Everything about Agathocles totally explained
Agathocles (
361-
289 BC), (
Greek name
Αγαθοκλής (
Agathokles): derived from
αγαθός (
agathos)
good and
κλέος (
kleos)
glory), was
tyrant of
Syracuse (
317-
289 BC) and king of
Sicily (
304-
289 BC).
Biography
Agathocles was born at Thermae Himeraeae (modern name
Termini Imerese) in Sicily. The son of a
potter who had moved to Syracuse in about
343 BC, he learned his father's trade, but afterwards entered the army. In
333 BC he married the
widow of his patron Damas, a distinguished and wealthy citizen. He was twice
banished for attempting to overthrow the
oligarchical party in Syracuse.
In
317 BC he returned with an army of
mercenaries under a solemn oath to observe the
democratic constitution which was then set up. Having banished or murdered some 10,000 citizens, and thus made himself master of Syracuse, he created a strong army and fleet and subdued the greater part of Sicily.
War with
Carthage followed. In
311 BC Agathocles was
besieged and defeated in Syracuse in
the battle of Himera. After defeat in
310 BC he took the desperate resolve of breaking through the
blockade and attacking the enemy in
Africa. In Africa he concluded the treaty with
Ophellas, ruler of
Cyrenaica. After several victories he was at last completely defeated (
307 BC) and fled secretly to Sicily.
After concluding peace with Carthage in
306 BC, Agathocles styled himself king of Sicily in
304 BC, and established his rule over the
Greek cities of the island more firmly than ever. A peace treaty with Carthage left him in control of Sicily east of the
Halycus River. Even in his old age he displayed the same restless energy, and is said to have been contemplating a fresh attack on Carthage at the time of his death.
His last years were plagued by ill-health and the turbulence of his grandson
Archagathus, at whose instigation he's said to have been
poisoned; according to others, he died a natural death. He was a born leader of mercenaries, and, although he didn't shrink from cruelty to gain his ends, he afterwards showed himself a mild and popular "tyrant." Agathocles restored the Syracusan democracy on his death bed and didn't want his sons to succeed him as king.
Agathocles married
Theoxena, stepdaughter of
Ptolemy I of Egypt. His daughter
Lanassa married King
Pyrrhus of Epirus.
Legacy
Agathocles was cited as an example of “those who by their crimes come to be princes” in Chapter VIII of
Niccolò Machiavelli’s treatise on politics,
The Prince (1513).
Primary sources
Further Information
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