other · Greece and the Aegean

Delian League

478 BCE – 404 BCE · capital Athens

Athenian-led alliance formed against Persia in 478 BCE that turned into an Athenian empire funding the Parthenon and Athens' war with Sparta.

Origins

After the defeat of Xerxes, the Ionian and Aegean Greeks wanted to continue the war against Persia and resented the Spartan commander Pausanias. In 478-477 BCE they swore an alliance with Athens on the sacred island of Delos. The Athenian Aristides assessed each member's contribution of ships or money, set at 460 talents a year.

Rule and society

Delegates first met on Delos, where the treasury was kept, but Athens controlled the fleet and the treasurers. Over time most members paid tribute rather than providing ships, and revolts by Naxos (c. 470 BCE), Thasos (465 BCE) and Samos (440 BCE) were crushed. The treasury moved to Athens in 454 BCE, and Pericles used its funds for the buildings of the Acropolis. Athens imposed its coinage, courts and settlers on allies.

Decline and legacy

Cimon's victory at the Eurymedon (c. 466 BCE) secured the Aegean. Rivalry with Sparta led to the Peloponnesian War, in which many allies revolted after the Sicilian disaster of 413 BCE. Athens' surrender in 404 BCE dissolved the league.

Lineage

Hellenic Alliance 481 BCE – 478 BCEDelian League

Connections (50)

  • Chalcis was part of Delian League478 BCE – 411 BCE
  • Eretria was part of Delian League478 BCE – 411 BCE
  • Olynthus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 432 BCE
  • Potidaea was part of Delian League478 BCE – 432 BCE
  • Abdera was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Thasos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 463 BCE
  • Byzantium was part of Delian League478 BCE – 405 BCE
  • Cyzicus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 411 BCE
  • Miletus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Ephesus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Priene was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Colophon was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Teos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Phocaea was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Clazomenae was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Erythrae was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Chios was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Samos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Mytilene was part of Delian League478 BCE – 427 BCE
  • Methymna was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Cyme (Aeolis) was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Knidos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Halicarnassus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Kos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Lindos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 411 BCE
  • Ialysos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 411 BCE
  • Kamiros was part of Delian League478 BCE – 411 BCE
  • Naxos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Paros was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Delian League was part of Athens478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Maroneia was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Aenus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Sestos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Lampsacus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 411 BCE
  • Abydos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 411 BCE
  • Chalcedon was part of Delian League478 BCE – 410 BCE
  • Perinthus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Andros was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Keos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Siphnos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Myus was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Lebedos was part of Delian League478 BCE – 412 BCE
  • Karystos was part of Delian League472 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Lycian dynasts was part of Delian League470 BCE – 440 BCE
  • Phaselis was part of Delian League469 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Aspendos was part of Delian League465 BCE – 410 BCE
  • Aegina was part of Delian League457 BCE – 431 BCE
  • Methone (Pieria) was part of Delian League430 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Thera was part of Delian League430 BCE – 404 BCE
  • Delian League was conquered by Sparta404 BCE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Delian League. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/delian-league
MLA
“Delian League.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/delian-league. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Delian League.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/delian-league.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Delian League’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/delian-league (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