Abdashtart I | |
|---|---|
_I._Circa_365-352_BC.jpg) Portrait of Abdashtart ("Straton") I from his coinage. Circa 365–352 BC. | |
| Allegiance | Achaemenid Empire |
| Years of service | 365 to 352 BC |
| Rank | King of Sidon |
| Battles / wars | Revolt against the Achaemenid Empire |
Abdashtart I (in Greek,Straton I)[1] was aking of the Phoenician city-state ofSidon who reigned from 365 BC to 352 BC[2] following the death of his father,Baalshillem II.[3]
His accession appears to have taken place in a period of economic and political difficulty, since he immediately took 'emergency measures',[4] reducing the precious metal-content of the Sidonian doubleshekel by 2 grams (0.071 oz),[5] therebydevaluing the Sidoniancurrency in his first year.[6] He also expanded the currency, adding bronze coinage as well as silver, which funded the expansion of the Sidoniannavy.[7] It is supposed that he gave his name to the city known in theHellenized world asStraton's Tower, which was later renamed Caesarea byHerod the Great.[8] Joseph Patrich argues, however, that Straton's Tower may have been founded during thePtolemaic Kingdom instead,[9] in which case the naming may have been for a Ptolemaic general of the third century BC.[10]
Abdashtart formed diplomatic alliances withAthens andEgypt. Relying on his increased fleet, by 360 BC or 359 BC he felt strong enough to revolt against theAchaemenid Empire.[4] Although the Persians were already fighting the Egyptians (whose PharaohTachos had invaded Phoenicia), and although the rebels won two military victories against the generals ofArtaxerxes III in 358 BC and 356 BC,[4] the revolt was suppressed in 355 BC[3] and led to Persianoccupation for the next four years, during which time the Sidonian currency was banned, minting privileges were stopped, and the Persian currency was forcibly introduced.[11] The revolt has been described as 'a grave political error' for Abdashtart; not only did the Sidonians experience financial crisis and military repression, but they also lost swathes of territory to their neighbour,Tyre.[4]
The Persians left Abdashtart on the throne,[3] and he proceeded to further diplomatic ties with Athens[12] andSalamis, Cyprus, which had probably supported his revolt against Artaxerxes.[4] Historians do not know whether he was the last of his dynasty, as it remains uncertain whether his known heir and successor,Tennes, was his son or some other close relative.[6]
Abdashtart was honoured by an inscription in theAcropolis of Athens (IG II2 141):[13]
...and has taken care that the ambassadors whom the People sent to the King should travel as finely as possible, and to reply to the man who has come from the king of Sidon that, if in the future he is a good man to the People of Athens, he will not fail to obtain from the Athenians what he needs. Also Straton the king of Sidon shall beproxenos of the People of Athens, both himself and his descendants...
— Straton King of Sidon inscription, Acropolis of Athens (extract). Translation by Stephen Lambert, P. J. Rhodes.[14]
Rulers in theAchaemenid Empire | ||
|---|---|---|
Family tree - Achaemenid Kingdom | ||
| Kings of Kings of theAchaemenid Empire |  | |
| Satraps ofLydia | ||
| Satraps ofHellespontine Phrygia | ||
| Satraps ofCappadocia | ||
| Greek Governors ofAsia Minor cities | ||
| Dynasts ofLycia | ||
| Dynasts ofCaria | ||
| Kings ofMacedonia | ||
| Kings of Tyre | ||
| Kings of Sidon |
| |
| Satraps ofArmenia | ||
| Satraps ofEgypt | ||
| Satraps ofBactria | ||
| Satraps ofMedia | ||
| Satraps ofCilicia | ||
| Other known satraps | ||
In most territories, Achaemenid rulers were succeeded byHellenistic satraps andHellenistic rulers from around 330 BC | ||