Amalickiah
Encyclopedia
In the Book of Mormon
, Amalickiah (Ameleckiah a frequent scribal variant in the Original Manuscript) was a Nephite
leader of a movement to reestablish a king, specifically him as the king of the Nephites. When he failed to gain power through a popular uprising he dissented to the Lamanites becoming their king and using them as a means to gain power over the Nephites. He was killed during the ensuing war.
to his son Helaman
. Helaman
succeeded his father as High Priest over the Nephite Church but did not have any political authority. His father was the last High Priest who also held the post of Chief Judge (or governor) of the Nephites. Alma the Younger
had found that the church suffered from neglect due to his political duties and so resigned the latter office.
Amalickiah is described as a large and strong man who was also an eloquent speaker. He may have been a lower (i.e. local) judge for many of his followers (called Amalickiahites) held that office. It is noted that he was also a member of the Nephite Church and that the lower judges were members themselves. They were upset with the reforms or "regulation" of the church established by Helaman
following the last war with the Lamanites. They were angry over the preaching by Helaman
and his high priests. So angry that they were willing to kill Helaman
and all those that held an opposing view.
learned of the Amalickiahites rebellion and rallied the Nephite people against it. He raised the Title of Liberty over the capital and then over every city of the land where the rebellion was taking place. Those that followed the Title of Liberty and the reformed church called themselves Christians. The rebels were soon outnumbered in the land, their hopes for power broken.
The rebels outnumbered the loyalist army that Amalickiah commands. Knowing he would likely fail to press the warriors into the army he came up with plan to use his greatest strengths, flattery and treachery. Camping before the hill where the rebels were in their defensive position he secretly sent word to Lehonti that he will betray the loyalists into the rebels' hands if he is made second in command of the rebel army. Lehonti agrees and Amalickiah sets his own men as guards, allowing the rebel army to approach and surround the loyalist camp. When the loyal warriors woke to see themselves in a hopeless position they begged Amalickiah to allow them to surrender and join the rebels to save their lives. Amalickiah gains standing with the rebels, "saves" his men and becomes second in command of the combined Lamanite army.
This was not enough for Amalickiah for he wanted to be king. He slowly poisoned Lehonti while the army is marching to the capital. When Lehonti died on the march, command then fell to Amalickiah. At the capital the Lamanite king got word that his army is approaching with general Amalickiah at the head. The king was pleased and, accompanied by his closest servants, went to meet him. As the king neared, the henchmen of Amalickiah went before him bowing to the king. The king raised his arm beckoning them to rise. As the first henchman does he drew a dagger and thrusted it up into the chest of the king. He fell, slain by the assassins.
The servants of the king then turned to run away. Amalickiah's henchmen shouted to the army that the king has been slain by his own servants. Amalickiah led the warriors to the fallen king and fains heartache at such treachery. He goaded the warriors, former loyalist and rebel alike, to go and slay the king's servants. Despite pursuit, the servants escape to the Nephites and tell the tale of Amalickiah's deceit.
Meanwhile as commander of the army Amalickiah goes to the court to tell the queen the awful news. After telling of the treacherous attack by the king's servants he brings forth his assassins who swear that the servants fled because of their perfidity. Amalickiah comforts and woes the grieving queen. Soon he marries her to become the next king of the Lamanites.
had fortified all the Nephite cities, in case of a such a sneak attack. The Lamanites proceeded to assault the walls of these "weak" cities never once managing to slay a single Nephite in the process while losing many men and all their chief captains who led the forloun hope. They returned to relate the tale of bad news to their king.
