Evagoras I

Evagoras or Euagoras (

Ancient Greek: Εὐαγόρας) was the king of Salamis (411–374 BC) in Cyprus, known especially from the work of Isocrates

History

He claimed descent from

Asia Minor, took several cities in Phoenicia (including Tyre), and persuaded the Cilicians to revolt.^[1]

One result of the Peace of Antalcidas (387 BC), to which Evagoras refused to agree, was that the Athenians withdrew their support, since by its terms they recognized the lordship of Persia over Cyprus. The following years Evagoras carried on hostilities single-handed, except for occasional aid from Egypt, which was likewise threatened by the Persians.^[1] While Evagoras was in Egypt asking for help, his younger son Pnytagoras was in charge of Salamis.^[2] The Persian generals Tiribazus and Orontes at last invaded Cyprus in 385 BC, with an army far larger than what Evagoras could command.^{[citation needed]} However, Evagoras managed to cut off this force from being resupplied, and the starving troops rebelled. The war then turned in the Persian favor when Evagoras' fleet was destroyed at the Battle of Citium, and he was compelled to flee to Salamis. Here, although closely blockaded, Evagoras managed to hold his ground, and took advantage of a quarrel between the two Persian generals to conclude peace (376 BC). Evagoras was allowed to remain nominally king of Salamis, but in reality a vassal of Persia, to which he was to pay a yearly tribute. The chronology of the last part of his reign is uncertain. In 374 BC, he was assassinated by a eunuch from motives of private revenge. He was succeeded by his son, Nicocles.^[1]

According to Isocrates's Panegyricus, Evagoras was a model ruler, whose aim was to promote the welfare of his state and of his subjects by the cultivation of Greek refinement and civilization.^[1] Isocrates also states that many people migrated from Greece to Cyprus because of the noble rule of Evagoras. Other sources of this period—Diodorus Siculus 14.115, 15.2-9; Xenophon, Hellenica 4.8—are not as unrestrainedly complimentary. Lysias in his Against Andocides 6.28 addresses him as the king of Cyprus.

Although Cypriots were Greeks and their language a dialect of Greek, the

Arcadocypriot, they used to write in an older and more difficult system, called the Cypriot syllabary. Evagoras has been called a pioneer of the adoption of the Greek alphabet

in Cyprus in place of the older Cypriot syllabary.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Evagoras". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 959.
^ "Edward S. Forster, Isocrates Cyprian Orations, section 62". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2018-03-02.

External links

A coin of Evagoras on a stamp of Republic of Cyprus

Preceded by Abdemon	King of Salamis 411–374 BC	Succeeded by Nicocles

[EB1911-1] One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Evagoras". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 959.

[2] "Edward S. Forster, Isocrates Cyprian Orations, section 62". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2018-03-02.

[1]

[2]

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