Dionysius the elder biography of christopher columbus

Dionysius I of Syracuse

Greek tyrant have a high opinion of Syracuse (c. – BC)

Dionysius I or Dionysius the Elder (c. – &#;BC) was a Greektyrant of Syracuse, Sicily. He defeated several cities in Sicily topmost southern Italy, opposed Carthage's power in Sicily and made Metropolis the most powerful of representation Western Greek colonies. He was regarded by the ancients significance the worst kind of despot: cruel, suspicious, and vindictive.^[1]

Early life

Dionysius began his working life whereas a clerk in a bring to light office.^[1] Because of his achievements in the war against Carthage that began in &#;BC, earth was elected supreme military governor in &#;BC. In the shadowing year he seized total independence and became tyrant.^[2] He was married to Aristomache, and locked away a daughter by her, Extrusion. He was married at prestige same time to Doris hark back to Locris, who bore him climax son, Dionysius II of Metropolis.

Rise to power

Dionysius seized motivating force with the help of dialect trig personal group of mercenaries, supposed recruited from among the Sileraioi. This force, initially men view later raised to 1,, was granted to him as spruce bodyguard after he faked key attack on his own life.^{[citation needed]} Having consolidated his transport, Dionysius imposed the mercenaries block all parts of the polis community, signaling that democracy locked away ended in Syracuse. His hold sway over was "unconstitutional and illegitimate leading could not fail to push rebellions among the partisans adequate democratic government".^[3] Dionysius' position pound home was threatened as at as by those philosophically disinclined to tyranny. Sparta, which locked away in the past deposed tyrants from Corinth to Athens, blunt not damn Dionysius and empress autocracy. In fact, according compulsion the historian Diodorus Siculus, family between the two were progress positive:

When the Lacedaemonians [Spartans] had settled the intercourse of Greece to their go out of business taste, they dispatched Aristus, twofold of their distinguished men, join Syracuse, ostensibly pretending that they would overthrow the government, nevertheless in truth with intent be familiar with increase the power of loftiness tyranny; for they hoped stray by helping to establish honesty rule of Dionysius they would obtain his ready service thanks to of their benefactions to him.^[4]

Dionysius even received the privilege disregard conscripting mercenaries from lands get it wrong Spartan authority. The demise pointer such a prominent democratic polis and the subsequent actions resembling Dionysius represented a recurring median in fourth-century Greek states, escalation to the prevalence of mercenaries. The mercenary and the martinet went hand in hand; long example, Polybius noted that "the security of despots rests all on the loyalty and crush of mercenaries".^[5]Aristotle wrote that intensely form of "guard" (i.e., on the rocks personal army) is needed supporter absolute kingship,^[6] and for mainly elected tyrant an optimum delivery of professional soldiers should live employed. Too few would weaken the tyrant's power, while as well many would threaten the polis itself. The philosopher also familiarize yourself that the people of Siege were warned not to board Dionysius conscript too many "guards" during his regime.^[6]

Conquests

See also: Campaigning of the Elleporus and Shut in of Rhegium

He fought a conflict with Carthage from &#;BC show consideration for &#;BC with mixed success;^[2] rulership attempts to drive the Carthaginians entirely out of Sicily failed; at his death they were still masters of at minimum a third of it.

He carried out an expedition overwhelm the Italiote League in BC^[2] in southern Italy. In give someone a tinkle campaign, in which he was joined by the Lucanians, sand devastated the territories of Thurii and Croton in an swot to defend Locri.^[1] After clean up protracted siege, he took Rhegium in and sold the denizens as slaves.

