Eumenes I.

Eumenes I († 241 BC ) was ruler of Pergamon (263–241 BC) from the Attalid dynasty .

Eumenes' father was also called Eumenes and was the brother of the first Pergamene ruler Philetairus . His mother was Satyra, daughter of a Poseidonios. Since Philetairos had no children of his own, he adopted Eumenes and made him his successor. At that time Pergamon only ruled the immediate vicinity of the city and, as a semi-autonomous principality, was dependent on the Seleucids .

In the first years of his reign, Eumenes won through his victory over Antiochus I at Sardis in 261 BC. Pergamon's independence from the Seleucid Empire. This enabled him to expand his area to the coast and inland. After that, no further events are recorded from his reign. Apparently also without descendants, he adopted his great-nephew Attalus , who succeeded him on the throne.

Eumenes began, probably after his victory over Antiochus, as the first Pergamene ruler with the minting of coins with the image of the dynasty founder Philetairos, whereby he demonstrated the newly won independence of Pergamon. He was able to settle a mercenary revolt (OGIS 226), paid tribute to the Gallic tribes in Inner Asia Minor, and set up a festival in Pergamon in his honor, Eumeneia . However, he did not accept the title of king.

literature

• Esther V. Hansen: The Attalids of Pergamon. 2nd edition, revised and expanded. Cornell University Press, Ithaca NY 1971, ISBN 0-8014-0615-3 .
• Wolfgang Radt : Pergamon. History and buildings of an ancient metropolis. Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 1999, ISBN 3-534-13414-1 .
• Hans-Joachim Schalles : Investigations into the cultural politics of the Pergamenischen rulers in the third century before Christ. Wasmuth, Tübingen 1985, ISBN 3-8030-1757-2 ( Istanbul Research 36).

predecessor	Office	successor
Philetairos	Ruler of Pergamon 263–241 BC Chr.	Attalus I.