Title: Peisistratos - Wikipedia
Headings: Peisistratos
Peisistratos
Contents
Rise
Periods of power
Construction and contribution in Athens
Popular tyrant
Three attempts at tyranny
Policies
Legacy
See also
Notes
References

Content: Peisistratus was a Greek tyrant having overthrown the democracy by force. He achieved this by using his strong mercenary force to dissuade and kill all the other aristocrats. To ensure his rule, he maintained this strong mercenary force to act as his private bodyguards. In addition, to deter other political families, he took hostages from the major families to ensure cooperation. Unlike many tyrants, Peisistratus maintained the government's structure as opposed to removing it entirely, choosing to rather improve and evolve the current system. By doing so he was able to keep many of the aristocrats in seats of power by allowing only those who cooperated to take places as Archons, while the others were sentenced to exile. With the government being run by a trusted group, he had comfortable control over all rulings and personal protection from the law. Construction and contribution in Athens
During his rule in Athens, Peisistratos headed the construction of many great projects. Peisistratos was one of the first tyrants to heavily focus on the infrastructure of Athens: his building of wells specifically was greatly appreciated by the masses.