Pericles, the Athenian statesman par excellence, was born to a prominent and wealthy family in 495 B.C. and died in 429 B.C. in Athens. He dominated the political scene of Athens for forty years, without holding an office higher than that of general. His long eminence was due to his incorruptible character, consistently intelligent policy and remarkable powers as an orator. He was the sponsor of Aeschylus' tragedy "Perses" in 472 B.C.. He instituted many democratic reforms and was responsible for great public works. In 463 B.C. he was one of the state prosecutors of Kimon, the leader of the conservative opposition with whom he had been in rivalry for popular support. After the ostracism of Kimon in 461 B.C., Pericles gradually became the most popular and influential leader in Athens. From 458/456 B.C. (when he proposed the building of the Long Walls around Athens) until his death, he was constantly active both in domestic and in foreign politics. In domestic politics, he made full use of his charisma as orator. In association with others, at first, he implemented major domestic reforms in the city. He proposed the law that restricted Athenian citizenship to individuals whose both parents were citizens (451/450 B.C.). He introduced the theorika, i.e. state allowances to the poorer citizens to allow them to go to the theater. He commissioned the Parthenon (begun in 447) and other great buildings of this time. He was close with many of the leading philosophers and artists, in particular Anaxagoras, Sophocles and Pheidias. In 443 B.C. he still had the power to neutralize his political opponents (thus Thucydides, son of Melesias, was ostracised). In 430 B.C. however, it was Pericles' turn to be temporarily driven from power, to be tried for embezzlement and to be fined. Prosecutions also began against his friends, Pheidias and Anaxagoras, and even against his beloved Aspasia, who was acquitted. Rumors of scandals started circulating in the city. Despite the attacks and the rumors, Pericles continued to rise. In foreign politics, he inspired an imperial program: he led several campaigns as general and encouraged the founding of many colonies in the best interests of the Athenian Empire, spreading the influence of the city from Italy to the Black Sea and from Chalkidiki to Corinth. Pericles even planned to convene an all-Greek congress to discuss the rebuilding of the temples that had been destroyed by the Persians, the right to free navigation for all and peace but Sparta opposed these plans. By means of wise choices of the city's allies and enemies he forged Athenian strategy before and during the Peloponnesian War, a strategy which he had previously prepared by the systematic strengthening of the city's resources (fleet, finances). He died of the plague that hit Athens in 429 B.C.. No other leader earned more respect and more power from his fellow-citizens than Pericles did. Athens never really recovered from the leadership gap that was caused by his death in the first year of the Peloponnesian War.