Battus III of Cyrene

Battus III of Cyrene

Battus III of Cyrene or Battus III, surnamed The Lame (Greek:Βάττος ο Χωλός, flourished 6th century BC) was the fifth Greek Cyrenaean king and a member of "The Battiads" Dynasty.

Battus was the son and only child of Cyrenaean King Arcesilaus II and Cyrenaean Queen Eryxo. His paternal grandfather was the third Cyrenaean King Battus II, while is paternal grandmother is unknown. His maternal grandmother was the Cyrenaean Princess Critola, while is maternal grandfather was a Cyrenaean noble whose name is unknown and was murdered by Learchus (a rival to Arcesilaus II) in 550 BC. Battus II and Critola were siblings and were children to the second Cyrenaean King Arcesilaus I. Their paternal grandfather was the first Cyrenaean King Battus I.

Battus received the surname "The Lame" because when he was born with a limp to his leg. Battus was proclaimed King in 550 BC by his maternal uncle Polyarchus, when his uncle and his mother Eryxo had successfully plotted to kill Learchus, who murdered Arcesilaus II and attempted to become Cyrenaean King.

During his reign, Battus realised that Cyrenaica had become an unstable state, from the unstable relations with the Libyans, Egyptian Pharaoh Amasis II and the attempted dethroning of his late father and himself from Learchus. He visited the Oracle at Delphi for advice and consulted the priestess, on what he could do about Cyrenaica. The priestess advised Battus to go and visit Mantineia Arcadia and ask for a man called Demonax, who could assist him to reform the Cyrenaean constitution. Demonax was held in high regard by the Mantineians and held a high position there.

Battus returned to Cyrene with Demonax to assist him in reforming the constitution. Demonax reformed the Cyrenaean constitution and did the following. He divided Cyrenaica into three groups:
* Greeks from Thera (modern Santorini)
* Greeks from the Peloponnese and Crete
* Greeks from the other Aegean Islands

Demonax created a Senate which controlled Cyrenaica. The senate's members were representatives from the three groups and the king was the senatorial president. The new constitution, had reduced the powers, responsibilities and authority of the Cyrenaean King. The monarchy remained however, the king was only responsible and had the authority for to grant land to citizens and be a priest and to be in charge of religious duties. Demonax who put in place Ephors to punish impostors and created a strong 300 armed police force patrolling and protecting Cyrenaica.

To further protect Cyrenaica from the Libyans and their aristocracy, Battus made an alliance with the Egyptian Pharaoh Amasis II. As a sign of gratitude, Battus allowed Amasis to marry a Greek woman from Cyrenaica. Amasis chose Battus' daughter, Ladice to marry and they married after 548 BC.

Battus reigned until his death in 530 BC, and was buried near his paternal ancestors. He was survived by his wife, Cyrenaean Queen Pheretima, their son Arcesilaus III and their daughter Ladice. He was succeeded by Arcesilaus III.

ee also

* List of Kings of Cyrene
* Cyrene
* Cyrenaica

Sources

*Herodotus, The Histories, Book 4.
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=yFoGAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA476&lpg=RA1-PA476&dq=battus+i+of+cyrene&source=web&ots=t0ry2lDq05&sig=de4r9u7WwS3ocdHqMZvG-z6ZZU4]
*http://www.livius.org/ct-cz/cyrenaica/cyrenaica.html
*http://www.mediterranees.net/dictionnaires/smith/cyrene.html


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