TYRE
Founded
by Sidon around 2750 BC, according to Herodotus, or perhaps by 2250
BC according to archaeological evidence, Tyre began life as a settlement
which was smaller and less influential than its mother city. However,
it eventually surpassed all other Phoenician cities in terms of
its wealth and influence. Tyre was originally located on a coastal
island some 80km (50 miles) south of Biruta, with another settlement
area on the mainland itself. Although the two settlements may have
fought each other on more than one occassion, normally they were
united in the defence of the city. The Greek king, Alexander the
Great, had to build a vast rampart to bridge the gap between Tyre
and the mainland in 332 BC to force the city to open its doors,
and this causeway served as the foundation for a permanent corridor
which still connects the island, now a peninsula, today.
Modern
Tyre lies in Lebanon, near its southern border, and forms the country's
fourth-largest city. The details surrounding pre-Phoenician Canaanite
kings were passed down only in Hellenic mythology.
(Additional
information from Jewish Antiquities, Flavius Josephus.)
c.2000
- 1800 BC :
Egypt maintains a trading presence in the region.
fl
c.1500 BC :
Agenor
: A
king of Tyre according to Herodotus.
c.1500
BC :
According to Greek legend, Agenor is the father of five sons, Cadmus,
Cilix, Phineas, Phoenix, and Thasus. All depart their Phoenician
home in search of their sister, Europa, who had been abducted by
Zeus (and who may instead be the daughter of Phoenix rather than
his sister).
Cadmus travels to Greece where he founds and rules over Thebes before
moving to rule over the Enchelei tribe of Illyrians. Phineas gives
up his search in eastern Thrace, where he settles on the western
shores of the Black Sea and rules a city state of his own. Phoenix
inherits the throne of Tyre and becomes the eponymous founder of
the Phoenicians.
fl
c.1490 BC :
Phoenix
: Son
(or brother in some sources). Inherited throne.
1453
BC :
The
Egyptians conquer the Levant and Syria and establish three provinces
in their conquered territories which are named Amurru (in southern
Syria), Upe (in the northern Levant), and Canaan (in the southern
Levant). Each one is governed by an Egyptian official. Native dynasts
are allowed to continue their rule over the small states, but have
to provide annual tribute.
fl
c.1400 BC :
Eri-Aku
: A
semi-legendary model for the later Herakles.
fl
c.1370s BC :
?
: Prince
of Tyre. Vassal of Egypt.
c.1360s
- 1310s BC :
Abi-Milki
/ Abimilku : Son.
Prince of Tyre. Vassal of Egypt.
c.1371 - 1358 BC :
The Amarna letters between Egypt and the city states of Syria and
Canaan describe the disruptive activities of the habiru,
and of Hazor, which is accused of siding with them to capture several
cities belonging to Tyre and Ashtaroth. Abi-Milki is often the subject
of speculation by scholars who wonder if he is linked to the frequent
mentions of various pre-Philistine rulers named Abimelech (Gerar
has two in succession). The speculation is not without some basis,
as a coincidentally similar Milkilu is king of the Palestinian city
of Gezer at the same time.
c.1320
BC :
The
king of Gebal, Rib-Adda, reports to his Egyptian overlords that
his kinsman, the king of Tyre, and his family have been murdered
in a coup d'etat.
![Canaanite bronze figure](Tyre_Statue01_full.jpg)
This
photo shows a bronze figure from Tyre, created between 1400-1200
BC and probably representing the Canaanite god Baal in the role
of a warrior
fl
c.1230 BC :
Aribas
fl
c.1220 BC :
Baal-Termeg
c.1200
BC :
There is general collapse in the region as instability grips the
Mediterranean coast and the Hittite empire is destroyed by the Sea
Peoples and various other groups. Arvad, Gebal, Sidon, and Tyre,
all with prominent harbours, manage to survive unscathed, although
the wealthy customers disappear for a time. It is possible that
there is an influx of elements of the Sea Peoples into southern
Canaan, where they contribute towards creating later Phoenicia's
great maritime society.
fl
c.1193 BC :
Baal
c.1163
- 1125 BC :
Pummay
Phoenician
Tyre :
Descended from the Canaanites who formerly inhabited the entire
Levant region, these later Canaanites occupied the long coastal
strip that forms modern Lebanon. The great Phoenician island city
of Tyre was founded by settlers from Sidon, and it quickly grew
to rival its neighbour, with each of them claiming to be the mother
city of Phoenicia. Like the other Phoenician cities, Tyre founded
colonies along the western Mediterranean coastline, and was principally
responsible for the creation of Carthage. It also formed the heart
of a very large region, as can be inferred by various finds that
place the northern limits of the territory at Kherayeb, some ten
kilometres to the north of the city, while its southern frontier
can be placed at Umm el-Ahmed, twenty kilometres away.