King Amalickiah, however, was not to be deterred. As the Nephites were dealing with king-men, Amalickiah saw his advantage and began to capture Nephite cities on the eastern coast, well away from Captain Moroni
and his main army. After taking seven cities however, he was met by Teancum
whose force stood up to the king. Teancum's warriors wore the Lamanite army down till they withdrew into camp for the night. Teancum sneaked into the king's camp with a trusted aide and slew Amalickiah.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, Amalickiah (Ameleckiah a frequent scribal variant in the Original Manuscript) was a Nephite
Nephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
leader of a movement to reestablish a king, specifically him as the king of the Nephites. When he failed to gain power through a popular uprising he dissented to the Lamanites becoming their king and using them as a means to gain power over the Nephites. He was killed during the ensuing war.
Amalickiahite Movement
This movement arose during a power vacuum following the separation of church and state and by the transfer of leadership of the church from Alma the YoungerAlma the Younger
According to the Book of Mormon, Alma, the son of Alma was a Nephite prophet often referred to as "Alma the Younger" to distinguish him from his father, who is often referred to as "Alma the Elder"...
to his son Helaman
Helaman
According to the Book of Mormon, Helaman was a Nephite prophet and soldier who lived around the 1st century BC. He is perhaps best known in LDS theology for leading into battle an army of two thousand young warriors, which he referred to as his two thousand sons...
. Helaman
Helaman
According to the Book of Mormon, Helaman was a Nephite prophet and soldier who lived around the 1st century BC. He is perhaps best known in LDS theology for leading into battle an army of two thousand young warriors, which he referred to as his two thousand sons...
succeeded his father as High Priest over the Nephite Church but did not have any political authority. His father was the last High Priest who also held the post of Chief Judge (or governor) of the Nephites. Alma the Younger
Alma the Younger
According to the Book of Mormon, Alma, the son of Alma was a Nephite prophet often referred to as "Alma the Younger" to distinguish him from his father, who is often referred to as "Alma the Elder"...
had found that the church suffered from neglect due to his political duties and so resigned the latter office.
Amalickiah is described as a large and strong man who was also an eloquent speaker. He may have been a lower (i.e. local) judge for many of his followers (called Amalickiahites) held that office. It is noted that he was also a member of the Nephite Church and that the lower judges were members themselves. They were upset with the reforms or "regulation" of the church established by Helaman
Helaman
According to the Book of Mormon, Helaman was a Nephite prophet and soldier who lived around the 1st century BC. He is perhaps best known in LDS theology for leading into battle an army of two thousand young warriors, which he referred to as his two thousand sons...
following the last war with the Lamanites. They were angry over the preaching by Helaman
Helaman
According to the Book of Mormon, Helaman was a Nephite prophet and soldier who lived around the 1st century BC. He is perhaps best known in LDS theology for leading into battle an army of two thousand young warriors, which he referred to as his two thousand sons...
and his high priests. So angry that they were willing to kill Helaman
Helaman
According to the Book of Mormon, Helaman was a Nephite prophet and soldier who lived around the 1st century BC. He is perhaps best known in LDS theology for leading into battle an army of two thousand young warriors, which he referred to as his two thousand sons...
and all those that held an opposing view.
Moroni's Counter-Revolution
Captain MoroniCaptain Moroni
According to the Book of Mormon, Captain Moroni was an important Nephite military commander and patriot who lived during the 1st century BC. He is perhaps best known for raising the "Title of Liberty" as a call to arms for his people to defend their country, family and religion...
learned of the Amalickiahites rebellion and rallied the Nephite people against it. He raised the Title of Liberty over the capital and then over every city of the land where the rebellion was taking place. Those that followed the Title of Liberty and the reformed church called themselves Christians. The rebels were soon outnumbered in the land, their hopes for power broken.
