Eumenes II

Eumenes II "Savior"
Eumenes II "Savior"
	Bust of Eumenes II (putative, also known more generically as the young commander)
King of Pergamon
Reign	197–159 BC
Predecessor	Attalus I
Successor	Attalus II
Born	Before 220 BC
Died	159 BC; Pergamon
Consort	Stratonice
Issue	Attalus III; Eumenes III(?);
Greek	Εὐμένης Σωτήρ
House	Attalid dynasty
Father	Attalus I
Mother	Apollonis
Religion	Greek Polytheism

Eumenes II Soter(/juːˈmɛniːz/;Greek:Εὐμένης Σωτήρ;ruled 197–159 BC) was a ruler ofPergamon,and a son ofAttalus I Soterand queen Apollonis and a member of theAttalid dynastyof Pergamon.

Biography[edit]

The eldest son of kingAttalus Iand queen Apollonis, Eumenes was presumably born prior to 220 BC and was the eldest of four sons to Attalus I. Eumenes followed in his father's footsteps upon becoming king and collaborated with theRomansto oppose firstMacedonian,thenSeleucidexpansion towards the Aegean, leading to the defeat ofAntiochus the Greatat theBattle of Magnesiain 190 BC.^[1]

He had refused to marry a daughter ofAntiochus IIIupon noticing that he was about to engage in a war against the Romans.^[2] He then had marriedStratonice of Pergamon,daughter ofAriarathes IV(King ofCappadocia) and his wife Antiochis, and their son was namedAttalus III.

Expansion of the kingdom[edit]

Eumenes had followed his father's footsteps and aided the Romans whenever he could, firstly in theSyrian War,where he both informed them by sending his brotherAttalus II^[3]and sided with the Romans, successfully aiding Rome in defeating Antiochus III in theBattle of Magnesia.^[4]He then aided the Romans in theWar against Nabiswhere he aided both theAetolianandAchaeanleagues to defeat the Spartan tyrantNabis,and lastly in theThird Macedonian Warwhere he aided the Romans in defeating the Macedonian and Thracian army in theBattle of PydnaagainstPerseus of Macedon.He was then at war with theBithyniankingPrusias Iin 183 BC, although being defeated, he received Roman support which ended in his victory.^[5]

Following thePeace of Apameain 188 BC, he received the regions ofPhrygia,Lydia,Pisidia,Pamphylia,and parts ofLyciafrom his Roman allies.^[6]By dividing Asia Minor between their alliesRhodesand Pergamon the Romans made sure that neither state would be able to become too powerful in the region. The Romans also managed to ensure that Rome would remain involved in the affairs of the region.^[7]

Falling out of favour with the Romans[edit]

He later fell out of favour with the Romans after they suspected him of conspiring withPerseus of Macedon.In order to avert suspicion, he sent his congratulations to Rome by his brotherAttalus IIafter the defeat of Perseus. Attalus was received courteously, and in 167 BC the Romans made an abortive attempt to install Attalus on the Pergamene throne. Eumenes in alarm set out to visit Rome in person to plead his case, but on his arrival at Brundusium (Brindisi) was ordered to leave Italy at once.^[8]^[9]In the event, the ties of kinship proved strong, and Eumenes remained as ruler.^[4]He also warred withPharnaces I,who attempted to enlist the aid of the Seleucids, underSeleucus IV^[10]but due to the peace of Apamea, denied siding with him. Later on, in around 179 BC, after suffering losses, Pharnaces sued for peace.^[11]

When Eumenes' health began to weaken his brother Attalus II ascended to the throne as a co-ruler in 160 BC.^[12]Since Eumenes' and Stratonice's son was still a minor,^{[citation needed]}the throne was assumed by Attalus, who also married Eumenes' widow Stratonice in 158 BC upon becoming king.^[12]

Legacy[edit]

Eumenes II was a shrewd ruler and politician, who raised his state to a powerful monarchy. During his reign Pergamum became a flourishing city, where men of learning were always welcome, among themCrates of Mallus,the founder of the Pergamene school of criticism. Eumenes adorned the city with splendid buildings, amongst them the great altar with the frieze representing theBattle of the Giants.^[8]His great achievement was the expansion of theLibrary at Pergamon,one of the great libraries of the Ancient World and the place traditionally associated with the creation ofparchment,although it had existed for centuries.^[13]He also built astoaon the Athenian acropolis.^[14]

