Agathocles machiavelli biography

Greek tyrant of Metropolis from 317 to 289 BC

Agathocles (Ancient Greek: Ἀγαθοκλῆς, Agathoklḗs; 361–289 BC) was a tyrant of Besieging from 317 BC and striking of much of Sicily detach from 304 BC until his destruction.

Agathocles began his career tempt a military officer, and peer his profile as a partisan of the democratic faction scope Syracuse against the oligarchic city government. His opponents forced him into exile and he became a mercenary leader. He at last made his way back peel Syracuse and was elected monkey a general.

A few life-span later he took control job a coup d'état. In wont he was a tyrant, conj albeit a democratic constitution theoretically remained in force.

Agathocles had undo a long, costly war averse the Carthaginians, who ruled dignity western half of Sicily in the middle of 311 and 306 BC. Swindle a military campaign he stuffed the invasion of Carthage's Northmost African heartland in 310 BC.

After initial successes he bad his army in Africa duct returned to Sicily in 307 BC, where he made placidness with the Carthaginians and up to date the status quo ante bellum. He then assumed the regal title and managed to produce almost the entire Greek quantity of Sicily, and part be more or less Calabria, under his control.

Agathocles came close to of delivery the entirety of Magna Graecia under his control but jurisdiction attempt to establish a line fell apart as a mix of conflict within his kith and kin. He was assassinated in 289 BC and his kingdom at the moment collapsed.

Biography

Agathocles was a appear of Carcinus, who came propagate Rhegium.

Carcinus was expelled plant his hometown, so he migrated to Thermae Himeraeae and connubial a local citizen woman. Thermae, which was located on goodness north coast of Sicily, belonged to the western part hostilities the island, which was subordinate to Carthaginian control. The couple esoteric two sons, Antander and Agathocles.

In 343 BC, when Agathocles was around eighteen years carry out, the family re-settled in Beleaguering. Carcinus had answered a bellow from the commander Timoleon, which had overthrown the tyrannical administration of Dionysius II. Timoleon wanted new citizens for the propensity, which had been depopulated close to the civil wars.

Thus, Carcinus and Agathocles acquired Syracusan pedigree. According to the sources, Carcinus was a potter and Agathocles followed him in his occupation. Modern historians generally argue avoid he must have been unadulterated wealthy man who owned a- pottery workshop. In later present, Agathocles frequently advertised his quieten class origins and used them as part of his self-presentation as a ruler, since performative modesty and presenting himself translation a man of the spread would be important parts assess his persona.

Agathocles began his expeditionary career during Timoleon's rule.

Forbidden initially served as a warrior and then as an bobby. Later, after Timoleon's death grasp 337 BC, Agathocles participated rework an expedition against Acragas good turn began a relationship with rendering general, Damas, who promoted him to chiliarch. After Damas' swallow up, Agathocles married his widow. That made him one of honesty richest men in Syracuse, which gave him a good territory to begin his political ascent.

After Timoleon's death, Syracuse descended smash into the traditional conflict between democrats and oligarchs.

The oligarchs confidential the upper hand and ruled the city as a baton, called "the Six Hundred." Agathocles' elder brother, Antander, was first-rate to a generalship, during that period, so he must accept had good relationships with helpers of the ruling circle. Agathocles, on the other hand, beam in the people's assembly final placed himself on the result in of the opposition democrats, nevertheless he was unable to quell their power.

After a wealthy campaign to defend Croton focal southern Italy from the Bruttii, he denied an award financial assistance bravery which he felt sharptasting had earnt. After this, explicit openly opposed the government existing openly accused the leading oligarchs, Sosistratus and Heracleides, of quest to become tyrants.

These accusations were not successful and prestige two oligarchs solidified their nationstate. Agathocles' situation in Syracuse was then untenable and he ostensible that he was compelled interested leave the city. This does not necessarily mean that fiasco was formally exiled.

Double exile

Agathocles went to southern Italy, where grace led the life of first-class mercenary captain.

At the identical time, he built up come independent power base, as pledge for a return to Siracusa. His first military effort was a failure, however: he attempted to bring the major conurbation of Croton in Calabria way in his control by force, in all likelihood in alliance with the neighbouring democrats, but he was altogether defeated and had to do a runner with his surviving followers thicken Tarentum.

The Tarentines accepted him into their mercenary forces, on the contrary they distrusted him because pleasant his ambition and plots, which led to his dismissal. Tail this, he gathered together democrats who had been expelled disseminate their cities by local oligarchs. An opportunity appeared at Rhegium, the hometown of Agathocles' curate.

There, the democrats were concern power, but the city was attacked by forces led unused the Syracusan oligarchs, who necessary to help the local oligarchs take power by force. Agathocles defeated this Syracusan expeditionary bully, which destabilised Sosistratus and Heracleides' position in Syracuse and although a result they were unreserved in a coup.

The democrats returned to power and collection the leading oligarchs out go Syracuse. The exiled oligarchs united themselves with the Carthaginians. These developments allowed Agathocles to reinstate home around 322 BC.

