was that the tyrants had to hire a large bodyguard to protect them from assassination by the aristocrats (Julius Caesar style) an had to levy taxes to pay for the guards. The Greeks hated taxes, and by 510 BCE, after 51 years under the tyrants, a new generation had forgotten the evils of the oligarchic rule by the aristocrats, and just wanted to get rid of the tyrants taking their money. They expelled the third tyrant Hippias who was now in power, and the oligarchs made a bid to return to power. Fortunately Cleisthenes intervened and set up a form of limited democracy.
The aristocrats replaced them, sometimes called oligarchs. Oligarchies replaced monarchies - in Greek oligarchy means 'rule by the few'.
The upper class had the capacity to sell farmers, who could not repay their debts in a bad season, into slavery. This brought the city-state to the brink of revolution, and Solon was appointed with dictatorial power to put an end to it and buy back the enslaved. However ongoing oppression resulted in the appointment of tyrants to fix the problem. They did this but had to levy taxes to pay for lrge bodyguards to protect them from the aristocrats, and this brought them into disfavour. After the tyrants were expelled, Cleisthenes introduced limited democracy to give the lower classes a say in running Athens.
Be quiet
Once government fell there was a void. When that happens strong men will take over and rule as tyrants.
Initially they were appointed to solve the problems between aristocrats and the lower classes dominated and exploited by the upper class. Their task was to create a balance to protect the interests of both sides.They were also used by empires eg the Persian Empire to rule a city and keep its people under control. The early tyrants of Athens had a problem - to stop the aristocrats from assassinating them, they had to hire a strong guard to protect them. To pay the guard they had to impose a tax. Neither aristocrats or the lower classes liked taxes, so the tyrants, even though they tried to do their job fairly, became unpopular and were expelled.
7th and 6th Centuries BCE.
tyrants
Initially the kings were hereditary. When they were replaced by aristocrats, they formed ruling councils from amongst themselves. When these became too oppressive, tyrants seized power by popular consent to rule or all levels of the city-state. When they became too oppressive, they were replaced by democratic government of the people. When democracy failed, kings, aristocrats (oligarchs) and tyrants returned, according to the needs and preferences of each of the various 2,000 city-states which comprised the Greek world. city
The effect of the tyranny's role in ending the rule of Greek aristocrats was that it made city states become a democratic government, but some city states still used to rule by oligarchy.
Plato stated that the aristocrats were the ones who is fit to rule.
Aristocracy is a form of government or social class in which a small group of privileged individuals hold power or authority, typically based on hereditary or elite status. Members of the aristocracy often have special privileges, wealth, and influence in society.
ending the rule of tyrants.
Athens was under control of self-serving aristocrats who stood heavily on the majority who were small-farmers. While Solon had been appointed in 594 BCE to resolve a looming revolution because of this, he compromised heavily, and the problem was not solved. Peisistratos was appointed tyrant by popular acclaim to resolve the next looming crisis. He and his successor sons did a good job in equalising peoples' living conditions. The weakness was that the tyrants had to hire a large bodyguard to protect them from assassination by the aristocrats (Julius Caesar style) an had to levy taxes to pay for the guards. The Greeks hated taxes, and by 510 BCE, after 51 years under the tyrants, a new generation had forgotten the evils of the oligarchic rule by the aristocrats, and just wanted to get rid of the tyrants taking their money. They expelled the third tyrant Hippias who was now in power, and the oligarchs made a bid to return to power. Fortunately Cleisthenes intervened and set up a form of limited democracy.
Tyrants effectected how the people would live. They some times destroyed them. They would make the city-states do what he/she wants by force.