bgr_1145858 - CYPRUS - KINGDOM OF CYPRUS - SALAMIS - EVAGORAS I Statère

CYPRUS - KINGDOM OF CYPRUS - SALAMIS - EVAGORAS I

(411 - 374 BC)

King of Salamis in 411 BC, Evagoras was a faithful ally of the Athenians. He participated in the Battle of Cnidus in 394 BC and seized almost all of the island of Cyprus. He had to fight against the other dynasts of the island, Amathonte, Citium and Soloi. King Artaxerxes II sent Hecatomnos, satrap of Caria to fight the rebellious monarch. Evagoras captured Tire and some towns on the Phoenician coast. With the help of the Athenians and Chabrias, he seized the whole island of Cyprus, except Citium. After the peace of the Great King (Antalcidas) in 387 BC, he found himself alone against the Persian threat. The king of the Persians instructed the satrap Tiribaze to bring the island back into the Empire. Finally Evagoras was defeated and Salamis besieged. He had to submit to keep his throne, but lost most of his territorial gains. He was murdered along with his eldest son Pnytagoras. it was Nicocles, his second son who succeeded him.