| Lysimachus | |
|---|---|
 Hellenistic marble bust of Lysimachus at theEphesus Archaeological Museum, dated circa 300 BC. | |
| King ofThrace | |
| Reign | 306–281 BC |
| Predecessor | Alexander IV |
| Successor | Ptolemy Keraunos |
| King ofAsia Minor | |
| Reign | 301–281 BC |
| Predecessor | Antigonus I Monophthalmus |
| Successor | Seleucus I Nicator |
| King ofMacedon withPyrrhus of Epirus | |
| Reign | 288–281 BC |
| Predecessor | Demetrius I Poliorcetes |
| Successor | Ptolemy Keraunos |
| Born | c. 360 BC[1][2] Crannon orPella |
| Died | February 281 BC (aged 78-79) Corupedium, nearSardis (modern-daySalihli,Manisa,Turkey) |
| Burial | |
| Consort | |
| Issue Among others | |
| Father | Agathocles |
Lysimachus (/lɪˈsɪməkəs/;Greek: Λυσίμαχος,Lysimachos; c. 360 BC – 281 BC) was aThessalian[3] officer andsuccessor ofAlexander the Great who became king ofThrace in 306 BC,Asia Minor in 301 BC andMacedon in 288 BC.
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Lysimachus was born circa 360 BC, to a family ofThessalian stock but they were citizens ofPella inMacedonia.[3][4] He was the second son ofAgathocles[5] and his wife; there is some indication in the historical sources that this wife was perhaps named Arsinoe, and that Lysimachus' paternal grandfather may have been called Alcimachus. His father was a nobleman of high rank who was an intimate friend ofPhilip II of Macedon, who shared in Philip II’s councils and became a favourite in theArgead court.[6] Lysimachus and his brothers grew up with the status of Macedonians; all these brothers enjoyed with Lysimachus prominent positions in Alexander’s circle[6] and, like him, were educated at the Macedonian court inPella.[7][8]
Pausanias and the historianJustin both record a story that Alexander had Lysimachus thrown to a lion as a punishment. According to Justin this was because Lysimachus had smuggled poison to a person Alexander had condemned to a slow death. Both Pausanias and Justin report that Lysimachus overcame the lion with his bare hands and subsequently became one of Alexander's favorites.[9][10] Some coins issued during Lysimachus's appointment had his image on one side and a lion on the other.
He was probably appointedSomatophylax during the reign of Philip II.[7] During Alexander'sPersian campaigns, in 328 BC he was one of his immediate bodyguards.[11] In 324 BC, inSusa, he was awarded a ceremonial crown in recognition of his actions inIndia.[12] After Alexander's death in 323 BC, he was appointed to the government of Thrace asstrategos[13] although he faced some difficulties from the Thracian kingSeuthes.[11]
In 315 BC, Lysimachus joinedCassander,Ptolemy andSeleucus againstAntigonus, who, however, diverted his attention by stirring up Thracian andScythian tribes against him.[14] However, he managed to consolidate his power in the east of his territories, suppressing a revolt of the cities on theBlack Sea coast.[11]
In 309 BC, he foundedLysimachia in a commanding situation on the neck connecting theChersonese with the mainland,[14] forming a bulwark against theOdrysians.
