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Irlandos at 07:53, April 13, 2006

2006-04-13T07:53:14Z

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'''Lysimachus''' (c. [[360 BC]]–[[281 BC]], [[Greek]]:''Λυσίμαχος'') was a Macedonian officer and "successor" ([[Diadochi|diadochus]]) of
[[Alexander the Great]], later a king ([[306 BC]]) in [[Thrace]] and [[Asia Minor]].

Son of Agathocles, he was from [[Pella]] in Macedonia. During Alexander's Persian campaigns he was one of his immediate bodyguard and distinguished himself in India. After Alexander’s death ([[323 BC]]) he was appointed to the government of Thrace and the [[Chersonese]]. For a long time he was chiefly occupied with fighting against the [[Odrysia]]n king [[Seuthes III]].

In [[315 BC]] he joined [[Cassander]], [[Ptolemy I of Egypt|Ptolemy]] and [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus]] against [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]], who, however, diverted his attention by stirring up Thracian and Scythian tribes against him. In [[309 BC]], he founded [[Lysimachia (Thrace)|Lysimachia]] in a commanding situation on the neck connecting the Chersonese with the mainland. He followed the example of Antigonus in taking the title of king. In [[302 BC|302]] when the second ''affiance'' between Cassander, Ptolemy and Seleucus was made, Lysimachus, reinforced by troops from Cassander, entered [[Asia Minor]], where he met with little resistance. On the approach of Antigonus he retired into winter quarters near [[Heraclea Pontica|Heraclea]], marrying its widowed queen [[Amastris]], a Persian princess. Seleucus joined him in [[301 BC]], and at the [[battle of Ipsus]] Antigonus was defeated and slain. His dominions were divided among the victors, Lysimachus receiving the greater part of Asia Minor.

Feeling that Seleucus was becoming dangerously great, Lysimachus now allied himself with Ptolemy, marrying his daughter [[Arsinoe II of Egypt]]. Amastris, who had divorced herself from him, returned to Heraclea. When Antigonus’s son [[Demetrius I of Macedon]] renewed hostilities ([[297 BC]]), during his absence in [[Greece]], Lysimachus seized his towns in Asia Minor, but in [[294 BC]] concluded a peace whereby Demetrius was recognized as ruler of Macedonia. He tried to carry his power beyond the [[Danube]], but was defeated and taken prisoner by the [[Getae]] king [[Dromichaetes]] ([[Dromihete]]), who, however, set him free on amicable terms. Demetrius subsequently threatened Thrace, but had to retire in consequence of a rising in [[Boeotia]], and an attack from [[Pyrrhus of Epirus]].

In [[288 BC]] Lysimachus and Pyrrhus in turn invaded Macedonia, and drove Demetrius out of the country. Pyrrhus was at first allowed to remain in possession of Macedonia with the title of king, but in [[285 BC]] he was expelled by Lysimachus.

Domestic troubles embittered the last years of Lysimachus’s life. Amastris had been murdered by her two sons; Lysimachus treacherously put them to death. On his return Arsinoe asked the gift of Heraclea, and he granted her request, though he had promised to free the city. In [[284 BC]] Arsinoe, desirous of gaining the succession for her sons in preference to [[Agathocles (son of Lysimachus)|Agathocles]] (the eldest son of Lysimachus), intrigued against him with the help of her brother [[Ptolemy Keraunos]]; they accused him of conspiring with Seleucus to seize the throne, and he was put to death.

This atrocious deed of Lysimachus aroused great indignation. Many of the cities of Asia revolted, and his most trusted friends deserted him. The widow of Agathocles fled to Seleucus, who at once invaded the territory of Lysimachus in Asia. In [[281 BC]], Lysimachus crossed the [[Hellespont]] into [[Lydia]], and at the decisive [[Battle of Corupedium]] was killed. After some days his body, watched by a faithful dog, was found on the field, and given up to his son Alexander, by whom it was interred at Lysimachia.

== References ==
* [[Arrian]], ''Anabasis'' v. 13, vi. 28
* Justin xv. 3, 4, xvii. I
* Quintus Curtius V. 3, x. 30
* Diodorus Siculus xviii. 3
* [[Polybius]] v. 67
* [[Plutarch]], ''Demetrius'', 31. 52, ''Pyrrhus'', 12
* Appian, ''Syriaca'', 62
* Connop Thirlwall, ''History of Greece'', vol. viii. (1847)
* J. P. Mahaffy, ''Story of Alexander’s Empire''
* Droysen, ''Hellenismus'' (2nd ed., 1877)
* Adolf Holm, ''Griechische Geschichte'', vol. iv. (1894)
* Benediktus Niese, ''Geschichte der griechischen und makedonischen Staaten'', vols. i. and ii. (1893, 1899)
* Karl Julius Beloch, ''Griechische Geschichte'' vol. iii. (1904)
* Hunerwadel, ''Forschungen zur Gesch. des Könige Lysimachus'' (1900)
* Possenti, ''Il Re Lisimaco di Tracia'' (1901)
* Ghione, "Note sul regno di Lisimaco" (Atti d. real. Accad. di Torino, xxxix.)

{{start box}}
{{succession box|title=Governor of Thrace|before=—|after=became king|years=323–306 BC
{{succession box|before=[[Alexander IV of Macedon|Alexander IV]]|title=[[Thrace|King of Thrace]]|after=[[Ptolemy Keraunos]]|years=306–281 BC}}
{{succession box|before=[[Antigonus I Monophthalmus]]|title=King of Asia Minor|after=[[Seleucus I Nicator]]|years=301–281 BC}}
{{succession box|before=[[Demetrius I Poliorcetes]]|title=[[King of Macedon]]'''<br>with '''[[Pyrrhus of Epirus]]|after=[[Ptolemy Keraunos]]|years=288–281 BC}}
{{end box}}

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:360 BC births]]
[[Category:281 BC deaths]]
[[Category:Macedonian monarchs]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek generals]]
[[Category:Ptolemaic dynasty]]

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 {{start box}}
 {{succession box|before=[[Alexander IV of Macedon|Alexander IV]]|title=[[Thrace|King of Thrace]]|after=[[Ptolemy Keraunos]]|years=306&ndash;281 BC}}
 {{succession box|before=[[Antigonus I Monophthalmus]]|title=King of Asia Minor|after=[[Seleucus I Nicator]]|years=301&ndash;281 BC}}

Lysimachus - Revision history

Irlandos: /* References */

Irlandos at 07:53, April 13, 2006