# Sitalces — History of the Peloponnesian War character guide

> Sitalces in History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0002-book-i

## Snapshot

The Thracian king whose vast, motley army marched south as Athens's ally, briefly threatening Macedon and reminding Greeks how much the war depended on non-Greek powers.

## Who they are

Sitalces rules the Odrysian kingdom, a sprawling Thracian realm whose cavalry and infantry Athens courts as a counterweight to Spartan influence in the north. His alliance with Athens is dynastic and fragile, tied to his Athenian brother-in-law and to promises of plunder. His great expedition into Macedon shows the war spilling far beyond Hellas, and his eventual withdrawal exposes how quickly barbarian alliances could evaporate.

## Relationships

### [Archidamus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters/archidamus)

_professional_

Archidamus negotiated with Sitalces, the Thracian king, to secure an alliance against Athens, though Sitalces proved unreliable.

## In the story

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/vii)

King of Thrace; his son Sadocus, an Athenian citizen, helps intercept Peloponnesian envoys.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/viii)

Thracian king who leads a massive expedition into Macedonia and Chalcidice, but withdraws after thirty days due to lack of provisions and winter conditions, influenced by his nephew Seuthes.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters/sitalces
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters