Syrmus orSyrmos (alsoSyrmios,Ancient Greek: Σύρμος) was a king of theWest ThracianTriballi tribe during the 330s BC.[1]
He is mentioned byArrian,Strabo andPlutarch.[2]
After the death of his father,Philip II,Alexander the Great passed through the lands of theOdrysians in 335-334 BC, crossing the Haemus ranges and after three encounters (including theBattle of Haemus) defeated and drove the Triballians to the junction of theLyginus at theDanube. Around 3,000 Triballi were killed, the rest fled. Syrmos and his people took refuge on the Danubian island ofPeukê where the remnants of defeated Thracians were gathered. The successful Macedonian attacks terrorized the tribes around the Danube, so the autonomous Thracian tribes sent tributes to Alexander seeking peace. Alexander was satisfied with his victories and accepted peace so he could focus on the battles ahead in Asia.[3]
Though Syrmus was later considered theeponymous founder ofSirmium,[4] the roots are different, and the two words only became conflated later.[5]
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| Preceded by | King of theTriballi 330s BC | Succeeded by ? |