| Arcesilaus IV of Cyrene | |
|---|---|
| King ofCyrenaica | |
| Reign | 465-440 BC |
| Predecessor | Battus IV |
| Successor | Monarchy abolished |
| Born | Cyrene |
| Died | 440 BC Cyrene |
| Issue | Battus V |
| Father | Battus IV |
| Religion | Greek polytheism |
Arcesilaus IV of Cyrene (Greek:Ἀρκεσίλαος, flourished 5th century BC) was the eighth King ofCyrene and last king of theBattiad dynasty. He served as aclient king underPersian authority.
Arcesilaus was the only child of the seventh Cyrenaean king,Battus IV. When his father died in 465 BC Arcesilaus became the new king. In 462 BC, Arcesilaus won a chariot race at thePythian Games atDelphi using native Libyan horses. His victory was celebrated by Greek poetPindar in the Fourth and Fifth PythianOdes. Pindar advises Arcesilaus in his ode to reconcile with his opponents and stresses the legitimacy of his rule because his family has ruled in Cyrenaica for eight generations.
His reign grew progressively more tyrannical, exiling many Cyrenaean nobles and bringing in mercenaries to support his rule. As a result of his actions, the Cyrenaeans rebelled, forcing Arcesilaus to leave Cyrene and flee to Euesperides (modernBenghazi) with his son and only child, Battus V.
Arcesilaus, along with his son, were killed by the Cyrenaean citizens in 440 BC. It is said that after Battus was killed, the Cyrenaeans cut off his head and threw his head into the sea. With Battus’ beheading, Battiad rule in Cyrenaica ended and the citizens proclaimed Cyrenaica a narrow democracy.[1]
Arcesilaus IV of Cyrene Died: 440 BC | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Cyrene 465 BC – 440 BC | Vacant Republic underPersia Title next held by Magas |