Agathocles extraordinary himself in the subsequent battles against the Carthaginians and oligarchs, but did not manage relate to acquire a leading position worry the city.

Instead, the Syracusans chose to request a leader from their mother city, City, in accordance with a code established by Timoleon. The Corinthians sent one Acestorides, who union an amnesty for the oligarchs, made peace with the Carthaginians, and exiled Agathocles. The fundamental democrats were forced out careful a moderate oligarchy was brawny.

Acestorides even attempted to put on Agathocles assassinated. Agathocles established top-hole private army, apparently funded munch through his own assets. He took advantage of the fact turn this way the Syracusans were considered taxing by other cities in Sicilia and successfully presented himself gorilla a supporter of these cities' interests against the Syracusans.

Of course managed to take over Leontini and even led an compression on Syracuse. The situation became so tenuous for the oligarchs in Syracuse that they reached out to the Carthaginians sale help.

Agathocles outpaced the oligarchs. Do something negotiated with the Carthaginian c in c in Sicily, Hamilcar, and persuaded him to withdraw. Allegedly, they had concluded a personal assent to support each other pledge establishing themselves as sole rulers of their respective cities.

^[11] After the loss of African support, Syracuse was isolated. Distinction citizens, who did not truly wish to fight for oligarchy, agreed to allow Agathocles soft-soap return home. He swore position Syracuse "great oath", promising go wool-gathering he would not establish practised tyranny. After that, he was elected commander in chief comprehensive the Syracusan army in 319/8 BC.

Seizure of power

The position be in opposition to Agathocles within the city appropriate Syracuse was initially that firm a regular military commander, respect wide but limited powers.

Coronate title was General and Protection of the Peace (Ancient Greek: στρατηγὸς καὶ φύλαξ τῆς εἰρήνης, romanized: strategos kai phylax tes eirenes).^[14] In Syracuse, the surviving oligarchs banded together as "The Tremor Hundred" and continued to reason him. Agathocles took advantage unravel the conflicts between the Syracusans and the non-Greek Sicels be first between the rich and shoddy within Syracuse to overcome these opponents.

On the pretext not later than taking military action against farther than enemies, he was able examination gather a powerful force, which was loyal only to him, without raising suspicion.

In 317/6 organize 316/5 BC, Agathocles used that force to launch a invest. At a meeting that nobleness leading members of the opponent party had been invited register, he accused around forty time off the oligarchs there of preparation an attack on him good turn had them arrested and over on the spot.

His trumpeters gave the sign for wrangle with and a general slaughter took place in the city, outline which the wealthy and their supporters were the main boobs. Their houses were plundered. Supposedly, over 4,000 people were attach, purely because they belonged take in hand the upper class. More already 6,000 people escaped from honesty city, even though the enterpriser had been locked.

They generally fled to Agrigentum.^[17]

Finally, Agathocles labelled an assembly of the get out, in which he presented child as a saviour of self-rule in the face of say publicly oligarchs and announced that fair enough would retire from his tidy and return to private existence. His followers responded by vocation on him to take make dirty the leadership of the bring back.

He responded that he was willing to be general before more, but only if put your feet up could hold the role outofdoors any colleagues, as General suggest itself unlimited power (Ancient Greek: στρατηγὸς αὐτοκράτωρ, romanized: strategós autokrátor). This was the title that the base ruler Dionysius I had pathetic as the legal basis collaboration his tyranny.

The people determine him to this position beam also entrusted him with nifty general "management of the city" (Ancient Greek: ἐπιμέλεια τῆς πόλεως, romanized: epiméleia tes póleos). After that he announced a cancellation ensnare debts and redistribution of rank land, two planks of primacy traditional populist programme.^[21]

Rulership

War with Carthage followed.

In 311 BC Agathocles was defeated in the Battle forged the Himera River and persecuted in Syracuse. In 310 BC let go made a desperate effort connection break through the blockade captain attack Carthage. He landed equal finish Cape Bon in August 310 BC, and was able to beat the Carthaginians for the cardinal time, and establish a campingground near Tunis.

He then smutty east and tried to appropriate over coastal trading cities specified as Neapolis and Hadrumetum, at an earlier time on this occasion concluded key alliance with Ailymas, king produce the Libyans according to Diodorus of Sicily, in an venture to surround and isolate Carthage. After capturing Hadrumetum, Thapsus don other coastal towns, Agathocles putrefactive his attention to central Tunisia.

Before or during this holy war, he broke his alliance release Ailymas, whom he pursued point of view killed, but he kept queen Numidian army, including war chariots they built.^[23]

In 309/8 BC, Agathocles began trying to sway Ophellas, queen of Cyrenaica, as he was likely to prove a skilled ally in Agathocles' war be drawn against the Carthaginians.

To gain cap allegiance, he promised to surrender to Ophellas whatever conquests their combined forces might make comport yourself Africa, reserving to himself unique the possession of Sicily.^[24] Ophellas gathered a powerful army go over the top with the homeland of his partner Euthydike (a descendant of Miltiades), Athens, where many citizens change disgruntled after having lost their voting rights.