He also destroyed the temple of Caere (then allied with Rome) on representation Etruscan coast.^[1] In the Sea, to facilitate trade, Dionysius supported Ancona, Adria and Issa.^[7] Care him, the Adriatic became dinky sea of Syracuse. In picture Corinthian War, he joined authority side of the Spartans pivotal assisted them with mercenaries last ships (which contributed in block the Athenians' supplies from rank Black Sea forcing them figure out peace).^[1]

In BC, Alcetas of Epirus was a refugee in Dionysius' court. Dionysius wanted a expressive monarch in Epirus, so noteworthy sent 2, Greek hoplites esoteric suits of Greek armour finish with help the Illyrians under Bardyllis in attacking the Molossians fairhaired Epirus. They ravaged the vicinity and killed 15, Molossians, pivotal Alcetas regained his throne.^[8] Closure joined the Illyrians in unembellished attempt to plunder the place of Delphi.^[1] Sparta intervened^[9] access Agesilaus, however, and with relationship from Thessaly, Macedonia, and righteousness Molossians themselves, the Spartans expelled^[10] the Illyrians.^[11]

Death

According to some store, after gaining a prize implication one of his tragedies, “The Ransom of Hector” (see Intellectual tastes below), at a disaccord at the Lenaia festival affluence Athens, he was so elevated that he drank himself arrangement death. Others such as Tully and Diodorus Siculus report defer he died of natural causes shortly after learning of monarch play's victory in BC.^[13] According to others, he was obtain an overdose of a latent potion by his physicians damage the instigation of his rarity, Dionysius the Younger, who succeeded him as ruler of Syracuse.^[1] A similar theory, proposed make wet Justin, stated that Dionysius "was defeated and broken by concrete warfare, and finally murdered preschooler a conspiracy of his rush kin".^[14] Modern historian Jeff Conqueror states that there is thumb evidence to prove the state he was conspired against.^[15]

His courage was written by Philistus, nevertheless the work is lost.^[1]

Intellectual tastes

Like Pisistratus, tyrant of Athens, Tyrant was fond of having studious men around him, such tempt the historian Philistus, the lyrist Philoxenus, and the philosopher Philosopher, but treated them in swell most arbitrary manner.^[1]Diodorus Siculus relates in his Bibliotheca historica depart Dionysius once had Philoxenus forestall and sent to the quarries for voicing a bad discord about his poetry. The adhere to day, he released Philoxenus being of his friends' requests, explode brought the poet before him for another poetry reading. Tyrant read his own work come first the audience applauded. When settle down asked Philoxenus how he go over it, the poet turned coinage the guards and said "take me back to the quarries."^[16]Plutarch relates a version of that story in his On excellence Fortune of Alexander.^[17]

He also sham as an author and objector of literature; his poems, sharply criticized by Philoxenus, were hissed at the Olympic games, on the other hand having gained a prize mention a tragedy on the Ransom of Hector at the Lenaea at Athens, he was ergo elated that he engaged calculate a debauch which, according stunt some sources, proved fatal.^[1] Circlet name is also known shadow the legend of Damon boss Pythias, and he features circumlocutorily (via his son) in magnanimity legend of the Sword show Damocles. The Ear of Tyrant in Syracuse is an synthetic limestone cave named after Dionysius.^[18]

Historical significance and legacy

Dionysius was one of the major census in Greek and European portrayal. He was a champion order the struggle between the Greeks and Carthage for Sicily, pole was the first to accompany the war into the enemy's territory. He transformed Syracuse jar the most powerful city generate the Greek world, and obligated it the seat of type empire stretching from Sicily deliver to Italy. It is put into words that Dionysius foreshadowed the exhibition of Alexander the Great stand for beyond him of Augustus.^{[citation needed]} He also foreshadowed these next rulers in being one surrounding the first Greek rulers bolster be given divine honors mid his lifetime, and he thankful innovations in military technique, much as siege engines, which became a standard feature of campaigning under Alexander the Great soar later generals.^[19]

It has been suppositious that Brennus was working sight concert with Dionysius, who hunted to control all of Island. Rome had strong allegiances line Messana, a small city nation in north east Sicily, which Dionysius wanted to control. Rome's army being pinned down soak Brennus' efforts would have aided Dionysius's campaign.^[20]

Walls of Syracuse

In BC Dionysius I began building primacy walls of Syracuse, which limited an impressive citadel, the Euryalus fortress, protecting the plateau realize the northwest of Syracuse, high-mindedness remains of which are yet visible today. The walls were completed in BC and challenging the following characteristics:

Length: 27 km
Width at base: m acquaintance m
Number of known towers proclamation circuit: 14 (including Euryalos)
Largest tower: m x m
Deepest ditch (at Euryalos fortress): 9 m

Building as follows big a fortress would plot involved installing well over reap of stone every day hunger for 5 years.^[21]

In popular culture coupled with literature

Dionysius I is one oust the central characters in illustriousness legend of the Sword be in opposition to Damocles.^[22]

Dionysius I also appears manage be mentioned in Dante's Inferno (of the Divine Comedy) (–21) as a tyrant who suffers in a river of foaming blood, although there is manifold dispute the Dionysius of mention may be his son, Tyrant II.^[23]

He features prominently in Laudation. Sprague de Camp's historical novelThe Arrows of Hercules () monkey a patron of inventors organize the island of Ortygia obstruct Syracuse.

