History of the Peloponnesian War

But as soon as these men attained office and had made an inspection of arms, separating the companies they selected about one hundred of their personal enemies and of those who seemed to have had the largest part in the negotiations with the Athenians, and compelling the popular assembly to take an open vote concerning these, when they had been condemned, slew them, and established an extreme oligarchy in the city.

And there was never a change of government, effected by so small a number of men through the triumph of a faction, that lasted so long.