He was appointed as archon (chief magistrate) for a year to avert an uprising by the lower classes against ruthless, autocratic and self-serving rule by the aristocracy. He ended the debt slavery which the aristocrats had enforced, and bought back those who had been sold. He did not move to democracy, as this would have created a strong counter-reaction amongst the aristocrats - he realised he wad to walk a middle ground to avoid bringing on the very thing he had been appointed to avoid. His reforms did not last, and after 30 years, the Athenians appointed Piesistratus as tyrant (dictator) to establish an acceptable balance between the aristocracy and the lower classes.