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The Attalids of Pergamum

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The Attalids of Pergamum The Attalids of Pergamum http://www.1stmuse.com/Pergamon/map.gif March 26th, 2012 The City of Pergamum: A Background • Relatively insignificant city located near the coast of modern Turkey. • Not particularly old; founded ca. later fifth century BCE. • Advantageous geographic position: 1. Close to the coast and the well-to-do Ionian cities. 2. Good nodal point for controlling trade between the Greek towns and the interior of Anatolia. • Would become one of the “middle powers” of the Hellenistic period. The Origins of the Attalid Dynasty • Dynasty begins with Philetaerus (340-263 BCE); Macedonian father (Attalus) and Paphlagonian mother; A eunuch from childhood. • Pergamum the location of the treasury of Lysimachus; Philetaerus in charge of the treasury. • Ca. 283-281 BCE – Dynastic conflict in house of Lysimachus; Seleucus I Nicator invades Lysimachus’ territores; Philtaerus remains aloof, waiting to back the victor. • Probably offered allegiance to the Seleucids: 1. Sources claim that he retained the city and its treasury 20 years after Lysimachus’ defeat. 2. Seleucids do not try to seize the town or the treasury. 3. Attalids date their dynasty from 283 BCE. 4. Pergamene coins contain the head of Seleucus I. • Used control of the territory and the treasury to spread his influence. The Opportunistic Philetaerus • “For a while he remained loyal to Lysimachus, but then quarreled with Arsinoe his wife, who was slandering him, and so caused the place to revolt and pursued a policy of opportunism, as he saw the circumstances favored a change. Lysimachus had become embroiled in a domestic crisis and was forced to assassinate his son Agathocles, then Seleucus (I) Nicator intervened and overthrew him but was then overthrown in his turn when Ptolemy Ceraunus treacherously killed him. While such crises were taking place the eunuch remained in charge of the fort, and pursued a policy of making promises to and courting whoever was powerful and at hand. He remained in control of the fort and the money for twenty years.” (Strabo XIII.4.1. M.M. Austin, Doc. 193) At the Service of the Seleucids • “Alexander, a son of Lysimachus by an Odrysian woman, escaped with them to Seleucus. They all went up to Babylon and implored Seleucus to go to war against Lysimachus; at the same time Philetaerus, who had the charge of Lysimachus' treasure, incensed at the death of Agathocles and apprehensive as to his likely treatment by Arsinoe, seized Pergamon on the Caicus, and sent a messenger to place himself and the treasure in the hands of Seleucus.” (Pausanias' Description of Greece 1.9.5-10 Trans. M.M. Austin.) Gifts of Philaeterus to Cyzicus: Inscription at Cyzicus (280/79 to 276/5) • The following gifts were presented by Philetaerus son of Attalus to the people: When Gorgippides son of Apollonius was cavalry commander (280/79), for (the celebration of) contests, 20 Alexander talents of silver/ and fifty horses for the defense of the territory. When Bouphantides (was cavalry commander) (279/8), when the land been ravaged by war, exemption from taxation of the flocks/ and of other things which they sent away (to safety) and of the cattle which they bought and took out of the territory….” (OGIS 748. M.M. Austin, Doc. 194) The Attalids http://www.livius.org/as-at/attalus/attalids.html Establishing the Dynasty: The Reign of Eumenes I (263-241 BCE) • Despite the commencement date for Attalid rule (propaganda), Philitaerus little more than a Seleucid satrap; played the ruler. • Philetaerus d. in 263 BCE; no progeny (eunuch after all!); succeeded by his nephew (and adopted son) Eumenes I. • Eumenes I built up power in the communities around Pergamum: 1. Acts of euergetism. 2. Building up a mercenary army. • Seleucids angered at the succession: 1. As a Seleucid dependency the Seleucids should choose the successor. 2. Eumenes I acting more like an independent monarch. 3. Seleucus replaced by Philetaerus on coins. 4. Appointing strategoi (generals) as governors of cities. • 262 BCE – Antiochus I Soter declares war on Eumenes I. • 261 BCE – Antiochus I defeated; Pergamum and surrounding region firmly in Attalid grip. • Attalid policy generally cautious but friendly toward the Seleucids. Coin of Eumenes I http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Philetaerus.jpg Already Entrenched • “He [i.e. Philetaerus] had two brothers, the eldest being Eumenes and the youngest Attalus. To Eumenes was born a son called Eumenes like his father, and he took over Pergamum. He was already ruler (dynastes) of the places around and so he even defeated in battle near Sardis Antiochus (I) the son of Seleucus (I).” (Strabo, XIII.4.2. M.M. Austin, Doc. 193).
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