| Eumenes I | |
|---|---|
Coin of Eumenes.Cabinet des Médailles,Paris. | |
| King of Pergamon | |
| Reign | 263–241 BC |
| Predecessor | Philetaerus |
| Successor | Attalus I |
| Died | 241 BC |
| Greek | Ευμένης Α΄ |
| Dynasty | Attalid dynasty |
| Father | Eumenes (son of Attalus) |
| Mother | Satyra |

Eumenes I (Ancient Greek:Εὐμένης) wasdynast (ruler) of the city ofPergamon inAsia Minor from 263 BC until his death in 241 BC.[1] He was the son of Eumenes, the brother ofPhiletaerus, the founder of theAttalid dynasty, and Satyra, daughter of Poseidonius. As he had no children, Philetaerus adopted Eumenes to become his heir.
Although nominally underSeleucid control, Pergamon under Philetaerus enjoyed considerable autonomy. However, upon his succession, Eumenes, perhaps with the encouragement ofPtolemy II, who was at war with the Seleucids, revolted, defeating the Seleucid kingAntiochus I near theLydian capital ofSardis in 261 BC. He was thus able to free Pergamon, and greatly increase the territories under his control. In his new possessions, he established garrison posts in the north at the foot ofMount Ida called Philetaireia after his adoptive father, and in the east, northeast ofThyatira near the sources of the river Lycus, calledAttaleia after his grandfather, and he extended his control south of the riverCaïcus to the Gulf ofCyme as well. Demonstrating his independence, he began to strike coins with the portrait of Philetaerus, while his predecessor had still depictedSeleucus I Nicator.
After the revolt from the Seleucids, there are no records of any further hostilities involving Pergamon during Eumenes' rule, even though there continued to be conflict between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies, and even though theGalatianGauls were continually plundering throughout the region. If Eumenes was able to keep Pergamon free from the ravages of the Gauls, it was probably because he paid them tribute.[2]
Although never assuming the title of "king," Eumenes did exercise all of the powers of one.[3] Imitating other Hellenistic rulers, a festival in Eumenes' honour, calledEumeneia, was instituted in Pergamon.
It is not known whether he had children. A "Philetaerus son of Eumenes" is mentioned in an inscription in the town ofThespiae; some regard him as Eumenes' son, who would then have died before his father's death in 241. Eumenes adopted his first cousin once removed,Attalus I, who succeeded him as ruler of Pergamon.[4]
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Ruler of Pergamon 263–241 BC | Succeeded by |