Final answer:
Most Greek tyrants were aristocrats who seized power to address political instability, often with the support of the common soldier class, the hoplites.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most Greek tyrants were aristocrats. The term 'tyrant,' in ancient Greece, referred to a ruler who had come to power without a legal claim but who ruled with the support of the common hoplites, the citizen soldiers. These tyrants often emerged from the ranks of the aristocracy to seize control in response to political instability or conflict.
They were able to maintain their position by addressing the needs of the hoplites, while at the same time managing to placate other aristocrats. Nevertheless, after the conclusion of what was known as the 'Age of Tyrants' around 500 BCE, oligarchies became the more prevalent form of government, replacing both aristocracies and tyrannies in many city-states.