Phoenicians still thought of themselves as Canaanites; it was the
Greeks who coined the name Phoenicia. The Phoenician language was
very closely related to ancient Hebrew. Unfortunately, one technological
advance of the time was the use of parchment and papyrus for record-keeping
instead of clay tablets. These are highly perishable, and few have
survived.
As for Tyrian chronology, the city's own dates are approximate,
contained in a king-list from Josephus Against Apion I.117–26, plus
Hebrew and Assyrian synchronisms and other evidence. Usefully, Cross
covers the kings from Hiram I to Pummayyonx (Pygmalion).
(Additional information from Jewish Antiquities, Flavius
Josephus, from An Interpretation of the Nora Stone, F M Cross
(Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, CCVIII
(1972)), from History of Tyre, H J Katzenstein (Jerusalem,
1973), and from External Links: An Updated Chronology
of the Reigns of Phoenician Kings during the Persian Period (539-333
BC), Josette Elayi (Trans 32, 2007, available in English at
DigitOrient), and Kingdom of Tyre (Oxford Reference).)
1104
- 1101 BC :
The traditional date of founding for Gadir is 1104 BC, while Utica
is founded in 1101 BC. This puts them both at the very beginning
of the appearance of Phoenician culture in the Near East. No archaeological
evidence for occupation at this date can be found for either settlement,
but, this is probably because these posts are temporary at first,
and are not permanently occupied until the ninth century.
c.1050
BC :
A weakened Egypt loses its remaining imperial possessions in Canaan.
Tyre begins founding trading colonies or making permanent its existing
outposts along the western Mediterranean coast, including that of
Utica in North Africa.
10th
cent - 701 BC :
Tyre gains pre-eminence over much of Phoenicia, including being
able to control Byblos and Sidon. The chronology for the first dynasty
of kings, between Abi-Baal and Pummayyonx, is somewhat uncertain.
Various alternative dates have been given, although generally they
range about by no more than about a decade on either side of the
dates given here. An example of one of the most dramatic differences
is Hiram I, who could be assigned dates of circa 962-929
BC instead. Even the list provided by Josephus is controversial.
c.1000
- 980 BC :
Abi-Baal
/ Abibaal : Dynasty
founder.
c.980 - 946 BC :
Hiram
I : Son.
It is during Hiram's reign that Tyre grows, surpassing its mother
city, Sidon, to become the most important Phoenician city. Hiram
also puts down a rebellion in Utica.
c.955
BC :
The
Israelite First Temple of Jerusalem is completed, apparently by
craftsmen from Sidon under Hiram's authority.
946
- 929 BC :
Baal-Eser
/ Ethbaal / Etzel-Baal I : Son.
His daughter, Jezebel, married Ahab of Samaria.
929
- 920 BC :
Abd-Ashtart / Abdastratus / Astartus : Brother.
920
- 900 BC :
Ashtart / Methusastartus
900
- 888 BC :
Dalay-Ashtart : Brother
of Abd-Ashtart.
888 - 879 BC :
Ashtar-rom / Astarymus / Asermymus : Brother.
Murdered by Phelles.
c.880s
BC :
Omri
is one of the most powerful kings of the small state of Samaria.
He establishes closer ties with Tyre in an attempt to draw away
some of the wealth and prosperity of his rival, Damas. Tyre itself
undergoes a renaissance, principally under Eshbaal from 878 BC,
increasing its international power and trade. However, records concerning
subsequent kings are uncertain about the order of succession.
