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Lysimachus: A Study in Early Hellenistic Kingship by Dr Helen S Lund (1992-10-08) Hardcover

by Helen S. Lund (Author)

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Among Alexander's successors, Lysimachus is the forgotten man; when he is recalled it is usually as brutal oppressor of the Greeks, or conversely, as a mediocre little man spurred into action only late in life by a domineering woman. As the first full-length study of Lysimachus in the English language, this book aims to reassess Lysimachus' achievements, which although ephemeral, foreshadowed the growth of the Pergamene and Byzantine empires. Helen Lund sets Lysimachus' actions against the background of the early Hellenistic world, marked by extreme political instability and constant warfare, but also by great developments in city building, portraiture and numismatics. Lysimachus' practice in warfare, kingship, and government is compared and contrasted with that of his contemporaries, his predecessors, and his successors in order to set his achievements in the context of a continuum of imperial rule in Asia Minor. The evidence for Lysimachus's rule is set in its literary, political and social context. Covering Lysimachus's rise from governor of the obscure satrapy of Thrace to ruler of a vast Hellespont-centered kingdom, this book analyzes his skills as warrior and diplomat, and examines the factors which motivated him at each stage of his career. Helen Lund discusses images of Lysimachus in literature, his contribution to early Hellenistic kingship ritual and royal propaganda, offering a completely fresh approach to the dynastic struggle which ended his career. The book is written in a clear and lively style, and it is of interest to all students of ancient Greek history.

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Tristan Hughes
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ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01K8Z7Y50

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yingjieyang

Enough information on Lysimachus`s reign, especially on topics about ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2016

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Enough information on Lysimachus`s reign,especially on topics about those polises .
Those comparisons with the rule of Antigonid are very interesting

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JPS

The successful bodyguard: a little-known and maligned « Successor »

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2013

This scholarly book is about the life and times of Lysimachus, one of the less-known of Alexander’s Successors, and one of his former bodyguards. He is less well-known than others, such as Antigonos, Ptolemy or Seleucos, for essentially two reasons. One is that he was not initially one of the main contenders among the Successors because he had initially been assigned Thrace and had limited resources when Alexander’s generals “divided the spoils (that is divided his Empire) between themselves and then started fighting over it. Another reason is that, unlike his three ex-comrades mentioned above, Lysimachus had no successor to perpetuate his name and his enemies blackened his reputation.

While Thrace had both gold and silver mines, the Thracians were not exactly peaceful or willing to accept the domination of a Macedonian warlord with limited military manpower. Besides, Lysimachus also had to cope with the Getai beyond the Danube who periodically came raiding and these gave him a hard time. His main asset at the time was his strategic position since he could block any attempt to invade Macedon by land after having asserted his control over the Greek cities doted along the coasts of Thrace and modern Bulgaria.

He started to come to the fore towards the very end of the fourth century. Allied with Cassandros, who put his phalangite troops under his command, and with Seleucos, who marched from Syria with a large number of elephants, cavalry and light troops, he fought Antigonos and his son Demetrios and triumphed at the battle of Ipsos. His share of the spoils was to receive most of Asia Minor and become the overlord of most of the Greek cities there. A few years later, he managed to add Macedon and Thessaly to this.

Then things turned very bad: his kingdom was weakened by a succession crisis where he had to kill Agathocles - his eldest son and presumptive successor. His deceased son’s supporters fled to Seleucos and clamoured for vengeance. Lysimachus’ old comrade was too happy to oblige and the old bodyguard who had become King was defeated and killed in battle in 281.

This biography is exactly what it is portrayed to be: a study in early Hellenistic kingship, and a rather remarkable one for at least a couple of reasons. The first is the author’s ability to show that Lysimachus, despite a less favourable start, was very much the match for his rivals in terms of military ability or political skills.

The second reason, and perhaps the main quality of this book, is to show to what extent Lysimachus has been maligned by the Ancient sources, and to analyse and reconstruct the events and their causes. In particular, Helen Lund shows rather convincingly that Lysimachus was no meaner and no more tyrannical or cruel than any of his other competitors. Towards the end of his life, and despite his advanced years, he was neither senile nor under the influence of Arsinoe, his formidable wife, and it was not because of her that he had to get rid of Agathocles.

