Post by Lannes on Jul 29, 2005 0:21:52 GMT 3
Unlike in most other places around the ancient world, the cities of Ancient Sicily were often dominated by all-powerful 'tyrants'. Despite the thoughts that word evokes, not all tyrants were especially brutal rulers. And certainly, it doesn't apply that many weren't able. In fact, many built their cities up to positions of great wealth and splendor, many were able generals and commanders, and a few even built large, expasionist states that had the potential to unite Sicily.
But which of the many Sicilian tyrants do you think was the greatest? Why? I'll provide a few notable 'tyrants', and some of their feats to aid discussion:
Phalaris of Acragas: Ruled Acragas from 570-554 BC. As with most other tyrants of Sicily, he came to absolute power by force of his own army. Immediately he began building projects and aided his economy with an increase of trade. He embarked on military conquests, first capturing the native('Sicel'-inhabited) town of Vessa, and continuing on to the northern coastal city of Himera. The stories of him burning people inside his iron bull have made him legendary as a true evil tyrant.
Hippocrates of Gela: Ruled Gela from 498-490 BC. To become the sole-ruler of the southern city of Gela, he used his brother's mercenary army of native Sicilians (his brother was Cleander, the previous tyrant of Gela, who was assassinated). He immediately headed northeast, to conquer all that he could. He conquered large, eastern cities such as Leontini, Naxos, and Zankle. Eventually, all of eastern Sicily was his, save for Syracuse. He laid seige to the Syracusans, and inflicted a defeat on them at the River Helorus, but eventually left the city. Died on a campaign the next year. In each of the cities he conquered, he set up a "puppet tyrant" (a rather odd combination of words).
Gelon: Ruled Hippocrates's Gelan Empire from 490-478 BC. Had been the commander of Hippocrates's cavalry. He made Syracuse his capital, and is responsible for making it into the great city it would become. He and his ally, Theron (the newest tyrant of Acragas), became entangled in a conflict with the Carthaginians over the control of the northwestern town of Himera (Theron had captured it, and fearing his power, the Carthaginians decided they wanted to restore the city's old tyrant), which he eventually won (enflicting a disaterous defeat on the Carthaginians under Hamilcar at the Battle of Himera).
Hiero I of Syracuse: Ruled Syracuse from 478-467 BC. The brother of Gelon. He was extremely successful in bringing new settlers to his lands, namely to his new city, Aetna. His most notable military achievement was his defeat of the Etruscans at the Battle of Cumae and his subsequent seizure of land on the Island of Pithecusae.
Dionysius of Syracuse: Ruled Syracuse from 405-367 BC. The two Sicilian towns of Selinus and Segesta had been having conflicts for years, and, while Hermocrates of Syracuse was off aiding the Spartans against the Athenians, the town of Selinus launched an attack on Segesta, which was initially successful. As a result, the Segestans asked Carthage for aid. In 408 BC, a Carthaginian force, commanded by hannibal (the grandson of the Hamilcar that was defeated by Gelon at Battle of Himera years before) landed in Sicily. He easily defeated Selinus and moved on to take Himera. He captured the city, and made 'proper' sacrifice for his grandfather there. Meanwhile, Syracuse was in turmoil. The radical and moderate Syracusans even begun 'fighting in the streets'. This only encouraged the Carthaginians, and they went on to take the powerful city of Acragas. Under a new general, Himilco, they took Gela. The Syracusans were desperate to stop the Carthaginians, and to do so, they appointed Dionysius to be their sole ruler. In his initial attempt to stop Himilco (tried to relieve Gela), he was defeated. Luckily for the Sicilian Greeks, Himilco's army succomb to a plague before it could move against the northeastern cities. A peace treaty was signed. Many Syracusans had come to despise Dionysius, and to weaken them, he decided to divide them (land reforms). He also liberated many slaves and gave aid to the poorest classes, giving him a large new class of 'friendly' Syracusans. His next move was to prepare for war with Carthage. To do this, he conquered Leontini, Catane, and Naxos, and used diplomacy to ensure the goodwill of Central Italy and Northeast Sicily (worth mentioning too that at this time his engineers are said to have created the catapult, which he armed one of his western forts with). In his first major strike against Carthage, he captured the ancient city of Motya (one of the oldest city's in Sicily. Always Phoenician-held). However, Himilco was able to recapture the city and again struck westwards. Again, a plague struck his army, and Dionysius eventually forced the Carthaginians away. However, the Syracusan-Carthaginian conquest would go on until 392 (peace treaty). During the peace with Carthage, Dionysius conquered Rehgium in southern Italy, as was Croton, Carthage's ally in Italy. He attempted another advance at the Carthaginian but was defeated. He had begun yet another war against Carthage in in 368, but died shortly therafter.
Agathocles: Ruled Syracuse from 316-288 BC. After the death of Alexander III, conflicts between the oligarchs and democrats surfaced again in Syracuse. Acting as democratic commander, Agathocles crushed the oligarchs, then turned about and became the city's sole ruler. He immediately conquered some Sicilian towns, but his popularity dwindled anyway. To win support, he launched an attack on Carthage. The Carthaginians pushed him back and laid siege to Syracuse. During the siege, Agathocles sailed to Africa, with the intent of heading to Carthage itself. He won a victory in Africa, and threatened Carthage. However, rather than risk their city, the Carthaginians in Sicily sued for peace. Interestingly, while on his death bed, Agathocles didn't name either of his sons his heir, choosing to restore the democracy instead.