Dissent to the Lamanites
Amalickiah led his followers away into the wilderness to join the Lamanites when he realized his political campaign had failed. Moroni did not want their enemy to gain any further strength so he set off in pursuit with the army. Moroni's army defeated the rebels but Amalickiah and a small band of trusted followers escaped to the Land of Nephi.Amalickiah becomes King of the Lamanites
Amalickiah and his men went to the court of the Lamanite king and persuaded him to issue a call to arms against the Nephites. However, this proved unpopular with the majority of warriors, the Lamanites having just lost a costly war against the Nephites. Amalickiah flattered the king and got appointed to command the loyalists. He is ordered to go and compel the rest of the warriors into the army to fight for the king.The rebels outnumbered the loyalist army that Amalickiah commands. Knowing he would likely fail to press the warriors into the army he came up with plan to use his greatest strengths, flattery and treachery. Camping before the hill where the rebels were in their defensive position he secretly sent word to Lehonti that he will betray the loyalists into the rebels' hands if he is made second in command of the rebel army. Lehonti agrees and Amalickiah sets his own men as guards, allowing the rebel army to approach and surround the loyalist camp. When the loyal warriors woke to see themselves in a hopeless position they begged Amalickiah to allow them to surrender and join the rebels to save their lives. Amalickiah gains standing with the rebels, "saves" his men and becomes second in command of the combined Lamanite army.
This was not enough for Amalickiah for he wanted to be king. He slowly poisoned Lehonti while the army is marching to the capital. When Lehonti died on the march, command then fell to Amalickiah. At the capital the Lamanite king got word that his army is approaching with general Amalickiah at the head. The king was pleased and, accompanied by his closest servants, went to meet him. As the king neared, the henchmen of Amalickiah went before him bowing to the king. The king raised his arm beckoning them to rise. As the first henchman does he drew a dagger and thrusted it up into the chest of the king. He fell, slain by the assassins.
The servants of the king then turned to run away. Amalickiah's henchmen shouted to the army that the king has been slain by his own servants. Amalickiah led the warriors to the fallen king and fains heartache at such treachery. He goaded the warriors, former loyalist and rebel alike, to go and slay the king's servants. Despite pursuit, the servants escape to the Nephites and tell the tale of Amalickiah's deceit.
Meanwhile as commander of the army Amalickiah goes to the court to tell the queen the awful news. After telling of the treacherous attack by the king's servants he brings forth his assassins who swear that the servants fled because of their perfidity. Amalickiah comforts and woes the grieving queen. Soon he marries her to become the next king of the Lamanites.
War Against the Nephites
As the new king Amalickiah proceeded to aggravate the Lamanites to war against the Nephites. Staying behind with his new queen, he sent his armies to attack the Nephites under the command of Nephite dissenters. Their plan was to attack those cities that had previously shown to be weakest. Unfortunately for them, Captain MoroniCaptain Moroni
According to the Book of Mormon, Captain Moroni was an important Nephite military commander and patriot who lived during the 1st century BC. He is perhaps best known for raising the "Title of Liberty" as a call to arms for his people to defend their country, family and religion...
had fortified all the Nephite cities, in case of a such a sneak attack. The Lamanites proceeded to assault the walls of these "weak" cities never once managing to slay a single Nephite in the process while losing many men and all their chief captains who led the forloun hope. They returned to relate the tale of bad news to their king.
King Amalickiah, however, was not to be deterred. As the Nephites were dealing with king-men, Amalickiah saw his advantage and began to capture Nephite cities on the eastern coast, well away from Captain Moroni
Captain Moroni
According to the Book of Mormon, Captain Moroni was an important Nephite military commander and patriot who lived during the 1st century BC. He is perhaps best known for raising the "Title of Liberty" as a call to arms for his people to defend their country, family and religion...
and his main army. After taking seven cities however, he was met by Teancum
Teancum
According to the Book of Mormon, Teancum was a Nephite military leader. Found in the Book of Alma between Alma 50:35 and Alma 62:40 , his period of time shown is 67-60 BC. His major accomplishments include the assassinations of King Amalickiah in 67 BC, and the subsequent assassination of...
whose force stood up to the king. Teancum's warriors wore the Lamanite army down till they withdrew into camp for the night. Teancum sneaked into the king's camp with a trusted aide and slew Amalickiah.