Finally, the author also analyses his achievements, including his kingship and propaganda, the founding of his strategically located capital of Lysimacheia (on the site of the ancient Cardia), his relationships with the Greek cities of Asia Minor and Greece, his diplomacy, the quality of his coinage and the financial management of his Empire. Although less well-known, the book shows rather well that he deserves a place alongside the other Successors, those who were succeeded by an heir.

There are, however, two related items that prevent me from rating this book five stars, although this is what it deserves on the sole grounds of scholarship. One is that it is written as an academic dissertation and this makes it hard to read, at times. Another is that it is clearly not written and targeted at the so-called “general reader” and it is perhaps not a book for a “beginner” who has not prior knowledge on Alexander and his Successors. It is, despite this, worth four solid stars.

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pierrot

Un personnage méconnu.

Reviewed in France on May 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

De tous les Diadoques, Lysimaque est certainement le moins connu du grand public.
Il a pourtant joué un rôle crucial pendant plus de quarante ans, jusqu'à sa mort au combat à la bataille de Kouropedion. Cet ouvrage permet d'appréhender ce politicien, satrape puis roi comme ses semblables, volontiers
décrit par nos sources comme retors et cruel. Recommandé.

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JPS

The successful bodyguard: a little-known and maligned « Successor »

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2013

Verified Purchase

This scholarly book is about the life and times of Lysimachus, one of the less-known of Alexander's Successors, and one of his former bodyguards. He is less well-known than others, such as Antigonos, Ptolemy or Seleucos, for essentially two reasons. One is that he was not initially one of the main contenders among the Successors because he had initially been assigned Thrace and had limited resources when Alexander's generals "divided the spoils (that is divided his Empire) between themselves and then started fighting over it. Another reason is that, unlike his three ex-comrades mentioned above, Lysimachus had no successor to perpetuate his name and his enemies blackened his reputation.

While Thrace had both gold and silver mines, the Thracians were not exactly peaceful or willing to accept the domination of a Macedonian warlord with limited military manpower. Besides, Lysimachus also had to cope with the Getai beyond the Danube who periodically came raiding and these gave him a hard time. His main asset at the time was his strategic position since he could block any attempt to invade Macedon by land after having asserted his control over the Greek cities doted along the coasts of Thrace and modern Bulgaria.

He started to come to the fore towards the very end of the fourth century. Allied with Cassandros, who put his phalangite troops under his command, and with Seleucos, who marched from Syria with a large number of elephants, cavalry and light troops, he fought Antigonos and his son Demetrios and triumphed at the battle of Ipsos. His share of the spoils was to receive most of Asia Minor and become the overlord of most of the Greek cities there. A few years later, he managed to add Macedon and Thessaly to this.

Then things turned very bad: his kingdom was weakened by a succession crisis where he had to kill Agathocles - his eldest son and presumptive successor. His deceased son's supporters fled to Seleucos and clamoured for vengeance. Lysimachus' old comrade was too happy to oblige and the old bodyguard who had become King was defeated and killed in battle in 281.

This biography is exactly what it is portrayed to be: a study in early Hellenistic kingship, and a rather remarkable one for at least a couple of reasons. The first is the author's ability to show that Lysimachus, despite a less favourable start, was very much the match for his rivals in terms of military ability or political skills.

The second reason, and perhaps the main quality of this book, is to show to what extent Lysimachus has been maligned by the Ancient sources, and to analyse and reconstruct the events and their causes. In particular, Helen Lund shows rather convincingly that Lysimachus was no meaner and no more tyrannical or cruel than any of his other competitors. Towards the end of his life, and despite his advanced years, he was neither senile nor under the influence of Arsinoe, his formidable wife, and it was not because of her that he had to get rid of Agathocles.

Finally, the author also analyses his achievements, including his kingship and propaganda, the founding of his strategically located capital of Lysimacheia (on the site of the ancient Cardia), his relationships with the Greek cities of Asia Minor and Greece, his diplomacy, the quality of his coinage and the financial management of his Empire. Although less well-known, the book shows rather well that he deserves a place alongside the other Successors, those who were succeeded by an heir.

There are, however, two related items that prevent me from rating this book five stars, although this is what it deserves on the sole grounds of scholarship. One is that it is written as an academic dissertation and this makes it hard to read, at times. Another is that it is clearly not written and targeted at the so-called "general reader" and it is perhaps not a book for a "beginner" who has not prior knowledge on Alexander and his Successors. It is, despite this, worth four solid stars.

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