Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 2.djvu/402

Rh 388 HERACLEIDES. ill the Peloponnesus in order to assemble a larger force both of ships and soldiers. According to Diodorus, his departure was for some time retarded by adverse weather ; but Plutarch (whose account is throughout unfavourable to Heracleides ) ascribes the delay to his jealousy of Dion. It is certain, however, that he eventually joined the latter at Syracuse, with a force of 20 triremes and 1,500 heavy-armed troops. He was received with accla- mations by the 'Syracusans, who immediately pro- claimed him commander-in-chief of their naval forces, an appointment which was resented by Dion as an infringement of the supreme authority already entrusted to himself ; but the people having revoked their decree, he himself reinstated Hera- cleides of his own authority. (Diod. xvi. 6, 16; Plut. Dion, 32, 33.) Dionysius was at this time shut up in the island citadel of Ortygia, and mainly dependent for his supplies upon the command of the sea. Philistus now approached to his relief with a fleet of 60 triremes, but he was encountered by Heracleides with a force about equal to his own; and after an obstinate combat, totally defeated. Philistus himself fell into the hands of the Syra- cusans, by whom he was put to death ; and Dio- nysius, now almost despairing of success, soon after quitted Syracuse, leaving ApoUocrates in charge of the citadel (b, c. 356). The distinguished part Avhich Heracleides had borne in these successes led him to contest with Dion the position of leader in those that remained to be achieved, and his preten- sions were supported by a large party among the Syracusans themselves, who are said to have enter- tained less jealousy of his seeking to possess him- self of the sovereign power than they felt in regard to Dion. (Diod. xvi. 17; Plut. Dion, 48.) Un- fortunately our knowledge of the subsequent in- trigues and dissensions between the two leaders is almost wholly derived from Plutarch ; and his manifest partiality to Dion renders his statements concerning his rival liable to much suspicion. Heracleides was at first triumphant; twenty-five generals, of whom he was one, were appointed to take the command, and Dion retired in disgust, accompanied by the mercenary troops in his pay, to Leontini. But the mismanagement of the new generals, and the advantages gained by Hypsiiis, who had arrived in the citadel with a large rein- forcement, soon compelled the Syracusans to have recourse once more to Dion. Heracleides had been disabled by a wound ; but he not only joined in sending messages to Dion, imploring his assistance, but immediately on his arrival placed himself in his power, and sued for forgiveness. This was readily granted by Dion, who was reinstated in his posi- tion of general autocrator, on the proposal of Hera- cleides himself, and in return bestowed upon the latter once more the sole command by sea. Yet the reconciliation was far from sincere : Heracleides, if ^ we may believe the accounts of his enemies, withdrew, with the fleet under his command, to Messana, and even entered into negotiations with Dionysius : but he was again induced to submit to Dion, who (contrary, it is said, to the advice of all his friends) spared his life, and restored him to favour. But when the departure of ApoUocrates had left Dion sole master of Syracuse (b. c. 354), he no longer hesitated to remove his rival, whom he justly regarded as the chief obstacle to his am- bitious designs ; and under pretence that Heraclei- des was again intriguing a";aiust him, he caused HERACLEIDES. him to be put to death in his own hiuse by a band of armed men. But the popularity of Heracleides was so great, and the grief and indignation of the Syracusans, on learning his death, broke forth with so much violence, that Dion was compelled to honour him with a splendid funeral, and to make a public oration in extenuation of his crime. (Plut. Dion, 35 — 53; Diod. xvi. 16 — 20; Corn. Nep. Dion, 5, 6.) 5. A Syracusan, who, together with Sosistratus, obtained the chief direction of affairs in his native city, shortly before the elevation of Agathocles in B.C. 317. Diodorus tells us (xix. 3) that they were both men who had attained to power by every species of treachery and crime ; but the details to which he refers as having been given in the pre- ceding book, are lost. (See Wesseling, ad I. c.) We find them both mentioned as the leaders of an expedition sent by the Syracusans against Crotona and Rhegium in Italy, in which Agathocles also took part ; but it is not clear how far Heracleides was connected with the subsequent events which terminated in the temporary elevation of Sosis- tratus to the supreme power. [Sosistratus.] (Diod. xix. 3, 4.) 6. Uncle of Agathocles, apparently distinct from the preceding. (Diod. xix. 2.) 7. Son of Agathocles. He accompanied his father on his memorable expedition to Africa, and appears to have been regarded by him with especial favour, as when Agathocles, at length despairing of success in Africa, and unable to carry off his army, determined to secure his own safety by secret flight, he selected Heracleides for his companion, leaving his eldest son, Archagathus, to his fate. The latter, however, obtained information of his inten- tion, and communicated it to the soldiery, who thereupon arrested both Agathocles and Heraclei- des : but they were afterwards induced to set the tyrant himself at liberty, of which he immediately availed himself to make his escape to Sicily, and the soldiers, enraged at his desertion, put to death both Heracleides and Archagathus, B.C. 307. (Diod. XX. 68, 69 ; Justin, xxii. 5, 8.) 8. Tyrant or ruler of Leontini at the time when Pyrrhus landed in Sicily, b. c. 278, He was one of the first to offer submission to that monarch. (Diod, Eocc. Hoeschel. xxii. p. 296.) 9. Son of Antiochus, an officer of cavalry in the service of Alexander the Great, is mentioned in the first campaign of that monarch against the Triballi, and again at the battle of Arbela. (Arr. Anab. i. 2, iii. 11.) 10. Son of Argaeus, was sent by Alexander, shortly before his death, to construct ships on the Caspian Sea, with a view to a voyage of discovery, similar to that of Nearchus in the Erythraean Sea. {Avv.Anub. vii. 16.) 11. An officer appointed by Demetrius Polior- cetes to command the garrison which he left at Athens, apparently in B. c. 290. An attempt was made by the Athenians to possess themselves of the fortress in his charge (whether this was the Museum or the Peiraeeus does not appear, but probably the former) by a secret negotiation with Hicrocles, a Carian leader of mercenaries; but the plan was betrayed by Hierocles to his commanding officer, and Heracleides caused the Athenians to be admitted into the fort, to the number of 420 men, when they were surrounded by his troops, and cut to pieces. (Polyaeu. v. 17. § 1.)