![Map of Canaan and Syria c.850 BC](Map850BC_full.jpg)
When
the Neo-Assyrian empire threatened the various city states of southern
Syria and Canaan around 853 BC, they united to protect their joint
territory - successfully it seems, at least for a time
879 - 878 BC :
Phelles / Pheles : Brother.
Reigned for eight months.
878
- 847 BC :
Itto-Baal
/ Eshbaal I : Priest
of Astarte. Dates sometimes given as 887-856 BC.
847
- 841 BC :
Baal-Eser
II / Balbazer : Son.
Also shown as Baalmazzar (849-830 BC).
841
- 832 BC :
Mattan I : Son.
833
BC :
This is the date given for the founding of Carthage by Menander
the Ephesian, although a more widely accepted date is 814 BC, below.
832
- 785 BC :
Pummayyonx / Pumayyaton : Son.
'Pygmalion'. Ascended aged eleven.
814
BC :
Pumayyaton is more readily remembered as Pygmalion. In the seventh
year of his reign his sister, Elissa, flees Tyre and founds a colony
on the north African coast by the name of Carthage. Although the
story itself may be apocryphal, the founding point for Carthage
falls between about 843-813 BC, showing that there is a historical
truth behind the tale.
Also
during Pumayyaton's reign, the heart of Tyre's trading empire appears
to shift away from the Near East and towards the Mediterranean,
concentrating more on building up new colonies such as Carthage,
and Kition on Cyprus. The main reason is almost certainly the rise
of Assyria to the east. In this century it has already completed
its conquest of much of Syria, and areas of Philistia and Urartu,
with Carchemish paying tribute in 882 BC and apparently becoming
a vassal in 870 BC.
785
- 750 BC :
There is an unexplained gap in the succession following the rule
of Pumayyaton. This seems to be due to the name of the ruling king
having been lost from the inscription that carries the king list.
c.750
- 740 BC :
Itto-Baal II / Eshbaal II
c.740
BC :
Tubaal
c.740
- 730 BC :
Hiram
II
(Or
c.736-729 BC.) :
738
BC :
All of the Phoenician states become vassals of Assyria, but local
arrangements for governance are left in place. This is the century
for which the first archaeological evidence for Utica's existence
can be dated, showing that the colony becomes a permanent settlement
by a date of 700 BC at the very latest.
730
- 729 BC :
Mattan II
729
- 701 BC :
Eluli / Elulaios / Luli
709
BC :
Elulaios
petitions Sargon the Great, claiming that the kings of Cyprus are
not paying the tribute that he feels he is owed. As a result, it
seems that the Assyrian empire conquers the island for this reason
alone, albeit with his fleet being provided by Tyre.
704
- 701 BC :
With the death of Sargon II of Assyria, many of the former subject
states rebel. It takes the Assyrians until 701 BC to get around
to quelling the Phoenician states. Tyre and Sidon fall without a
fight, and the cities in their orbit surrender.
701
- 660 BC :
Baal
I
694?
- 680 BC :
Abd
Melqart / Abd Melkarth : Vassal
to Assyria.
663
BC :
Tyre surrenders to Ashurbanipal of Assyria as the empire conquers
all of Phoenicia, drawing it directly into the empire.
fl
660s BC :
Abdimilkutte
: May
be the same as Abd Melkarth (694-680 BC).
c.612
BC :
Tyre restores its control of Byblos, but apparently loses control
of Sidon.
591
- 573 BC :
Itto-Baal / Eshbaal / Ethbaal III
c.587
- 574 BC :
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia annexes many previously independent
states in the west in his quest for complete dominance of Syria-Palestine.
The siege of Tyre lasts for thirteen years, and with its conclusion
the colony of Carthage declares its independence from its subjugated
mother city.
573
- 564 BC :
Baal
II : Vassal
of Babylonia.
564
BC :
Yakinbaal : Vassal
of Babylonia.
564
BC :
Still under Babylonian domination, the monarchy of Tyre is overthrown.
The city is governed by an oligarchy which is headed by judges ('shoftim').
Shoftim
of Tyre :
When the monarchy of Tyre was overthrown in the 560s BC, an oligarchy
formed a new governmental body which was headed by judges, or shoftim
(the singular term is 'shofet'). The shoftim were both executive
power and judicial leaders, but they usually held no military power.
