The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

CHAP. XI.

Timoleon's Expedition into Sicily. The Carthaginians Army in Sicily. Diony∣sius returns into Syracuse, is beaten by Hicetas; Hicetas gains Syracuse. Ti∣moleon's Escape from Rhegium. Timoleon routs Hicetas, and gains Syracuse. Philip invades the Illyrians. Dionysius expell'd. Timoleon makes good Laws. Philip invades Thrace.

NOW Eubulus was chief Magistrate at Athens, and Marcus Fabius and Serulius Sulpi∣tius were Consuls at Rome; at this time Timoleon the Corinthian, advanced by the * 1.1 Syracusians to the Sovereign Command of all their Forces, prepared for his Voyage into Sicily, and loosed from Corinth with Four Gallies, mann'd with Seven hundred Mercena∣ries, and attended with Three Skiffs. In his Passage he was joined by Three Vessels more from the Leucadians and Corcyrians, and so with Ten Sail passed over the Ionian Sea. * 1.2 In this Voyage an unusual and remarkable Thing happened to Timoleon, the Providence of the Gods seeming to favour his Undertaking, and thereby to point out the future Fame and Glory of his Actions. For all the Night, a Light like a burning Torch in the Hea∣vens went before him, till the Fleet came to the Coasts of Italy. For he was before told at Corinth by the Priests of Ceres and Proserpina, that in the Night the Goddesses appeared to them, and told them, that they would sail along with Timoleon to the Island that was peculiarly Consecrated to them. Timoleon therefore, and all those with him, were very chearful, upon the Apprehension that the Gods favoured their Enterprize; and thereupon * 1.3 Timoleon dedicated one of the best of his Ships to the Goddesses, and ordered that it should be call'd the * 1.4 Sacred Ship of Ceres and Proserpina. And now when the Fleet came safe as far as Metapontum in Italy, there arrived a Galley which had the Carthaginian Am∣bassadors on board; who upon a Conference with Timoleon, charged him upon his Peril not to begin any War, or so much as set his Foot upon Sicily. But he being incouraged by them of Rhegium, who promised to join with him, loosed with all hast from Meta∣pontum, designing by his speed to prevent the Report of his Coming. For he was in a great Fear, left the Carthaginians, who were much stronger at Sea, should block up his Passage into Sicily. Therefore he made away with all speed to Rhegium.

The Carthaginians having a little before received Intelligence, that a great War was likely to break out through all Sicily, carried themselves with all Civility towards the * 1.5 Confederate Cities; and putting an end to all Quarrels, entred into Leagues of Amity and Friendship with the Princes of the Island, especially with Hicetas General of the Sy∣racusians, who was the most Potent. At length the Carthaginians having raised great number of Forces both by Sea and Land, transported them into Sicily under the Com∣mand of Hanno their General. They had with them a Hundred and fifty Sail of Long Ships, a Land Army of Fifty thousand Men, Three hundred Chariots, and Two thou∣sand * 1.6 Carts or Carriages drawn by two Horses apiece; and besides these, a great number of Arms of all sorts, and Engines of Battery, and an infinite Store of Corn, Provision, and all other Things necessary for War. The first City they set upon, was Entella; and having wasted and spoiled the Lands round about, they shut up the Inhabi∣tants * 1.7 by a close Siege. The Campanians possessed the City at that time, and being terri∣fied with the Multitude of their Enemies, sent for Aid to the other Cities, who hated the Carthaginians; but none of them came in to them, except them of Galeria, who sent them a Thousand Armed Men; who were intercepted by the Carthaginians, and cut off every Man. The Campanians, who inhabited Aetna, at first prepared to help them of * 1.8 Entella, upon the account of their Consanguinity; but hearing of the Slaughter of the Galerians, they judged it more Adviseable to sit still. Dionysius at that time had regained his former Sovereignty over the Syracusians. Hicetas therefore led a great Army thither, and encamped at Olympus, fortifying himself with a Breast-work and a Trench, and drew * 1.9 up against Dionysius, then playing the Tyrant in the City. But he protracted the Siege for some time through want of Provision, and marched away to Leontum, from whence he first moved. But Dionysius pursued him, and fell upon his Rear, which occasioned the whole Army to ingage. For Hircetas wheeled about, fought and routed him, killing Three thousand of his Mercenaries upon the Spot, and put the rest to Flight; and pur∣suing them so hotly, that he fell pell-mell with him into the City, and so possessed him∣self * 1.10 of the whole City of Syracuse, except the Island. And thus went Matters between Hicetas and Dionysius at that time.

