Eulaios (Macedonian)

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Eulaios († 169 BC ) was a eunuch of Macedonian origin and had been since 176 BC. BC together with the former Syrian slave Lenaios regent in Egypt for the underage Ptolemy VI.

Life

Nothing is known about the early life of Eulaios. He acted as a tutor to Ptolemy VI. since his early childhood and was probably a confidante of his mother Cleopatra I. After her death (176 BC) Eulaios took over the guardianship government for the little Pharaoh together with Lenaios . The new rulers sought to strengthen their not very secure position to raise the status of their ward by Ptolemy VI. when theós Philométor (= "mother-loving God") included in the dynastic cult, shortly afterwards Cleopatra II , who probably 176/175 BC. In sibling marriage with Ptolemy VI. was married.

Of the two regents, Eulaios appears to have played the leading role. He had his name struck on Ptolemaic coins. Together with Lenaios, in contrast to the late Cleopatra I, he took up an offensive policy against the Seleucid Empire and intended to subject Koilesyria again to the Ptolemaic Empire. According to Diodorus , the two guardians were completely inexperienced as war strategists. Allegedly they even figured out chances of conquering the entire empire of Antiochus IV . So they drove in mass meetings of the Alexandrines and the army to the military confrontation with Antiochus, which was to be fought in the Sixth Syrian War .

Around September 170 BC. Chr. Was Ptolemy VIII. Co-regent of his siblings Ptolemy VI. and Cleopatra II. Perhaps Eulaios and Lenaios took this step as a concession to a rival power bloc behind Ptolemy VIII. Beginning of 169 BC Was Ptolemy VI. Declared of age and could now act at least formally independently.

The Ptolemaic Empire was insufficiently prepared for war. Beginning of 169 BC BC Antiochus IV defeated the Egyptian army between Mount Kasion and the border fortress of Pelusion . After concluding an armistice, Ptolemy VI made himself. on the advice of Eulaios to flee to the island of Samothrace and took the treasury with him. The Seleucid ruler was able to take Pelusion in the meantime. Because of their failures, Eulaius and Lenaios were overthrown and killed. The new powerful men were from now on Comanos and Kineas . In peace negotiations with Antiochus IV, the Ptolemaic side blamed Eulaios for the previous aggressive policy towards the Seleucids. Although the Egyptian government was apparently ready to make great concessions, the war continued. Antiochus IV conquered large parts of Egypt apart from Alexandria until a Roman ultimatum in July 168 BC gave him a chance to win. Forced to withdraw.

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ Porphyrios , FGrH 260, F 49a.
  2. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 540f .; Hölbl (1994), p. 129.
  3. ↑ Polybios 28, 20, 5 and 28, 21, 1.
  4. ↑ Polybios 28, 20, 5; Diodor 30, 15f .; Porphyrios, FGrH 260, F 49; Livy 42, 29, 7.
  5. ↑ Huss (2001), pp. 545f .; Hölbl (1994), p. 130.
  6. ↑ Porphyrios, FGrH 260, F 49a.
  7. ↑ Polybios 28:21 ; Diodorus 30, 17; on this, Huss (2001), p. 548.
  8. ↑ See Diodor 30, 16.
personal data
SURNAME Eulaios
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Guardian and regent for the minor Ptolemy VI.
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 169 BC Chr.