The Tale Of Evagoras’ Dynasty And The Palace Raid That Led To Him Becoming King Of Salamis In Cyprus

By
thehistorianshut
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Evagoras was a powerful and influential king of Salamis in Cyprus who ruled in the late 5th and early 4th centuries BCE. Interestingly, his tale harkens back to the earliest days of the island’s history. Therefore, it may be insightful to begin around a millennium before Evagoras’ own time.

Cyprus, in the eastern Mediterranean, has been settled by humans since before the dawn of written history, and the island had extensive contact with many of the ancient Mediterranean empires and powers. Expansionist King Thutmose III of Egypt (r. 1479–1425 BCE) extended his influence over the island during the height of the Egyptian Empire. Not long after, Greek immigration and city-building on Cyprus began between 1400-1200 BCE—alongside pre-existing and concurrent Phoenician settlements on the island. In addition, the mysterious Sea Peoples (which included Greeks) also had a presence on Cyprus during the early 12th century BCE.

It was around that time, when large waves of Greek settlers and adventurers were arriving on Cyprus, that Salamis and other Greek colonies on the island were founded. Evagoras’ dynasty claimed responsibility for the founding of Salamis, holding a stance that the city and the royal family were descended from the ancient Greek hero, Teucer—the brother of Ajax, and cousin of Achilles. Isocrates (c. 436-338 BCE), an Athenian speechwriter, orator, and teacher of rhetoric—who happened to educate Evagoras’ successor, King Nicocles—wrote of Teucer’s connection to the city. Isocrates stated, “…Achilles above all distinguished himself in these perils. And Ajax was second to him in valor, and Teucer, who proved himself worthy of their kinship and inferior to none of the other heroes, after he had helped in the capture of Troy, went to Cyprus and founded Salamis, giving to it the name of his former native land; and he left behind him the family that now reigns” (Isocrates, Evagoras, 18). This origin legend aside, Evagoras’ ancestors were not always in charge of the city.

After the influx of Greek settlers to Cyprus, the island continued to be diverse. Further outside influences continued to appear on the island, such as renewed Phoenician settlements which began around 800 BCE, and strongholds of persisting native Cypriot presence also remained, such as in the Kingdom of Amathus. Furthermore, imperial powers continued to project power over Cyprus, such as the Assyrians (between the late 8th and early 7th centuries BCE), the Egyptians (7th-6th centuries BCE) and the Persians (who extended influence over Cyprus in 525 BCE). These shifting demographics and powers caused noticeable changes to Salamis and its ruling family. According to the aforementioned Isocrates, these changes culminated when the original ruling family of Salamis in Cyprus was eventually supplanted by an outside power. Isocrates wrote:

“So distinguished from the beginning was the heritage transmitted to Evagoras by his ancestors. After the city had been founded in this manner, the rule at first was held by Teucer’s descendants: at a later time, however, there came from Phoenicia a fugitive, who after he had gained the confidence of the king who then reigned, and had won great power, showed no proper gratitude for the favor shown him; on the contrary, he acted basely toward his host, and being skilled at grasping, he expelled his benefactor and himself seized the throne…he reduced the city to barbarism, and he brought the whole island into subservience to the Great King. Such was the state of affairs in Salamis, and the descendants of the usurper were in possession of the throne when Evagoras was born” (Isocrates, Evagoras, 19-21).

In the account presented by Isocrates, Evagoras began his political and public career in cooperation with the family that supplanted his own clan. He bided his time, accumulating popularity and renown while feuds and conspiracies formed between members of the new royal family. According to Isocrates, a time of great peril (and great opportunity) arrived when the then ruling king of Salamis was assassinated by a disgruntled prince. Evagoras was somehow caught up in the events, and was forced to flee the island. On this, Isocrates wrote, “[O]ne of the princes, starting a conspiracy, slew the tyrant and attempted to arrest Evagoras, believing that he would not be able to retain the rule himself unless he should get him out of the way. But Evagoras escaped this peril, and having saved himself by fleeing to Soli in Cilicia did not show the same spirit as those who are the victims of like misfortune” (Isocrates, Evagoras, 26-27).

Evagoras was not idle during his exile. Instead, he reportedly pulled together a small force of loyal warriors and plotted a campaign of revenge. According to the praise-filled account, Evagoras planned a surprise assault on the royal palace of Salamis in Cyprus. His aim was to infiltrate the city and its defenses as stealthily as possible and launch a nighttime raid on the royal residence. On this impressive assault, Isocrates stated:

“And so, calling to his side men numbering, according to the highest estimates, about fifty, with these he prepared to effect his return from exile…when he had landed on the island, he did not think it necessary to seize a strong position, make sure of his own safety, and then to wait and see if some of the citizens would rally to his aid: but immediately, just as he was, on that very night he broke through a little gate in the wall, and leading his followers through this opening, attacked the palace. The confusion attendant upon such occasions, the fears of his followers, the exhortations of their leader—why need I take the time to describe? When the supporters of the tyrant opposed him and the citizens generally were observers (for they held their peace because they feared either the authority of the one party or the valor of the other), he did not cease from fighting, whether alone against many or with few opposing all the foe, until, having captured the palace, he had taken vengeance upon the enemy and had succoured his friends: furthermore, he restored its ancestral honors to his family and established himself as ruler of the city” (Isocrates, Evagoras, 28-32).

Such is the origin story of how King Evagoras (flourished 410-374 BCE) gained his throne, as told by Isocrates—who was a teacher for Evagoras’ successor, King Nicocles of Salamis in Cyprus (r. 374-361 BCE). From the passage, it is insinuated that the general populace of Salamis in Cyprus was supportive or indifferent to Evagoras during his attack on the palace. Whatever the case, the new king consolidated power quickly and “destroyed his enemies” (Isocrates, Evagoras, 38). As opposed to the alleged Phoenician influences of the royal family that was overthrown, the new regime of Evagoras contrastingly and aggressively promoted Hellenism, refocusing the city-state’s identity on its history as a Greek colony.

Although Cyprus and King Evagoras were at that time under the sphere of influence of the Persians, Evagoras clawed back a great deal of autonomy for his kingdom and served as an intermediary between Athens and the Persians during the Corinthian War (395–387 BCE). Around 391 BCE, however, Evagoras and the Persians had a falling out, resulting in the king of Salamis in Cyprus leading a revolt and independence movement in the region. Evagoras battled the Persians for around a decade before his military was decisively defeated in 381 BCE, forcing the king to make peace with the Persians. Although the Persians subjugated Evagoras, they did not dislodge him, for he was allowed to remain in place as Persia’s vassal king of Salamis in Cyprus. In this humbled position, Evagoras was ultimately assassinated in 374 BCE. Despite his violent end, Evagoras’ dynasty and his pro-Hellenism agenda continued with the succession of King Nicocles (r. 374-361 BCE).

Written by C. Keith Hansley

Picture Attribution: (Fight Between Perseus And Phineus in the Palace of Cephus, copy, by an unknown artist after Guglielmo della Porta (c. 1500–1577), [Public Domain] via Creative Commons and the MET).

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