Clearchus of Herakleia I.

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Clearchus of Herakleia (* around 390 BC; † 353 or 352 BC) founded 364/363 BC. BC by a coup the tyranny in the city ​​of Herakleia Pontike on the Black Sea . Although he fell victim to a palace revolt twelve years later, his descendants were able to rule the city for two generations.

Life

Activity before the seizure of power

As a young man, Klearchus stayed in Athens for a long time and there came into contact with great philosophers. For four years he was one of Isocrates' disciples and also heard Plato . A dream is said to have been the decisive factor for him not to concern himself further with philosophy. In the military sector he made a name for himself for Athens through his services in the army of the important general Timotheus ; therefore he was granted Attic citizenship.

Seizure of power and tyranny

When Klearchus returned to Herakleia, he got caught up in the internal power struggles between the parties and was soon banished. As a result, he went to the neighboring Persian dynast Mithridates and commanded a mercenary army for him. Mithradates was at war with Herakleia and planned together with Klearchus a forcible capture of the city. But just then (364/363 BC) their oligarchical council called on the exile as arbitrator in the conflict between the rich aristocrats and the socially inferior citizens. Cleverly, however, with the help of his mercenaries, Klearchus was able to seize power, and he also broke the agreement with Mithridates. He posed as an advocate of the interests of the poorer strata of the people who voluntarily gave him the government, and acted extremely cruelly against the nobles. 60 oligarchs were killed in the process, while the rest, in part, left their defenseless families behind.

Now Klearchos became tyrant of the city, but formally left the institutions in force. He liberated those who originally settled here in the 6th century BC. BC by immigrants from Megara subjugated Mariandyner from their bondage and always maintained good relations with the Persian king, to whom he was subject. His style of governance is described as very cruel. The expelled nobles tried in vain to re-establish their rule in Herakleia by military means. All the exiles who fell into the hands of the tyrant on this occasion were killed. Later on, Klearchus was usually successful against his opponents; however, his poison-based attacks were often unsuccessful.

By building the first public library, Klearchos promoted science. He tried to make his supposedly divine ancestry credible to his subjects by various means. With these measures he already showed features of the Hellenistic representation of rulers.

assassination

Because Klearchos was constantly afraid of assassinations, he took precautionary measures to protect himself, but was murdered twelve years after he came to power (353/352 BC). Behind this attack stood a group of nobles, led by the distinguished Heraclus and Plato student Chion, including Leon (or Leonides), Euxenon and Antitheos. During an attack on the festival in honor of the god Dionysus , Klearchus was badly wounded and died two days later. Most of the conspirators were gunned down on the spot by the tyrant's bodyguard, and others were later captured and tortured to death. The brother of the murdered ruler, Satyros, was now able to usurp the tyranny and exercised it as custodian for seven years, since Klearchus' sons Timotheus and Dionysius were minors.

swell

Of the ancient representations that have been preserved, the report of the historian Marcus Iunianus Iustinus (16, 4-5) is the most important source on the life of Clearchus. The ancient historian Thomas Lenschau keeps the information from Justinus (about his source Pompeius Trogus ) as well as the notes from most of the other ancient authors go back to Theopompus . The dates of the governments of Clearchus and his successors are mainly provided by the Greek historian Diodorus .

literature

Remarks

  1. ^ Memnon 1 in C. Müller, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum (FHG), III 526.
  2. ↑ Suda , p. Klearchos ( Suda online ).
  3. ↑ Justin 16: 4, 4.
  4. ↑ Diodorus 15, 81, 4.
  5. ↑ Justin 16: 4, 4-8.
  6. ↑ Justin 16: 4, 10-16, 5, 4; Polyainos , Strategika 2, 30, 1-2.
  7. ↑ Justin 16: 5: 5-7.
  8. ↑ Polyainos, Strategika 2, 30, 3; Theophrastus at Athenaios 3, 29 p. 85.
  9. ↑ Memnon 1 at FHG III 526.
  10. ↑ Memnon 1 at FHG III 526; Justin 16: 5, 8-11; Plutarch , Moralia 781d and 838d; Suda, s. Klearchus .
  11. ↑ Diodorus 16, 36, 3.
  12. ↑ Justin 16: 5, 12-16; Diodorus 16, 36, 3; Memnon 1, 3-5 at FHG III 526; Suda, s. Klearchus .
  13. ↑ Thomas Lenschau, RE XI 1, Sp. 578.
personal data
SURNAME Clearchus of Herakleia
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Tyrant of Herakleia Pontike (364/363 BC - 353/352 BC)
DATE OF BIRTH around 390 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 353/352 BC Chr.