The ancient historian Herodotus cited him as "the best and most honourable man in Athens",[1] and he received similarly reverent treatment in Plato's Socratic dialogues.

[6] Early in 480, Aristides profited by the decree recalling exiles to help in the defence of Athens against Persian invaders, and was elected strategos for the year 480–479 BC.

In the Battle of Salamis of September 480 BC, he gave loyal support to Themistocles, and crowned the victory by landing Athenian infantry on the island of Psyttaleia and annihilating the Persian garrison stationed there.

He so won the confidence of the Ionian allies that, after they had revolted from the Spartan admiral Pausanias,[7] they gave him the chief command and left him with absolute discretion in fixing the contributions of the newly formed (478 BC) confederacy, the Delian League.

[3] Some authorities state that Aristides died at Athens, others that he perished on a journey to the Black Sea; the date of his death is given by Nepos as 468 BC.

His estate seems to have suffered severely from the Persian invasions, for apparently he did not leave enough money to defray the expenses of his burial, and it is known that his descendants – even in the 4th century – received state pensions.