But Timoleon arriving at Rhegium the third Day after the taking of Syracuse, lay with his Fleet in the Port next to the City. At that time came into Port Twenty Carthaginian Gallies: The Rhegians favouring Timoleon, called an Assembly, and proposed Terms of Compounding Matters; so that the Carthaginians supposing Timoleon would be persuaded * 1.11 to return home; were not careful to place sufficient Guards, Timoleon therefore himself (not giving the least Ground to suspect his Flight) kept close to the Court, but ordered, that Nine of his Ships should set Sail, and make away with all the hast they could. In the mean time, while the Thoughts of the Carthaginians were intent upon the Speeches of the Rhegians, which were lengthen'd out of Purpose and Design, Timoleon privately * 1.12 withdraws himself, and makes to the Ship that was left, and hoises up Sail and away he goes. The Carthaginians thus deluded, endeavoured to pursue him; but because he was got too far off, and Night approached; Timoleon with his whole Fleet arrived safe at Tauro∣menum. Andromachus the Prince of that City, (who always was a Friend to the Syracu∣sians,) courteously received the Refugees, and was greatly serviceable to them in their avoiding of the Pursuers. Hicetas afterwards with an Army of Five thousand Men came against Adriana, and encamped near the City. But Timoleon drawing some Regiments out of Tauromenum, marched from thence, having with him at the most but a Thousand Men. And going out of the Town in the Twilight, he reached Adriana the next Day; there he set up the Hicetians at the very time they happened to be at Meat, and broke in upon their Camp, and killed Three hundred, and took Six hundred Prisoners, and pos∣sessed himself of the Camp. To this Stratagem he added another, for he made straight away with all speed to Syracuse, and dispatching his March with all speed, he broke into the City on a sudden, and by the swiftness of his March came there before those that fled. And these were the Transactions of this Year.

Lycisco executed the Office of Archon at Athens, and Marcus Valerius and Marcus Popi∣lius * 1.13 were created Roman Consuls when the Hundred and Ninth Olympiad was celebrated, wherein Aristolocus the Athenian won the Course. This was likewise the first time that the Romans entred into a League with the Carthaginians. In Caria, Idreius Prince of the Carians died, after he had reigned Seven Years, whom Ada (both his Wife and Sister) succeeded, and governed Four Years.

In Sicily, Timoleon being strengthened with the Confederacy of them of Adranita and Tynderita, greatly increased his Army. In the mean time there were great Confusions in Syracuse, by reason that Dionysius had got Possession of the Island Hicetas, Achradina, and the new City, and Timoleon the rest of the City; and lastly, the Carthaginians had entred the great Harbour with a Fleet of an Hundred and fifty Sail, and lay near, encamped with an Army of Fifty thousand Men. And now Timoleon was in great Perplexity, being invironed by so many Enemies; when on a sudden the Tables were turned. First Marcus, Prince of Catana, with a great Army came in to the Assistance of Timoleon. Afterwards many of the Forts and Castles (out of love of Liberty) sided with him, and presently the Corinthians sent Ten Gallies full of Soldiers, and Pay for them, to Sy∣racuse.

By these Supplies Timoleon took Heart, and the Carthaginians were so discouraged and affrighted, that very imprudently they sailed out of the Harbour, and drew off their whole Army, and marched away into their own Territories. Hicetas being thus stripp'd of all Assistance, Timoleon, now stronger than the Citizens, possessed himself of all Syra∣cuse. Presently after he received Messina (who had sided with the Carthaginians) into his Protection. And this was the State of Sicily at the time.

In Macedonia, Philip, who bore an Hereditary Hatred against the Illyrians, and had * 1.14 with them an everlasting Controversy, invaded their Country with a powerful Army, and wasted and spoiled their Lands, and after the taking of many Towns, returned with rich, Booty into Macedonia. Afterwards making an Expedition into Thessaly, he cast all the Tyrants out of the Cities; and by this means gained the Hearts of the Thessalians: For by gaining them to be his Allies, he hoped easily to procure an Interest in all Greece; and by the Issue it appeared so afterwards. For the bordering Grecians presently, in imitation of the Thessalians, very readily entred into a League with Philip.