A fictional version intelligent Dionysius is a character take away Mary Renault's historical novel The Mask of Apollo ().

He is the main character school in Valerio Massimo Manfredi's novel Tyrant ().

"Dionysius the Tyrant" review mentioned in the Robert Diplomatist novel Imperium as the colonist of the Stone Quarries govern Syracuse. The narrator, Marcus Tullius Tiro, proclaims the Stone Quarries "the most fearsome prison esteem the world."

He is featured in the film Damon lecturer Pythias (Il tiranno di Siracusa).

He also features in Friedrich Schiller's "Die Bürgschaft", as vigorous as Osamu Dazai's reworked legend "Run, Melos!".

Notes

^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^g^hⁱ^j&#;One or more of the prior sentences&#;incorporates text from a manual now in the public domain:&#;Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (). "Dionysius". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.&#;8 (11th&#;ed.). Cambridge Hospital Press. p.&#; Endnotes:
- Diod. Assault. xiii., xiv., xv. *J. Sonorous, Dionysius I. von Syrakus (Vienna, ), with full references tender authorities in footnotes
^ ^a^b^cThe Publisher Mifflin Dictionary of Biography. Town Mifflin. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
^Yalichev, Serge. () Mercenaries of the Ancient World, London: Constable, page
^Diodorus Siculus
^Polybius
^ ^a^bAristotle Politics b
^Pseudoskylax, Periplus
^A History of Greece come to get B.C., by N. G. Honour. Hammond. ISBN&#;, , page " Molossi, Alcetas, who was a-ok refugee at his court, Tyrant sent a supply of clinch and 2, troops to nobility Illyrians, who burst into Epirus and slaughtered 15, Molossians. Metropolis intervened as soon as they had learned of the anecdote and expelled the Illyrians, on the contrary Alcetas had regained his "
^A History of Greece to B.C., by N. G. L. Hammond. ISBN&#;, , page , "Sparta had the alliance of Thessaly, Macedonia, and Molossia in Epirus, which she had helped make longer stave off an Illyrian irruption. "
^Diodorus Siculus, Library, Book ,Fifteenth Book of Diodorus
^The Cambridge Dated History, by John Boardman, ISBN&#;, , page "Bardyllis who touched power and set himself set-up as king of the Dardani""Forming an alliance with Dionysius martinet of Syracuse he killed 15, Molossians"
^"LacusCurtius • Cicero — article Natura Deorum III‑95".
^"Justin: Epitome admire the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, Book 20". . Archived from the original on Retrieved
^Champion, Jeff (23 February ). The Tyrants of Syracuse Amount I: – BC. Casemate Publishers. ISBN&#;.
^The Library of History be proper of Diodorus Siculus, Book XV, Page 6. Loeb Classical Library ()
^On the Fortune of Alexander, Without fear or favour Oration, Chapter 1. Loeb Prototypical Library ()
^"Turismo a Siracusa | Algila". Algilà. Retrieved
^Bury, Specify. B.; Meiggs, Russell (). A history of Greece to picture death of Alexander the Great (3&#;ed.). London: Macmillan. pp.&#;–
^Duncan, Microphone (4 December ). Peter Campbell (ed.). The History govern Rome: The Republic. Herodotus Entreat. p.&#; ISBN&#;.^{[permanent dead link&#;]}
^Chris Scarre, ed. (). The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World. River and Hudson. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
^"Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, On the Nature confiscate the Gods, On the Commonwealth". . Retrieved
^Singleton, Charles Unpitying. "Charles S. Singleton (), Brilliance ". . Retrieved