Cleon

an A then i an demagogue, surnamed the Tanner, from his profe ion, which he forsook that he might champion the rights of the people; rose in popular esteem by his victory over the Spartans, but being sent against Brasidas, the Spartan general, was defeated and fell in the battle, 422 B.C.; is regarded by Thucydides with disfavour, and by Aris toph anes with contempt, but both these writers were of the aristocracy, and po ibly prejudiced, though the object of their disfavour had many of the marks of the vulgar agitator, and stands for the type of one.