Astyochus.

About Astyochus

Astyochus or Astyochos was a Spartan navarch who served as commander of the collective Spartan naval forces along the coast of Asia Minor during 412–411 BC. He is regarded by many contemporaries and modern scholars as a key reason for Sparta's early failures in the Peloponnesian War. His expeditions consisting of encounters in Lesbos, Chios, Erythrae and Clazomenae all of which proved unsuccessful. He refused requests for help from Chios, causing the Spartan administration to become increasingly dissatisfied with his leadership. Thucydides portrayed Astyochus as timid and inept, and also depicted him as often in conflict with his peers in Ionia. Toward the end of his time as commander, he exhibited great reluctance to attack the Athenians and also failed to properly pay his troops, leading to riots and violence, and eventually, his removal as commander in 412 BC, to be replaced by the Spartan Mindarus.