Demetrius of Pharos

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Demetrius of Pharos bigraphy, stories - Greek petty king

Demetrius of Pharos : biography

Demetrius of Pharos (also Pharus) () was a ruler of Pharos involved in the First Illyrian War, after which he ruled a portion of the Illyrian Adriatic coast on behalf of the Romans, as a client king.Hammond, p. 257.

Demetrius was a regent ruler to Pinnes, the son of Agron who was too young too rule as king. When the Romans were occupied with their own problems, he had grown stronger as an ally of Macedonia and also by conquering Dimallum of Dalmatia, on the shore facing Issa. Together with Scerdilaidas, he sailed south of Lissus and broke the Roman treaty, attacking Roman allies in the Adriatic and by devastating and plundering many cities in the Cyclades and the Peloponnese. He was expelled from Illyria by Rome after the Second Illyrian War and became a trusted councilor at the court of Philip V of Macedon. He became a strong political influence to Philip V and encouraged him to clash with Rome. Demetrius remained there until his death at Messene in 214 BC while attempting to take the city.

The Second Illyrian War

Unlike Teuta in 229 BC, Demetrius was well prepared for the Roman invasion. He first placed a garrison in Dimallum, an Illyrian city-fortress from Apollonia. He eliminated his opponents in other places, those Illyrians who opposed his rule, and stationed 6,000 of his best forces on his home island Pharos. As before, both consuls of the year accompanied the Roman expedition, but the leading role was placed by Aemilius Paullus, who was to be killed in the great Roman disaster at Cannae three years later. The Adriatic took on particular importance in Romes preparations for the Second Punic War from 218 to 201 BC. Anticipating a long and difficult war far away from Rome, the Roman Senate decided first to set matters right in Illyria.Polybius, .Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 B.C. By A. E. Astin, F. W. Walbank, M. W. Frederiksen

In 219 BC, having decided that Dimallum was crucial to Demetrius’ power in the region, the consul prepared to besiege the city but was able to take it by direct assault within seven days.Wilkes, p. 163. and went to Pharos As a result all the Illyrian towns and cities of the area submitted to Roman protection, each receiving the appropriate terms and conditions. Next the Romans moved against Demetrius on the island of Pharos, who awaited the attack with good troops, ample provisions an war materials behind strong fortifications, that of the city of Issa at modern Stari Grad. In order to avoid a long siege Aemilius decided to risk another frontal attack. The Roman army moved from the mainland to a wooded area of the island.Appian, (Illyrike 8) Meanwhile the nest day, a small force of ships was sent out to tempt Demetrius from behind his fortifications. Demetrius marched down to the harbor to oppose the Roman landing. The strategy worked, and when the main Roman army appeared from another direction on the island, the Illyrian army was forced to give battle cut off from their city. Attacked on two sides, and cut off from the protection of the city walls, the battle was lost. in 218 BC, the Illyrian forces soon surrendered while Demetrius deserted the island and fled to Macedonia making his way to the court of Philip V of Macedon, who was now the Macedonian king following the death of Antigonus.Polybius, .Polybius (3.18-19)

Aftermath

The Romans destroyed the fortifications of Pharos and before the summer was over Aemilius was back in Rome receiving congratulations for a job well done. Any threat to the Roman hold in Illyria had been eliminated, all the gains of the First Illyrian War had been secured, and the old restrictions of movement imposed on Illyrian kings.Cassiu Dio. 12 frg.53 Demetrius may have returned to the Ardeaian State and have been attacked by another Roman force, although the regime of Pinnes, now confirmed as king, was left intact. Rome supported a small Ardeaian State ruled by Pinnes and his successors. The Roman republic called for the extraditionÉpire, Illyrie, Macédoine: mélanges offerts au professeur Pierre Cabanes by Danièle Berranger,Pierre Cabanes,Danièle Berranger-Auserve,page 134 of Demetrius but Phillip refused. Pinnes was ordered to pay the arrears of tribute, reparations imposed after the war.