Dionysius of Heraclea
Encyclopedia
Dionysius was a tyrant
of Heraclea
on the Euxine (today called Black Sea
). He was a son of Clearchus
, who had assumed the tyranny in his native place. When Clearchus died (353/352 BC), he was first succeeded by his brother Satyrus, who was reigning as guardian for Clearchus' sons Timotheus
and Dionysius. Satyrus was succeeded by Timotheus, who soon shared the power with his younger brother Dionysius. After the death of the Timotheus, Dionysius became the sole ruler of Heraclea (in 337/336 BC). After the destruction of the Persian empire by Alexander the Great, Dionysius attempted to extend his dominions in Anatolia
. In the meantime, some of the citizens of Heraclea, who had been driven into exile by their tyrants, applied to Alexander to restore the republican government at Heraclea, but Dionysius, with the assistance of Alexander's sister, Cleopatra of Macedon, contrived to prevent any steps being taken to that effect. But still he does not appear to have felt very safe in his position, as we may conjecture from the extreme delight with which he received the news of Alexander's death, in consequence of which he erected a statue of euthymia, that is, joy or peace of mind. The exiled Heracleans now applied to Perdiccas
, against whom Dionysius endeavoured to secure himself by joining his enemies. Dionysius therefore married Amastris
, the former wife of Craterus
, who secured to him considerable advantages. A friendship with Antigonus
was formed by assisting him in his war against Asander
, and Ptolemy
, the nephew of Antigonus, married Dionysius' daughter by his first wife. Dionysius thus remained in the undisturbed possession of the tyranny for many years. In 306 BC
, when the surviving generals of Alexander assumed the title of kings, Dionysius followed their example, but he died soon after. He was an unusually fat man, which increased at length to such a degree that he could take no food, which was therefore introduced into his stomach by artificial means. At last, however, he was choked by his own fat. He is said to have been the mildest and justest of all the tyrants that had ever lived. He was succeeded by his wife Amastris, who reigned during the minority of her sons Clearchus II and Oxyathres
. The death of Dionysius must have taken place in 306
or 305 BC
, as, according to Diodorus
, he died at the age of 55, and after a reign of 32 years, for which others say 33 years. There have been found coins of Dionysius, some of which were issued during his joint reign with his older brother Timotheus and others during his sole rule.
Tyrant
A tyrant was originally one who illegally seized and controlled a governmental power in a polis. Tyrants were a group of individuals who took over many Greek poleis during the uprising of the middle classes in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, ousting the aristocratic governments.Plato and...
of Heraclea
Heraclea Pontica
Heraclea Pontica , an ancient city on the coast of Bithynia in Asia Minor, at the mouth of the river Lycus. It was founded by the Greek city-state of Megara c.560-558 and was named after Heracles who the Greeks believed entered the underworld at a cave on the adjoining Archerusian promontory .The...
on the Euxine (today called Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
). He was a son of Clearchus
Clearchus of Heraclea
Clearchus was a citizen of Heraclea on the Euxine who was recalled from exile by the nobles to aid them in quelling the seditious temper and demands of the people. According to Justin, he made an agreement with Mithridates of Cius to betray the city to him on condition, of holding it under him...
, who had assumed the tyranny in his native place. When Clearchus died (353/352 BC), he was first succeeded by his brother Satyrus, who was reigning as guardian for Clearchus' sons Timotheus
Timotheus of Heraclea
Timotheus was son of Clearchus, the tyrant of Heraclea on the Euxine . After the death of his father in 353 BC, he succeeded to the sovereignty, under the guardianship, at first, of his uncle Satyrus, and held the rule for fifteen years...
and Dionysius. Satyrus was succeeded by Timotheus, who soon shared the power with his younger brother Dionysius. After the death of the Timotheus, Dionysius became the sole ruler of Heraclea (in 337/336 BC). After the destruction of the Persian empire by Alexander the Great, Dionysius attempted to extend his dominions in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. In the meantime, some of the citizens of Heraclea, who had been driven into exile by their tyrants, applied to Alexander to restore the republican government at Heraclea, but Dionysius, with the assistance of Alexander's sister, Cleopatra of Macedon, contrived to prevent any steps being taken to that effect. But still he does not appear to have felt very safe in his position, as we may conjecture from the extreme delight with which he received the news of Alexander's death, in consequence of which he erected a statue of euthymia, that is, joy or peace of mind. The exiled Heracleans now applied to Perdiccas
Perdiccas
Perdiccas was one of Alexander the Great's generals. After Alexander's death in 323 BC he became regent of all Alexander's empire.Arrian tells us he was son of Orontes, a descendant of the independent princes of the Macedonian province of Orestis...
, against whom Dionysius endeavoured to secure himself by joining his enemies. Dionysius therefore married Amastris
Amastris
Amastris also called Amastrine, was a Persian Princess. She was the daughter of Oxyathres, the brother of the Persian King Darius III.-Marriages:...
, the former wife of Craterus
Craterus
Craterus was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi.He was the son of a Macedonian nobleman named Alexander from Orestis and brother of admiral Amphoterus. Craterus commanded the phalanx and all infantry on the left wing in Battle of Issus...
, who secured to him considerable advantages. A friendship with Antigonus
Antigonus I Monophthalmus
Antigonus I Monophthalmus , son of Philip from Elimeia, was a Macedonian nobleman, general, and satrap under Alexander the Great. During his early life he served under Philip II, and he was a major figure in the Wars of the Diadochi after Alexander's death, declaring himself king in 306 BC and...
was formed by assisting him in his war against Asander
Asander
Asander was the son of Philotas and brother of Parmenion. Alexander the Great appointed him in 334 BC governor of Lydia and the other parts of the satrapy of Spithridates, and also placed under his command an army strong enough to maintain the Macedonian authority...
, and Ptolemy
Ptolemy (general)
Ptolemy ; died 309 BC) was a nephew of Antigonus, and who served as a general to Alexander the Great who afterwards became king of Asia....
, the nephew of Antigonus, married Dionysius' daughter by his first wife. Dionysius thus remained in the undisturbed possession of the tyranny for many years. In 306 BC
306 BC
Year 306 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tremulus and Arvina...
, when the surviving generals of Alexander assumed the title of kings, Dionysius followed their example, but he died soon after. He was an unusually fat man, which increased at length to such a degree that he could take no food, which was therefore introduced into his stomach by artificial means. At last, however, he was choked by his own fat. He is said to have been the mildest and justest of all the tyrants that had ever lived. He was succeeded by his wife Amastris, who reigned during the minority of her sons Clearchus II and Oxyathres
Oxyathres of Heraclea
Oxyathres was a son of Dionysius, tyrant of Heraclea and of Amastris, the daughter of the brother of Darius III Codomannus, also called Oxyathres. He succeeded, together with his brother Clearchus, to the sovereignty of Heraclea on the death of Dionysius, 306 BC: but the government was...
. The death of Dionysius must have taken place in 306
306 BC
Year 306 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tremulus and Arvina...
or 305 BC
305 BC
Year 305 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Megellus and Augurinus...
, as, according to Diodorus
Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian who flourished between 60 and 30 BC. According to Diodorus' own work, he was born at Agyrium in Sicily . With one exception, antiquity affords no further information about Diodorus' life and doings beyond what is to be found in his own work, Bibliotheca...
, he died at the age of 55, and after a reign of 32 years, for which others say 33 years. There have been found coins of Dionysius, some of which were issued during his joint reign with his older brother Timotheus and others during his sole rule.