In Carthage, which operated a similar system, it appears that each
shofet was elected by the citizens, and held office for a one year
term. Quite possibly there were two of them at a time, mirroring
the system of consulship later used by Rome, but the exact details
of Tyre's short-lived system are less clear.
(Additional information from Jewish Antiquities, Flavius
Josephus.)
564
- 563 BC :
Chelbes : The
first shoftim of Tyre to govern.
563
- 562 BC :
Abbar
562
- 556 BC :
Mattan III : Shoftim,
but the same name applied to a later king.
562
BC :
Mattan III is (apparently) restored in the 490s BC, but as a king
rather than a shoftim (judge). It is highly unlikely that
he is the same Mattan III though, as this would make him at least
ninety years of age. Some modern records show the latter Mattan
as Mattan IV instead.
562
- 556 BC :
Ger
Ashthari : Co-ruler
of Tyre.
556
- 555 BC :
Baal-Eser
III : The
last shoftim ruler. Removed by Hiram III?
555
- 551 BC :
Mahar-Baal
/ Merbalos : King?
Brother of Hiram III of the Restored Kings.
555
- 551 BC :
Babylonian Tyre restores its kingship between 555-551 BC, although
the details of the regime change are extremely sketchy due to the
lack of surviving records. In 551 BC Hiram III is noted as king,
but whether he governs from 555 BC is unknown. There could instead
be a somewhat messy period of conflict here? The king list inscription
contains Bal-Eser III, seemingly confirming him as a king rather
than a shoftim, while Mahar-Bal (Merbalos in Greek) is another
king, and brother to Hiram III no less, who certainly does claim
the title of king.
Kings
of Tyre Restored & Dominated (Babylonia, Persia, & Greeks)
:
The city of Tyre had been started off as a colony of Sidon, one
that was smaller and less influential than its mother city but which
eventually surpassed it and all other Phoenician cities in terms
of its wealth and influence. Descended from the Canaanites who formerly
inhabited the entire Levant region, Phoenicians still thought of
themselves as Canaanites even after their greatest days were behind
them, and their language was very closely related to ancient Hebrew.
It was the Greeks who coined the name Phoenicia ('phoinikes', meaning
'purple people', from the famed purple dye they produced from the
shells of the Murex shellfish). Unfortunately, one technological
advance during the city's greatest independent period was the use
of parchment and papyrus instead of clay tablets for record-keeping.
These are highly perishable, and few have survived.
Like the other Phoenician cities, at its height Tyre had founded
colonies along the western Mediterranean coastline, and was principally
responsible for the creation of Carthage. It also formed the heart
of a very large region, as can be inferred by various finds that
place the northern limits of the territory at Kherayeb, some ten
kilometres to the north of the city, while its southern frontier
can be placed at Umm el-Ahmed, twenty kilometres away. Independence
ended in 738 BC when Assyria invaded and conquered the Levant.
Local arrangements for governance were allowed to continue, however,
setting a pattern for subsequent domination by Babylonia, Persia,
and the Greek empire of Alexander the Great. One of the main reasons
for this, especially under the Persians, was that it was the Phoenicians
who made up much of the empire's naval forces, both building and
manning the ships. Babylonian Tyre restored its kingship between
555-551 BC, replacing the Shoftim (judges), although the details
of the regime change are extremely sketchy due to the lack of surviving
records. Unfortunately for Tyre, the restoration of the monarchy
came shortly before the Persian empire took ownership of the region
in 539 BC. Achaemenid-era Phoenicia formed part of a large satrapy
which was commanded from Babirush (Babylon) and which included Ebir-nāri
(Syria). Later Achaemenid Syria and Phoenicia seem to have been
established as a single satrapy in their own right, away from oversight
by Babylon. Ebir-nāri dominated this arrangement, with a capital
that was probably at Damascus or Achaemenid-era Sidon.
Tyre was originally located on a coastal island some eighty kilometres
south of Biruta (and was known as the 'New City'), with another
settlement area on the mainland itself (the 'Old City'). During
the Persian period it also dominated the smaller city of Ashqelon
(Ashkelon, previously part of Philistia). When Greek domination
of the region arrived in 332 BC in the form of Alexander the Great,
his forces had to build a vast rampart to bridge the gap between
Tyre on its coastal island and the mainland. This causeway served
as the foundation for a permanent corridor which still connects
the island today, now a peninsula. Today's Tyre lies in Lebanon,
near its southern border, and forms the country's fourth-largest
city.