Notes[edit]

^Livius.Eumenes II Soter.Battle of Magnesia: Antiochus defeated by the Romans and Pergamenes
^Appain.The Syrian Wars.But the latter, seeing that Antiochus was about to engage in war with the Romans and that he wanted to form a marriage connection with him on this account, refused her.
^Livius.Eumenes II Soter.Attalus II Philadelphus visits Rome and warns against Antiochus III..
^^a ^bChisholm 1911.
^Livius.Eumenes II Soter.183: War against king Prusias I of Bithynia; although Eumenes is defeated, Roman support gives him in the end victory.
^Livius.Eumenes II Soter.Peace of Apamea: Rome awards Pergamon large parts of Asia Minor, including Ephesus, Telmessus, and Tralles.
^Dov Gera (1998).Judaea and Mediterranean Politics: 219 to 161 B.C.E.BRILL. pp. 96–98.ISBN 90-04-09441-5.
^^a ^bOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Eumenes s.v. Eumenes II.".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 889.
^A History of Rome, M. Cary & H.Scullard (1935), p165ISBN 0-333-27830-5
^Diodorus Siculus.The Library of History.Seleucus, leading an army of considerable size, advanced as if intending to cross the Taurus in support of Pharnaces; but on taking note of the treaty that his father had made with the Romans, the terms of which forbade
^Polybius.Histories.
^^a ^bStrabo,13.4.2;Hansen, pp. 44–45; Hurwit, p. 271.
^Ancient Libraries.Cambridge University Press. 2013. p. 109.ISBN 9781107244580.
^Camp, John M. (2001).The Archaeology of Athens.Yale University Press. p. 171.ISBN 9780300081978.

References[edit]

Hansen, Esther V. (1971).The Attalids of Pergamon.Ithaca, New York:Cornell University Press;London: Cornell University Press Ltd.ISBN 0-8014-0615-3.
Kosmetatou, Elizabeth (2003) "The Attalids of Pergamon," in Andrew Erskine, ed.,A Companion to the Hellenistic World.Oxford: Blackwell: pp. 159–174.ISBN 1-4051-3278-7.text
Polybius,Histories,Evelyn S. Shuckburgh (translator); London, New York. Macmillan (1889); Reprint Bloomington (1962).Online version at the Perseus Digital Library

Regnal titles
Preceded by Attalus I	King of Pergamon 197–159 BC	Succeeded by Attalus II

[1] Livius.Eumenes II Soter.Battle of Magnesia: Antiochus defeated by the Romans and Pergamenes

[2] Appain.The Syrian Wars.But the latter, seeing that Antiochus was about to engage in war with the Romans and that he wanted to form a marriage connection with him on this account, refused her.

[3] Livius.Eumenes II Soter.Attalus II Philadelphus visits Rome and warns against Antiochus III..

[FOOTNOTEChisholm1911-4] Chisholm 1911.

[5] Livius.Eumenes II Soter.183: War against king Prusias I of Bithynia; although Eumenes is defeated, Roman support gives him in the end victory.

[6] Livius.Eumenes II Soter.Peace of Apamea: Rome awards Pergamon large parts of Asia Minor, including Ephesus, Telmessus, and Tralles.

[Gera1998-7] Dov Gera (1998).Judaea and Mediterranean Politics: 219 to 161 B.C.E.BRILL. pp. 96–98.ISBN 90-04-09441-5.

[EB1911-8] One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Eumenes s.v. Eumenes II.".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 889.

[9] A History of Rome, M. Cary & H.Scullard (1935), p165ISBN 0-333-27830-5

[10] Diodorus Siculus.The Library of History.Seleucus, leading an army of considerable size, advanced as if intending to cross the Taurus in support of Pharnaces; but on taking note of the treaty that his father had made with the Romans, the terms of which forbade

[11] Polybius.Histories.

[Strabo_tuftus-12] Strabo,13.4.2;Hansen, pp. 44–45; Hurwit, p. 271.

[13] Ancient Libraries.Cambridge University Press. 2013. p. 109.ISBN 9781107244580.

