Battiads

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The Battiads ( Greek  Βαττιάδαι ) were a Greek dynasty in Cyrene (630-440 BC)

Portrait of Arkesilaos on the Arkesilas bowl

Battiads is the name for an eight generation dynasty of Cyrene . Four kings named Battos alternated with four named Arkesilaos (Herodotus, Historien 4,159). The eponym is Battos I (since about 630). The privileges of the king mentioned by Herodotus (4,161) are unusual. Successor of his son Arkesilaos I was Battos II , who in the 6th century BC. BC strongly promoted the establishment of further Greek colonies in Kyrenaica . The displacement of the indigenous Berber population from the fertile areas led to conflicts. The Berber tribes allied themselves with Egypt , but the Egyptian army under Pharaoh Apries (589-570 BC) was defeated by the Greeks. Relations with Egypt improved in the period that followed, when Pharaoh Amasis (570-526 BC) married a certain ladike from Cyrene (probably from the royal family).

Under Arkesilaos II there were internal power struggles, so that his brothers left Cyrene and founded a new city in Barka. When Arkesilaos II took action against the Libyans incited by his brothers , he was defeated near Leukon. Allegedly 7,000 soldiers are said to have died. After the defeat he was murdered by his brother Learchus, but his widow was able to defeat Battos III. prevail as the new ruler. Under his rule, the citizens of Cyrene were able to enforce a restriction of royal powers.

Although Arkesilaos III tried . End of the 6th century BC To regain the old abundance of power for the monarchy, but he fell victim to an assassination attempt. During his reign, Cyrene also had to recognize Persian sovereignty and pay tributes after the Achaemenids in 525 BC. BC Egypt had conquered. This sovereignty was probably already given by Battos IV at the beginning of the 5th century BC. Chr. Solved again. His son Arkesilaos IV tried in vain to fight the spreading democratic movement. But it was around 440 BC. Chr. Overthrown and murdered. With him the Battiad dynasty ends in Cyrene.

The poet and philologist Callimachos in the 3rd century was the son of a Battos who linked his (impoverished) family with the Battiads.

family tree

 
 
 
 
 
 Euphemus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Polymnestus
 
 
 
 Phronime
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Battos I.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Arkesilaos I.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kritola
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Battos II.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Eryxo
 
 
 
 Arkesilaos II
 
 Laarchos
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alazeir v. Barge
 
 
 Battos III.
 
 
 
 Pheretime
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
daughter
 
 
 
 Arkesilaos III.
 
 Ladike
 
 Amasis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Battos IV.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Arkesilaos IV.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Battos
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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