(Information
by Peter Kessler, with additional information from The Persian
Empire, J M Cook (1983), from The Histories, Herodotus
(Penguin, 1996), from The Cambridge Ancient History, John
Boardman, N G L Hammond, D M Lewis, & M Ostwald (Eds), from
Alexander the Great, Krzysztof Nawotka (Cambridge Scholars
Publishing, 2009), from Jewish Antiquities, Flavius Josephus,
and from External Links: Encyclopædia Britannica, and the
Nabonidus Chronicle, contained within Assyrian and Babylonian
Chronicles, A K Grayson (Translation, 1975 & 2000, and now
available via Livius in an improved version), and Encyclopaedia
Iranica, and Ancient History Encyclopaedia, and The Role of the
Phoenician Kings at the Battle of Salamis (480 BC), Josette
Elayi (Journal of the American Oriental Society Vol 126,
No 3 (Jul-Sep 2006), pp 411-418, available via JSTOR), and An
Updated Chronology of the Reigns of Phoenician Kings during the
Persian Period (539-333 BC), Josette Elayi (Trans 32, 2007,
available in English at DigitOrient).)
551
- 532 BC :
Hiram / Eiromos III : Headed
a restored kingship, replacing the Shoftim.
539
BC :
Tyre and all of Phoenicia is submerged within the Persian empire.
Tyre is one of four 'kingdoms' created by the Persians in Phoenicia,
and is ruled by governors (in the form of a retained native monarchy
that is lead by Hiram III - Eiromos in Greek) in the name of the
Persian king. Despite Tyrian rule being maintained within the city
state's territories, many Phoenicians emigrate to the colonies,
especially Carthage, which quickly rises to become a major power.
![Cyrus the Great](Persia_CyrusGreat_01_full.jpg)
Cyrus
the Great freed the Indo-Iranian Parsua people from Median domination
to establish a nation that is recognisable to this day, and an empire
that provided the basis for the vast territories that were later
ruled by Alexander the Great
532 - c.490s BC :
Given the rough dates assigned to Mattan III and the date for the
end of the reign of Hiram III, there is a noticeable gap - of at
least thirty years. No records appear to be available to shed light
on this gap (in fact this entire period is very poorly recorded),
so perhaps it could be assumed that Persian governors are placed
in charge until Mattan III is (apparently) restored.
There
is the possibility that one Ithobaal, mentioned in an inscription
that only surfaces through archaeology in the early twenty-first
century, could be the father of Mattan, and therefore - probably
- the son of Hiram. In fact the inscription seems to confirm the
latter theory, although more study is needed to confirm this.
532
- ? BC :
Ithobaal / Eshbaal / Ethbaal IV : Son.
Possible father of Mattan IV.
c.490s BC :
According to some king lists, Mattan III is (apparently) restored
to the throne. It is highly unlikely that he is the same Mattan
III as the former Shoftim of Tyre of 562-556 BC as this would make
him at least ninety years of age. Some modern records show the latter
Mattan as Mattan IV instead. It is likely that he is the son of
Ithobaal IV, although Herodotus names him as the son of Eiromos
(the Greek version of Hiram). It seems unlikely that this could
be Hiram III, dead since about 532 BC.Any son of his would have
to be at least fifty by the time of the Battle of Salamis in 480
BC, so a Hiram IV has been theorised for the period immediately
preceding Salamis.
fl
c.490s? BC :
Hiram / Eiromos IV : Son?
Theorised through Herodotus.
fl
c.490s - 480s :
Mattan III (IV) : Son?
Apparently restored, but in fact a different person.
480
BC :
Invading
Greece in 480 BC, the Persians subdue the Macedonians and the Thracian
tribes (except for the Satrai, precursors to the Bessoi). Then the
vast army of Xerxes makes its way southwards and is swiftly engaged
by Athens and Sparta in the Vale of Tempe. The Persian army is held
up long enough for the Athenians to prepare their navy for a seaborne
engagement with the Persian fleet.