But which of the many Sicilian tyrants do you think was the greatest? Why? I'll provide a few notable 'tyrants', and some of their feats to aid discussion:
Phalaris of Acragas: Ruled Acragas from 570-554 BC. As with most other tyrants of Sicily, he came to absolute power by force of his own army. Immediately he began building projects and aided his economy with an increase of trade. He embarked on military conquests, first capturing the native('Sicel'-inhabited) town of Vessa, and continuing on to the northern coastal city of Himera. The stories of him burning people inside his iron bull have made him legendary as a true evil tyrant.
Hippocrates of Gela: Ruled Gela from 498-490 BC. To become the sole-ruler of the southern city of Gela, he used his brother's mercenary army of native Sicilians (his brother was Cleander, the previous tyrant of Gela, who was assassinated). He immediately headed northeast, to conquer all that he could. He conquered large, eastern cities such as Leontini, Naxos, and Zankle. Eventually, all of eastern Sicily was his, save for Syracuse. He laid seige to the Syracusans, and inflicted a defeat on them at the River Helorus, but eventually left the city. Died on a campaign the next year. In each of the cities he conquered, he set up a "puppet tyrant" (a rather odd combination of words).
Gelon: Ruled Hippocrates's Gelan Empire from 490-478 BC. Had been the commander of Hippocrates's cavalry. He made Syracuse his capital, and is responsible for making it into the great city it would become. He and his ally, Theron (the newest tyrant of Acragas), became entangled in a conflict with the Carthaginians over the control of the northwestern town of Himera (Theron had captured it, and fearing his power, the Carthaginians decided they wanted to restore the city's old tyrant), which he eventually won (enflicting a disaterous defeat on the Carthaginians under Hamilcar at the Battle of Himera).
Hiero I of Syracuse: Ruled Syracuse from 478-467 BC. The brother of Gelon. He was extremely successful in bringing new settlers to his lands, namely to his new city, Aetna. His most notable military achievement was his defeat of the Etruscans at the Battle of Cumae and his subsequent seizure of land on the Island of Pithecusae.
Dionysius of Syracuse: Ruled Syracuse from 405-367 BC. The two Sicilian towns of Selinus and Segesta had been having conflicts for years, and, while Hermocrates of Syracuse was off aiding the Spartans against the Athenians, the town of Selinus launched an attack on Segesta, which was initially successful. As a result, the Segestans asked Carthage for aid. In 408 BC, a Carthaginian force, commanded by hannibal (the grandson of the Hamilcar that was defeated by Gelon at Battle of Himera years before) landed in Sicily. He easily defeated Selinus and moved on to take Himera. He captured the city, and made 'proper' sacrifice for his grandfather there. Meanwhile, Syracuse was in turmoil. The radical and moderate Syracusans even begun 'fighting in the streets'. This only encouraged the Carthaginians, and they went on to take the powerful city of Acragas. Under a new general, Himilco, they took Gela. The Syracusans were desperate to stop the Carthaginians, and to do so, they appointed Dionysius to be their sole ruler. In his initial attempt to stop Himilco (tried to relieve Gela), he was defeated. Luckily for the Sicilian Greeks, Himilco's army succomb to a plague before it could move against the northeastern cities. A peace treaty was signed. Many Syracusans had come to despise Dionysius, and to weaken them, he decided to divide them (land reforms). He also liberated many slaves and gave aid to the poorest classes, giving him a large new class of 'friendly' Syracusans. His next move was to prepare for war with Carthage. To do this, he conquered Leontini, Catane, and Naxos, and used diplomacy to ensure the goodwill of Central Italy and Northeast Sicily (worth mentioning too that at this time his engineers are said to have created the catapult, which he armed one of his western forts with). In his first major strike against Carthage, he captured the ancient city of Motya (one of the oldest city's in Sicily. Always Phoenician-held). However, Himilco was able to recapture the city and again struck westwards. Again, a plague struck his army, and Dionysius eventually forced the Carthaginians away. However, the Syracusan-Carthaginian conquest would go on until 392 (peace treaty). During the peace with Carthage, Dionysius conquered Rehgium in southern Italy, as was Croton, Carthage's ally in Italy. He attempted another advance at the Carthaginian but was defeated. He had begun yet another war against Carthage in in 368, but died shortly therafter.
Agathocles: Ruled Syracuse from 316-288 BC. After the death of Alexander III, conflicts between the oligarchs and democrats surfaced again in Syracuse. Acting as democratic commander, Agathocles crushed the oligarchs, then turned about and became the city's sole ruler. He immediately conquered some Sicilian towns, but his popularity dwindled anyway. To win support, he launched an attack on Carthage. The Carthaginians pushed him back and laid siege to Syracuse. During the siege, Agathocles sailed to Africa, with the intent of heading to Carthage itself. He won a victory in Africa, and threatened Carthage. However, rather than risk their city, the Carthaginians in Sicily sued for peace. Interestingly, while on his death bed, Agathocles didn't name either of his sons his heir, choosing to restore the democracy instead.