Pythodorus was now Lord Chancellor of Athens, and Caius Plautius and Titus Manlius * 1.15 executed the Consular Dignity at Rome. At this time Dionysius being brought into extre∣mity of Danger, and in a terrible Fright, was wrought upon by Timoleon to surrender the Castle, and upon Condition of Abdicating the Government, had Liberty safely to depart to Peloponnesus, with all his Goods and Movables.

And thus he, through Sloth and Cowardise, lost this so eminent and famous a Prin∣cipality, bound fast (as they used to term it (with an Adamant, and spent the rest of

his Days * 1.16 in a poor and mean Condition. Whose change of Fortune, and course of Life, exhibit a clear Example to those, who like Fools boast in the Times of Prosperity, For he, who a little before had Four hundred Gallies at Command, not long after in a small Skiff was conveyed to Corinth, and became a Spectacle to Admiration of a won∣derful Change. Timoleon having possessed himself of the Island and Castles lately held by Dionysius, demolished all the Forts and Palaces of the Tyrants through the Island, and freed all the Towns from the Garisons. And continually employed himself in framing of Laws, and instituted such as were most proper for the Administration of the Demo∣cracy. And in his making such as related to private Contracts, he had a special Regard to Equality and mutual Recompence. Moreover he appointed a chief Magistrate to be * 1.17 Yearly chosen, whom the Syracusians call the * 1.18 Amphipolus of Jupiter Olympus, and the first Amphipolus was Callimenes. From hence arose the Custom amongst the Syracusians, to note their Years with the respective Governments of these Magistrates, which continues to this very time of writing this History, and though the Frame of the Government be now chang'd. For since the Romans imparted the Laws of their City to the Sicilians, the Office of the Amphipolus has still continued, being now grown old, having been execu∣ted above Three hundred Years. And thus stood the Affairs of Sicily at that time.

In Macedonia, Philip having persuaded all the Greek Cities in Thrace to Concord amongst themselves, made an Expedition against the Thracians. For Cersobleptes the Thracian King was continually destroying the Greek Cities in the Hellespont, and harrassing and spoiling the Country. Therefore Philip, to put a Check to the Designs and Progress of the Bar∣barians, invaded them with a great Army, and was so Victorious, that he forced them to pay a Tenth, as a Tribute to the Kingdom of Macedonia. And by building of strong Towns in convenient Places, he curb'd the Insolency of the Thracians. The Greek Ci∣ties therefore being freed from their Fears, with great Eagerness enter'd into a League of Confederacy with Philip.

As to Writers, Theopompus of Chius composed an History of the Acts of Philip, in Three Books, in which are interwoven the Affairs of Sicily. For beginning with the Sovereignty of Dionysius the Elder, he comprehended an Account of the Transactions of Fifty Years, and ended with the Expulsion of Dionysius the Younger. These Three Books are from the Forty first to the Forty third Year of the Fifty Years.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Olymp. 108. 4. Ant. Ch. 343. An. M. 3603.
• * 1.2

  Timoleon loo∣ses from Co∣rinth towards Syracuse.
• * 1.3

  Ant. Ch. 343.
• * 1.4

  Or called Ce∣res and Pro∣serpina.
• * 1.5

  The Carthagi∣nians prepare for War in Si∣cily.
• * 1.6

  The Army of Carthaginians in Sicily.
• * 1.7

  Entella be∣sieged.
• * 1.8

  Ant. Ch. 343.
• * 1.9

  Dionysius and Hicetas.
• * 1.10

  Hicetas takes Syracuse.
• * 1.11

  Ant. Ch. 343.
• * 1.12

  Timoleon e∣scapes from Rhegium by a Wile.
• * 1.13

  Olymp. 109. 1. Ant. Ch. 342. An. M. 3604.
• * 1.14

  Philip in∣vades the Il∣lyrians.
• * 1.15

  Olymp. 109. 2. Ant. Ch. 341. An. M. 3605. Dionysius ab∣dicates the Go∣vernment.
• * 1.16

  It's said, he kept a private School at Co∣rinth till he was very old. Just. lib. 21.
• * 1.17

  Ant. Ch. 341.
• * 1.18

  Servant of Jupiter O∣lympus.