Athens,
as the leader of the coalition of city states known as the Delian
League, fights the Persian navy at the battles of Artemisium and
Salamis, the latter being a resounding Greek victory. Tetramnestus,
son of Anysos of Sidon, is present - along with Anysos himself,
and other leading Phoenicians such as Mattan of Tyre and Merbalos
of Arvad - but the battle leaves much of the Persian navy destroyed
and Xerxes is forced to retreat to Asia, leaving his army in Greece
under Mardonius.
![Battle of Thermopylae](Sparta_Thermopylae01_full.jpg)
The
Spartan stand at Thermopylae in 480 BC, along with some Greek allies,
stopped the Persian advance in its tracks and provided a rallying
call for the rest of the free Greek cities to oppose the Persians
480
- c.450 BC :
There is an important gap here in knowledge regarding the kings
of this period (a very similar gap exists in Sidon's chronology,
while Byblos doesn't begin its own 'dark' period until it ends in
the other two). Tyre's kings start initialling their coins from
not too long after 400 BC. Prior to that they do not inscribe them
at all, making it virtually impossible to determine any names. A
new king appears roughly at the end of this period - 450 BC - in
the form of 'Boulemenus' - certainly a mangled Greek or other interpretation
of a Phoenician name. This could potentially be the same Ba'al Sillem
(or Baalshillem) who rules in Sidon.
fl
c.450s :
Boulomenus : No
details available. Ba'al Sillem I of Sidon?
c.420 - 411 BC :
Abdemon / Avdimon : King
of Salamis (c.415 BC), Sidon & Tyre. Phoenician. Deposed.
c.415
BC :
The Phoenician ruler of Salamis is killed by Abdemon, who subsequently
rules both Salamis and Tyre. Evagoras, who is a Cyprian Greek, is
forced to leave the island at the same time, heading into exile
on Soloi. Abdemon is also a king in Sidon, and would appear to originate
there, with his father and son both ruling there.
411
BC :
Following the deposing of Abdemon in the Cypriot city state of Salamis,
and the throwing off of Persian dominance there, the island's independence
is re-established under the ruler of the former Greek exile from
the island, Evagoras. Tyre remains under his control, even after
the Persians manage to reassert themselves and take back both it
and Salamis by 381 BC.
411
- 374 BC :
Evagoras / Eugoras (I) : King
of Salamis & Tyre. Murdered.
381
- 380 BC :
Still apparently not entirely subjugated, Evagoras miscalculates
his advantage in a naval battle against the Persians, and the commander,
Glos, wins a great victory. Persia effectively regains control of
much of Cyprus in 381 BC after ten years of effort, and Salamis
is besieged. Evagoras sues for peace (probably in 380 BC) and manages
to negotiate a continuation of his position as (client) king of
Salamis, apparently also continuing to rule the entire island. He
is murdered in 374 BC by a eunuch who is seeking revenge for personal
reasons.
![Coins issued by Evagoras](Salamis_Coins01_full.jpg)
Shown
here are the two sides of a silver coin which was issued by the
Cyprian Greek King Evagoras during his Athenian-supported rebellious
reign of Salamis
374
- 349 BC :
Following the murder of Evagoras there appears to be another major
gap in knowledge regarding the kings of Tyre in this period Unlike
Sidon's kings, those of Tyre are initialling their coins with a
single letter to represent their name, instead of the two of Sidon.
Without any inscriptions or other written sources to make it possible
to decipher those single initial letters it is impossible to construct
a meaningful king list here. There could be between five and nine
kings in this period, with the available initials as follows, in
very approximate order (plus potential full names where possible).
fl
before c.365 BC :
B- : Coin
inscription. Possibly also a seal. Pre-365 BC.
fl
before c.365 BC :
T- : Coin
inscription. Pre-365 BC.
fl
bef c.365? BC :
Z- : Coin
inscription. Pre-365 BC, possibly.
fl
c.370s - 350 BC :
☾-
/ Abdashtart? : Coin
inscription. Pre-365 BC, but into 350s too.
fl
c.370s - 350 BC :
M (MLK?) : Coin
inscription. Pre-365 BC, but into 350s too.
fl
c.365 - 350 BC :
☽-
: Coin
inscription.
fl
c.365 - 350 BC :
S-
/ SR- : Coin
inscription. Abdashtart of Sidon?
