The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian/Book XIV/Chapter II

Chapter II

 * Dionysius's projects to strengthen himself in the sovereignty of Sicily. The Syracusans revolt. They are dispersed.

In the mean time Dionysius, the tyrant of Sicily, having made peace with the Carthaginians, bent all his care to strengthen himself in the sovereignty. For he judged that the Syracusans, now brought under by war, had nothing to do but to seek after the recovery of their liberty. Perceiving therefore the island belonging to the city (which was naturally fortified) would be easily defended by a small garrison, he divided it from the city by a strong wall, in which he built many high towers, near one another, and under them guard-houses and lodgings, which would contain great numbers of men: he built likewise there at great expense, a castle which commanded the city, that it might be a shelter ready to fly to upon any sudden commotion; with the same wall he took in the arsenal near to the little port called Laccius, capable to receive threescore sail, and had a gate through which only one ship at a time could enter. Then he marked out the best pieces of land, and gave them to his friends and officers: the rest he equally distributed amongst the citizens, and in the number of citizens he accounted manumitted slaves, and called them Neopolites, New Citizens. He bestowed likewise houses every where upon the common people, (except those houses that were in the island), and those he gave as a reward to his friends and mercenaries.

Having now firmly fixed himself in the throne, (as he conceived), he marched out with an army against the Sicilians, with a design to bring them into slavery, who as yet were free, especially those who had lately assisted the Carthaginians. To this end he lay before the city of Herbessus, and furnished himself with everything necessary for the siege. They of Syracuse that were listed upon this expedition, having got arms into their hands, met together in private cabals, and blamed one another because they did not assist the horsemen in deposing the tyrants. It happened at that time, that one of Dionysius's captains threatening a soldier for his saucy language, and presently offering to beat him upon his sharp retorts, the soldiers were so enraged, that they killed the officer, whose name was Doricus; and calling out with a loud voice to the citizens to stand up for their liberty, they sent for the horse from Enna; for they at the beginning of the tyranny left the tyrant and possessed themselves of that castle. Dionysius being now terrified with the defection of the Syracusans, broke up the siege, and hastened away with all speed to Syracuse, to possess himself of the city before any of his enemies. Upon his flight thither, of the fomenters of the rebellion created them their captains and leaders who had killed the officer, and being joined by the horse from Enna, they encamped in the Epipolæ (as they are called) lying over against the tyrant, blocking up his passage into the open field. These revolters likewise continually sent messengers to Messana and Rhegium to solicit their aid at sea, for the recovery of their liberty. For these cities at that time commonly set forth no less than fourscore gallies well manned, which they then sent to the Syracusans to assist them. Besides all this, they in the Epipolæ promised by the common crier a great reward to him that should kill the tyrant; and that they would enfranchise al foreigners that would come over to them. And now having provided engines for battering down the wall, they assaulted the island every day, and kindly received all strangers that came to them. Upon this, Dionysius seeing himself forsaken by the mercenaries, and that he was so straitly penned up, called his friends together to consult what was best to be done in the present exigency. For he so far despaired of keeping the sovereignty, that he did not so much as seek how he might subdue the Syracusans, but by what kind of death he might put an end to his life; lest he should be forced to a shameful abdication of the government. Heloris, one of his friends, (but others say the poet his father) told him—That the memory of his being a king, would be the glorious ornament of his sepulchre; and Polyxenus, his father-in-law, advised him to break through upon the swiftest horse he had, and get away to those parts under the power of the Carthaginians, and crave help of the Campanians whom Amilcar had left to defend his conquests in Sicily. But Philistus (who afterwards wrote the history) opposed Polyxenus, and said—Dionysius, it doth not become thee, by the swiftness of thy horse, to fly away from thy principality, but rather with thy whole strength to hold it fast within thy very thighs. Dionysius adopted this advice, and resolved to suffer any thing rather than voluntarily lay down the power he had gained. Whereupon he sent commissioners to them in rebellion, to desire liberty for himself and those with him to depart out of the city: and in the mean time a messenger was secretly sent to the Campanians, to promise them as much money as they should demand, if they would come and raise the siege. Matters being agreed upon, the Syracusans consented that the tyrant should have liberty  to be gone with five ships only. After this, things began to cool: and a part of them that lay at the siege were were discharged and drawn off as useless; and many of the foot roved about in the fields, as if the tyranny had now been altogether at an end. In the mean time the Campanians, encouraged by such generous promises, first marched to Agyrium, and there leaving their baggage with Agyrus the prince of the place, with twelve hundred light horse hastened to Syracuse; where, suddenly arriving, they surprised the Syracusans, and killing many of them, they broke through into the fort to Dionysius. About the same time three hundred mercenaries arrived, and came in to the assistance of the tyrant; so that now he began to pluck up his spirits. But the Syracusans, when they perceived that the tyrant began to gather strength again, were divided into parties; some were for continuing the siege, others were for disbanding the army and leaving the city. As soon as Dionysius came to understand this, he sallies out with what he had, and coming upon them when they were in a distraction, easily put them to flight, and pursued them to the place called the New City; yet he killed not many there: for, riding amongst his men, he commanded them not to kill those that fled. The Syracusans were now suddenly scattered all over the fields; and awhile after above seven thousand in a body came up to the horsemen and surrendered themselves. After the burial of the Syracusans that were killed, Dionysius sent messengers to Enna to invite the exiles there to lay aside their animosities and return to their country, faithfully promising them that he would pardon and forget all that was past. Upon this, some who had left wives and children behind them, (through the irresistible force of natural affection), complied with the invitation. The rest, (when the messengers cried up his humanity in burying the dead), answered—That Dionysius himself deserved no other courtesy, and prayed to the gods that he might presently meet with it. So that these at Enna could not by any means be wrought upon to trust the tyrant's  word, but continued at Enna, waiting for a fit opportunity to pull him down. Dionysius carried himself with all the respect and tenderness imaginable towards those that returned, to encourage the rest to come back to their country. Then he discharged the Campanians with great rewards, for he durst not trust their fickle and inconstant humour. When they came to Entella, they prevailed with the citizens to receive them into the town, and to enfranchize them as natural inhabitants: but in the night they treacherously fell upon the townsmen and cut all their throats, and marrying their wives, possessed themselves of the city.