[14] Camp, John M. (2001).The Archaeology of Athens.Yale University Press. p. 171.ISBN 9780300081978.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

v t e Hellenisticrulers
Argeads	Philip II Alexander III the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV
Antipatrids	Cassander Philip IV Alexander V Antipater II Antipater Etesias Sosthenes
Antigonids	Antigonus I Monophthalmus Demetrius I Poliorcetes Antigonus II Gonatas Demetrius II Aetolicus Antigonus III Doson Philip V Perseus Philip VI(pretender)
Ptolemies	Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy Keraunos Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Cleopatra I Syra(regent) Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Cleopatra II Philometor Soter Ptolemy VIII Physcon Cleopatra III Ptolemy IX Lathyros Ptolemy X Alexander Berenice III Ptolemy XI Alexander Ptolemy XII Auletes Cleopatra VI Tryphaena Berenice IV Epiphanea Ptolemy XIII Ptolemy XIV Cleopatra VII Philopator Ptolemy XV Caesarion
Monarchs of Cyrene	Magas Berenice II Demetrius the Fair Ptolemy VIII Physcon Ptolemy Apion Cleopatra Selene II
Seleucids	Seleucus I Nicator Antiochus I Soter Antiochus II Theos Seleucus II Callinicus Seleucus III Ceraunus Antiochus III the Great Seleucus IV Philopator Antiochus IV Epiphanes Antiochus V Eupator Demetrius I Soter Alexander I Balas Demetrius II Nicator Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes Alexander II Zabinas Cleopatra Thea Seleucus V Philometor Antiochus VIII Grypus Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Seleucus VI Epiphanes Antiochus X Eusebes Antiochus XI Epiphanes Demetrius III Eucaerus Philip I Philadelphus Antiochus XII Dionysus Cleopatra Selene I Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Philip II Philoromaeus
Lysimachids	Lysimachus Ptolemy Epigonos
Attalids	Philetaerus Eumenes I Attalus I Eumenes II Attalus II Attalus III Eumenes III
Greco-Bactrians	Diodotus I Diodotus II Euthydemus I Demetrius I Euthydemus II Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Demetrius II Eucratides I Plato Eucratides II Heliocles I
Indo-Greeks	Demetrius I Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Apollodotus I Demetrius II Antimachus II Menander I Zoilos I Agathokleia Lysias Strato I Antialcidas Heliokles II Polyxenos Demetrius III Philoxenus Diomedes Amyntas Epander Theophilos Peukolaos Thraso Nicias Menander II Artemidoros Hermaeus Archebius Telephos Apollodotus II Hippostratos Dionysios Zoilos II Apollophanes Strato II Strato III
Monarchs of Bithynia	Boteiras Bas Zipoetes I Nicomedes I Zipoetes II Etazeta(regent) Ziaelas Prusias I Prusias II Nicomedes II Nicomedes III Nicomedes IV Socrates Chrestus
Monarchs of Pontus	Mithridates I Ctistes Ariobarzanes Mithridates II Mithridates III Pharnaces I Mithridates IV Philopator PhiladephoswithLaodice Mithridates V Euergetes Mithridates VI Eupator Pharnaces II Darius Arsaces Polemon I Pythodorida Polemon II
Monarchs of Commagene	Ptolemaeus Sames II Mithridates I Antiochus I Mithridates II Antiochus II Mithridates III Antiochus III Antiochus IV
Monarchs of Cappadocia	Ariarathes I Ariarathes II Ariamnes II Ariarathes III Ariarathes IV Ariarathes V Orophernes Ariarathes VI Ariarathes VII Ariarathes VIII Ariarathes IX Ariobarzanes I Ariobarzanes II Ariobarzanes III Ariarathes X Archelaus
Monarchs of the Cimmerian Bosporus	Paerisades I Satyros II Prytanis Eumelos Spartokos III Hygiainon(regent) Paerisades II Spartokos IV Leukon II Spartokos V[ru] Kamasarye Paerisades III Paerisades IV Paerisades V Mithridates I Pharnaces AsanderwithDynamis Mithridates II AsanderwithDynamis Scribonius's attempted rule withDynamis DynamiswithPolemon Polemon Aspurgus Gepaepyris Mithridates III Cotys I
Monarchs of Epirus	Admetus Tharrhypas Alcetas I Neoptolemus I Arybbas Alexander I Aeacides Neoptolemus II Alcetas II Pyrrhus I Alexander II Olympias II(regent) Pyrrhus II Ptolemy Pyrrhus III Deidamia
Hellenistic rulers were preceded byHellenistic satrapsin most of their territories.

Authority control databases
International	FAST ISNI VIAF 2 3 4 WorldCat
National	Germany Israel United States Poland
Artists	ULAN
Other	IdRef