349
BC :
This second 'dark' period in terms of understanding the names of
the city's kings and the order in which they rule comes to an end
with the accession of Ozmilk (Azemilcus in Greek). The last of the
'dark' kings, S- / SR-, would seem to read Abdashtart, making it
likely that he is Abdashtart I of Sidon (365-352 BC).
349
- 332 BC :
Ozmilk / Azemilcus : Related
to Abdashtart. Removed by Alexander.
346
BC :
Satraps Mazaeus of Khilakku and Bēlsunu of Ebir-nāri lead
fresh contingents of Greek mercenaries to put down a revolt in the
Levant. Phoenicia is attacked first (principally involving Sidon),
but both satraps are repulsed. The Persian king himself is forced
to follow up with a more direct intervention.
333
- 332 BC :
In 334 BC Alexander of Macedon launches his campaign into the Persian
empire by crossing the Dardanelles. Much of Anatolia falls by 333
BC and Alexander proceeds into Syria during 333-332 BC to receive
the submission of Ebir-nāri, which also gains him Harran, Judah,
and Phoenicia (principally Byblos and Sidon, with Tyre holding out).
Athura, Gaza, and Egypt also capitulate (not without a struggle
in Gaza's case).
![Map of Central Asia & Eastern Mediterranean 334-323 BC](Map_Bactria-&-India-334-324BC_full.jpg)
The
route of Alexander's ongoing campaigns are shown in this map, with
them leading him from Europe to Egypt, into Persia, and across the
vastness of eastern Iran as far as the Pamir mountain range
Azemilcus of Tyre reckons that his island fortress is impregnable
so he forces Alexander to capture it under arms. It actually takes
seven months, with Alexander being distracted by other problems.
Supplied in part by Arvad, his forces build a vast rampart to bridge
the gap between Tyre on its coastal island and the mainland (this
causeway serves as the foundation for a permanent corridor which
still connects the island today), and the city is captured. Tyre
becomes part of the new Greek empire. Azemilcus is removed from
power and Abdalonymus, a poverty-stricken gardener of royal descent,
is placed on the throne in his place.
332 - 329? BC :
Abdalonymus / Abd-olunim : King
of Sidon and Tyre under the Greek empire.
329? BC :
Tyre is incorporated into the satrapy of Syria within the Greek
empire. Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC Tyre
is largely dominated by Ptolemaic Egypt until 219-217 BC, when the
Fourth Syrian War sees Seleucid ruler Antiochus III fighting
Ptolemy IV for control of their mutual border.
Antiochus recaptures Seleucia Pieria, Tyre, and other important
Phoenician cities and their Mediterranean ports, but is fought to
a draw at Raphia on Syria's southernmost edge. The subsequent peace
treaty sees all the gains other than Seleucia Pieria relinquished.
Seleucid control is probably reconfirmed more permanently in 195
BC and remains in place until the mid-first century BC.
c.42 BC :
Tyre had become a possession of Rome in 64 BC, following the final
extermination of the Seleucids. Now the civil war between the supporters
of Julius Caesar and his murderers leads to a tyrant gaining power
in Tyre. Marion, 'tyrant of Tyre' is a supporter of Cassius, but
he is quickly deposed by Anthony and flees to the Parthian king
of which he is a supporter.
![Stone carving of Phoenician ship](Tyre_Ship01_full.jpg)
This
first century AD stone carving reflects Phoenician ship design from
an earlier age, although by the time it was created the Phoenicians
had long since been subsumed within later states
c.42
- 41 BC :
Marion
: Tyrant
of Tyre. Deposed and fled.
41 BC :
Tyre is reincorporated into the Roman republic and its subsequent
empire. At the partition of the empire it passes to the Eastern
Roman empire. In AD 638-640 Phoenicia is conquered by Islam, and
becomes part of the empire. In 1291, continuing to be an important
coastal city, Tyre serves as the capital of the Crusader kingdom
of Jerusalem until it falls to the Mamelukes. The city later becomes
part of the modern state of Lebanon.
Source
:
https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/
KingListsMiddEast/CanaanTyre.htm