Chapter XCVII

SICILIAN AND ITALIAN GREEKS — AGATHOKLES.

Constitution established by Timoleon at Syracuse — afterwards
exchanged for an oligarchy. — Italian Greeks — pressed upon
by enemies from the interior — Archidamus king of Sparta
slain in Italy. — Growth of the Molossian kingdom of Epirus,
through Macedonian aid — Alexander the Molossian king brother
of Olympias. — The Molossian Alexander crosses into Italy to
assist the Tarentines. His exploits and death. — Assistance
sent by the Syracusans to Kroton — first rise of Agathokles. —
Agathokles distinguishes himself in the Syracusan expedition —
he is disappointed of honors — becomes discontented and leaves
Syracuse. — He levies a mercenary force — his exploits as
general in Italy and Sicily. — Change of government at Syracuse
— Agathokles is recalled — his exploits against the exiles —
his dangerous character at home. — Farther internal changes at
Syracuse — recall of the exiles — Agathokles readmitted — swears
amnesty and fidelity. — Agathokles, in collusion with Hamilkar,
arms his partisans at Syracuse, and perpetuates a sanguinary
massacre of the citizens. — Agathokles is constituted sole
despot of Syracuse. — His popular manners, military energy,
and conquests. Progress of Agathokles in conquering Sicily.
The Agrigentines take alarm and organize a defensive alliance
against him. — They invite the Spartan Akrotatus to command
— his bad conduct and failure. — Sicily the only place in
which a glorious Hellenic career was open. Peace concluded by
Agathokles with the Agrigentines — his great power in Sicily.
— He is repulsed from Agrigentum — the Carthaginians send an
armament to Sicily against him. — Position of the Carthaginians
between Gela and Agrigentum — their army reinforced from home.
— Operations of Agathokles against them — his massacre of
citizens at Gela. — Battle of the Himera, between Agathokles
and the Carthaginians. — Total defeat of Agathokles by the
Carthaginians. — The Carthaginians recover a large part of
Sicily from Agathokles. His depressed condition at Syracuse. —
He conceives the plan of attacking the Carthaginians in Africa.
— His energy and sagacity in organizing this expedition. His
renewed massacre and spoliation. — He gets out of the harbor, in
spite of the blockading fleet. Eclipse of the sun. He reaches
Africa safely. — He burns his vessels — impressive ceremony
for affecting this, under vow to Demeter. — Agathokles marches
into the Carthaginian territory — captures Tunês — richness and
cultivation of the country. — Consternation at Carthage — the
city force marches out against him — Hanno and Bomilkar named
generals. — Inferior numbers of Agathokles — his artifices to
encourage the soldiers. — Treachery of the Carthaginian general
Bomilkar — victory of Agathokles. — Conquests of Agathokles among
the Carthaginian dependencies on the eastern coast — Religious
terror and distress of the Carthaginians. Human sacrifice. —
Operations of Agathokles on the eastern coast of Carthage —
capture of Neapolis, Adrumetum, Thapsus, etc. — Agathokles
fortifies Aspis — undertakes operations against the interior
country — defeats the Carthaginians again. — Proceedings of
Hamilkar before Syracuse — the city is near surrendering — he
is disappointed, and marches away from it. — Renewed attack of
Hamilkar upon Syracuse — he tries to surprise Euryalus, but is
totally defeated, made prisoner, and slain. — The Agrigentines
stand forward as champions of Sicilian freedom against Agathokles
and the Carthaginians. — Mutiny in the army of Agathokles at
Tunês — his great danger, and address in extricating himself.
— Carthaginian army sent to act in the interior — attacked by
Agathokles with some success — his camp is pillaged by the
Numidians. — Agathokles invites the aid of Ophellas from Kyrênê.
— Antecedent circumstances of Kyrênê. Division of coast between
Kyrênê and Carthage. — Thimbron with the Harpalian mercenaries is
invited over to Kyrênê by exiles. His checkered career, on the
whole victorious, in Libya. — The Kyrenæans solicit aid from the
Egyptian Ptolemy, who sends Ophellas thither. Defeat and death of
Thimbron. Kyrenaica annexed to the dominions of Ptolemy, under
Ophellas as viceroy. — Position and hopes of Ophellas. He accepts
the invitation of Agathokles. He collects colonists from Athens
and other Grecian cities. — March of Ophellas, with his army,
and his colonists, from Kyrênê to the Carthaginian territory
— sufferings endured in the march. — Perfidy of Agathokles —
he kills Ophellas — gets possession of his army — ruin and
dispersion of the colonists. — Terrible sedition at Carthage —
Bomilkar tries to seize the supreme power — he is overthrown and
slain. — Farther successes of Agathokles in Africa — he captures
Utica, Hippo-Zarytus, and Hippagreta. — Agathokles goes to
Sicily, leaving Archagathus to command in Africa. Successes of
Archagathus in the interior country. — Redoubled efforts of the
Carthaginians — they gain two great victories over Archagathus.
— Danger of Archagathus — he is blocked up by the Carthaginians
at Tunis. — Agathokles in Sicily. His career at first prosperous.
Defeat of the Agrigentines. — Activity of Agathokles in Sicily
— Deinokrates in great force against him. — Agrigentine army
under Xenodokus — opposed to the mercenaries of Agathokles —
superiority of the latter. — Defeat of Xenodokus by Leptines
— Agathokles passes over into Africa — bad state of his army
there — he is defeated by the Carthaginians. — Nocturnal panic
and disorder in both camps. — Desperate condition of Agathokles
— he deserts his army and escapes to Sicily. — The deserted
army kill the two sons of Agathokles, and capitulate with the
Carthaginians. — African expedition of Agathokles — boldness of
the first conception — imprudently pushed and persisted in. —
Proceedings of Agathokles in Sicily — his barbarities at Egesta
and Syracuse. — Great mercenary force under Deinokrates in
Sicily — Agathokles solicits peace from him, and is refused —
he concludes peace with Carthage. — Battle of Torgium — victory
of Agathokles over Deinokrates. — Accommodation and compact
between Agathokles and Deinokrates. — Operations of Agathokles in
Liparæ, Italy, and Korkyra — Kleonymus of Sparta. — Last projects
of Agathokles — mutiny of his grandson Archagathus — sickness,
poisoning, and death of Agathokles. — Splendid genius of action
and resource — nefarious dispositions — of Agathokles. — Hellenic
agency in Sicily continues during the life of Agathokles, but
becomes then subordinate to preponderant foreigners.
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