| Aeacides | |
|---|---|
| King of Epirus | |
| Reign | 331 - 313 BC (316-313 Macedonian rule) |
| Predecessor | Alexander I of Epirus |
| Successor | Alcetas II of Epirus |
| Died | 313 BC |
| Spouse | Phthia |
| Issue | Pyrrhus I of Epirus Deidamia I of Epirus |
| House | Aeacidae |
| Father | Arybbas of Epirus |
| Mother | Troas (daughter ofNeoptolemus I of Epirus) |
| Religion | Ancient Greek religion |
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Aeacides (Ancient Greek:Αἰακίδης; died 313 BC), King ofEpirus (331–316, 313), was a son ofKing Arybbas and grandson ofKing Alcetas I.
Aeacides marriedPhthia, the daughter ofMenon of Pharsalus, by whom he had the celebrated sonPyrrhus and two daughters,Deidamia and Troias.
In 331 BC, on the death of his cousin kingAlexander, who was slain inItaly, Aeacides succeeded to the throne ofEpirus.[1] In 317 BC he assistedPolyperchon in restoring his cousinOlympias and the five-year-old kingAlexander IV[2] toMacedonia. The following year he had to march to the assistance of Olympias, who was hard pressed byCassander; but the Epirots disliked the military service, rose against Aeacides, and drove him from the kingdom. Pyrrhus, who was then only two years old, was saved by some faithful servants.[3]
In 313 BC, having become tired of the Macedonian rule, the people of Epirus recalled Aeacides (who until then had been campaigning with his old allyPolyperchon in thePeloponnese). Cassander immediately sent an army against him under his brother,Philip.[4]
Philip, who was poised to invadeAetolia, marched his army intoAcarnania to preventAeacides from linking up with theAetolians. The Epirote army was interceped and a bloody battle was fought; the Macedonians won, killing manyEpirotes and capturing 50 leading supporters of Aeacides, who were sent toMacedon as prisoners. Aeacides, with the remnant of his forces, managed to join the Aetolians. Eventually, Philip caught up with Aeacides and the Aetolians atOeniadae and defeated them in battle. Aeacides, who was wounded in the battle, died a few days later.[5]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Aeacides".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.| Preceded by | King of Epirus 331–316 BC | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King of Epirus 313 BC | Succeeded by |