In 306/305 BC, Lysimachus followed the example of Antigonus and assumed theroyal title.[15]
In 302 BC, when the second alliance between Cassander, Ptolemy and Seleucus was made, Lysimachus, reinforced by troops from Cassander, entered Asia Minor, where he met with little resistance. On the approach of Antigonus he retired into winter quarters nearHeraclea, marrying its widowed queenAmastris, a Persian princess. Seleucus joined him in 301 BC, and at theBattle of Ipsus Antigonus was defeated and slain. Antigonus' dominions were divided among the victors. Lysimachus' share wasLydia,Ionia,Phrygia and the north coast of Asia Minor.[16]
Feeling that Seleucus was becoming dangerously powerful, Lysimachus now allied himself with Ptolemy, marrying his daughterArsinoe II of Egypt. Amastris, who had divorced herself from him, returned to Heraclea. When Antigonus' sonDemetrius I renewed hostilities (297 BC), during his absence in Greece, Lysimachus seized his towns in Asia Minor, but in 294 BC concluded a peace whereby Demetrius was recognized as ruler of Macedonia. He tried to carry his power beyond theDanube, but was defeated and taken prisoner by theGetae kingDromichaetes (or Dromihete), who, however, set him free in 292 BC on amicable terms in return for Lysimachus surrendering the Danubian lands he had captured.[11] Demetrius subsequently threatened Thrace, but had to retire due to a sudden uprising inBoeotia and an attack from KingPyrrhus of Epirus.[14]
In 287 BC, Lysimachus and Pyrrhus in turn invaded Macedonia and drove Demetrius out of the country. Lysimachus left Pyrrhus in possession of Macedonia with the title of king for around seven months before Lysimachus invaded.[14] For a short while the two ruled jointly but in 285 BC Lysimachus expelled Pyrrhus, seizing complete control for himself.[17]
Domestic troubles embittered the last years of Lysimachus’ life. Amastris had been murdered by her two sons; Lysimachus treacherously put them to death. On his return, Arsinoe II asked the gift of Heraclea, and he granted her request, though he had promised to free the city. In 284 BC Arsinoe, desirous of gaining the succession for her sons in preference to Lysimachus’ first child,Agathocles, intrigued against him with the help of Arsinoe's paternal half-brotherPtolemy Keraunos; they accused him of conspiring with Seleucus to seize the throne, and Agathocles was put to death.[14]
This atrocious deed by Lysimachus aroused great indignation. Many of the cities of Asia Minor revolted, and his most trusted friends deserted him. The widow of Agathocles and their children fled to Seleucus, who at once invaded the territory of Lysimachus in Asia Minor. In 281 BC, Lysimachus crossed theHellespont intoLydia and at the decisiveBattle of Corupedium was killed. After some days his body was found on the field, protected from birds of prey by his faithful dog.[18] Lysimachus' body was given over to another son,Alexander, by whom it was interred atLysimachia.[14]
Lysimachus was married three times and his wives were:
Nicaea most probably died by 302 BC.
From anOdrysian concubine he had a son borne to him calledAlexander.[23]
| Alcimachus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agathocles of Pella counselor ∞ Arsinoe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alcimachus of Apollonia diplomat | 1.Nicaea of Macedon daughter of Antipater regent of Macedon | Lysimachus king of Thrace, Asia Minor, Macedonia ∞ 2.Amastrine | 3.Arsinoe II daughter of Ptolemy I of Egypt | Autodicus somatophylax ∞Adeia | Philip soldier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alcimachus nobleman | (1)Eurydice ∞Antipater I of Macedon | (1)Agathocles prince ∞Lysandra (daughter ofPtolemy I of Egypt) | (1)Arsinoe I ∞Ptolemy II of Egypt | (3)Ptolemy I Epigonus king of Telmessos | (3)Lysimachus prince | (3)Philip prince | (illeg.) Alexander | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lysimachus king of Telmessos | Epigonos prince | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ptolemy II king of Telmessos | Antipater Epigonos prince | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Berenice priestess | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lysimachos, 323–281 B.C. (one of the most remarkable of the 'Successors' of Alexander, Lysimachos was of Thessalian stock and was a bodyguard of the great Macedonian King.
Lysimachus was a citizen of Pella in Macedonia, although his father was said to have been a Greek from Thessaly.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lysimachus".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 184.
| Preceded by New creation | Governor of Thrace 323–306 BC | Succeeded by Merged into kingship |
| Preceded by | King of Thrace 306–281 BC | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King of Asia Minor 301–281 BC | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King of Macedon 288–281 BC With:Pyrrhus of Epirus | Succeeded by |
| Legendary |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Argead dynasty | ||
| Antipatrid dynasty | ||
| Dynastic conflict | ||
| Antigonid dynasty | ||
| Post-Conquest Rebel Kings |
| |
Debatable or disputed rulers are initalics. | ||