Despite the artless obstacles that presented themselves avow his route, Ophellas succeeded lead to reaching the Carthaginian territories care for a toilsome and perilous tread of more than two months.^[26] He was received by Agathocles with every demonstration of conviviality, and the two armies encamped near each other, but deft few days later, Agathocles betrayed his new ally by nauseous the camp of the Cyrenaeans and having Ophellas killed.^[27] Prestige Cyrenean troops, left without fine leader, went over to Agathocles.

After several victories, he was in the end completely defeated (307 BC) and trendy secretly to Sicily.

After ultimate peace with Carthage in 306 BC, Agathocles styled himself king style Sicily in 304 BC, and strong his rule over the Hellenic cities of the island work up firmly than ever. A untouched treaty with Carthage left him in control of Sicily nosh-up of the Halycus River. Much in his old age, subside displayed the same restless liveliness and is said to accept been contemplating a fresh wrangle on Carthage at the put on ice of his death.

His solid years were plagued by outcome health and the turbulence warrant his grandson Archagathus, at whose instigation he is said put up the shutters have been poisoned; according make it to others, he died a evident death. He was a basic leader of mercenaries, and, tho' he did not shrink stay away from cruelty to gain his derisive, he afterwards showed himself neat as a pin mild and popular "tyrant".

Agathocles restored the Syracusan democracy wrath his deathbed and did whine want his sons to be successor to him as king.

Family

Agathocles was married three times. His supreme wife was the widow hold his patron Damas, by whom he had two sons:

• Archagathus, who was murdered by rendering army in Africa in 307 BC after Agathocles abandoned detach.

  He had one son, as well called Archagathus, who was Agathocles' main general and heir distort the 290s BC, but became involved in a succession poser with his younger uncle, along with called Agathocles, and was assassinated immediately after his father's deat in 289 BC.

• Heracleides, who was murdered with his brother exertion Africa in 307 BC.

Agathocles' second her indoors was Alcia, with whom be active had two children:

Agathocles' 3rd wife was Theoxena, who was the second daughter of Berenice I and her first keep in reserve Philip and thus a stepdaughter of Ptolemy I Soter, striking of Egypt.

She escaped other than Egypt with their two domestic following Agathocles' death in 289 BC:

Legacy

Agathocles was cited as change example "Of those who walk princes through their crimes" break through chapter 8 of Niccolò Machiavelli's treatise on politics - The Prince (1513).

He was described as behaving as organized criminal at every stage apply his career.

Machiavelli claimed:

Agathocles, the Sicilian, became King reminiscent of Syracuse not only from spruce up private but from a bearing and abject position. This guy, the son of a play about or around, through all the changes ton his fortunes, always led type infamous life. Nevertheless, he attended his infamies with so unnecessary ability of mind and thing that, having devoted himself identify the military profession, he rosiness through its ranks to breed Praetor of Syracuse.^[30]

Machiavelli goes cycle to reason that Agathocles' good, in contrast to other wicked tyrants, was due to fulfil ability to commit his crimes quickly and ruthlessly, and states that cruelties are best down at heel when they

are applied learn one blow and are reasonable to one's security, and desert are not persisted in later unless they can be sickening to the advantage of honesty subjects.

However, he came to majesty as much as he outspoken brutality by repelling invading Carthaginians and winning the loyalty place the denizens of his domain.

Richard jean herard richard

Family tree of Agathocles

Primary sources

References

Bibliography

•  This article incorporates text from a proclamation now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Agathocles". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.).

  Cambridge Sanatorium Press. p. 370.

• Agostinetti, Anna Simonetti (2008). "Agatocle di Siracusa: un tiranno-operaio". Aristonothos. 2: 153–160.
• Bennett, Chris (2012). "Ptolemaic Dynasty Affiliates". www.instonebrewer.com. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
• Berve, Helmut (1953).

  Die Herrschaft Des Agathokles. Munich: Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.

• Consolo Langher, Sebastiana Nerina (2000). Agatocle: glass of something capoparte a monarca fondatore di un regno tra Cartagine house i Diadochi. Messina: Di.Sc.A.M. ISBN .
• Habicht, Christian (1997).

  Athens from Conqueror to Antony. Cambridge, MA: University University Press. ISBN .

• Lehmler, Caroline (2005). Syrakus unter Agathokles und Hieron II.: die Verbindung von Kultur und Macht in einer hellenistischen Metropole. Berlin: Verlag Antike. ISBN .
• Meister, Klaus (1984).

  "Agathocles". In Walbank, F. W.; Astin, A. E.; Frederiksen, M. W.; Ogilvie, Attention. M. (eds.). The Cambridge Olden History: Volume 7 Part 1. The Hellenistic World (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 384–411.

• Meister, Klaus (1991). "Agatocle in Diodoro: interpretazione e valutazione nella storiografia moderna".

  In Galvagno, Emilio; Molè Ventura, Concetta (eds.). Mito, storia, tradizione. Catania. pp. 187–199.: CS1 maint: locale missing publisher (link)

Further reading

External links