Français – عربي – ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ – English
During the years of chaos that followed the death of Alexander the Great and the breakup of his Empire, Thibron, a Spartan mercenary, led a revolt in Cyrenaica, trying to use the discontent of a group of Cyreneans in exile to conquer an Empire for himself.
In 332, Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, where he founded his new capital: Alexandria. The Cyrenaican Greeks, happy to see a Greek King who aspired to unite all Greeks, submitted to him. The Empire of Alexander the Great was the largest Empire in the ancient world; but it would be very short-lived: it was divided between his generals after he died at only 32 years old. The Greek cities of Cyrenaica then reclaimed their autonomy.
Thibron was a Lacedemonian mercenary, probably from the city of Sparta. He started his career as an officer and confident of Harpalus, a close friend of Alexander the Great, who became the treasurer of his Empire. Not long before Alexander the Great’s death, Harpalus fled from Babylon to Athens, and then to Crete, with a large amount of money he had stolen from his master. Thibron, after accompanying Harpalus to Crete, assassinated him and took control of his treasure, his army and his fleet. He then made an alliance with Cyrenean exiles in Crete, and decided to take advantage of the power vacuum after the death of Alexander the Great to conquer Cyrenaica with the help of these allies.
Thibron landed in Cyrenaica by the end of the year 323. A first victory over the Cyreneans allowed Thibron to take over Apollonia, the port city of Cyrene. After his victory, Thibron commanded Cyrene to pay a tribute of 500 gold talents, and to hand over half of the city’s war chariots for his army.
Les Cyreneans first agreed to Thibron’s conditions, but then changed their minds when Mnasicles, an officer of Thibron, deserted and joined their ranks together with his troops. Under the command of Mnasicles, Cyrene managed to take back Apollonia. The cities of Euhesperides (Benghazi) and Barca (El-Marj) took Thibron’s side, and he also conquered Taucheira (Tocra).
Not long after the reconquest of Apollonia, Thibron’s fleet was almost entirely destroyed by a storm and many of his men drowned.
Undaunted, Thibron recruited reinforcements in the Peloponnese, while Cyrene received the support of the Libyan Amazigh and of Carthage. After another victory, Thibron besieged Cyrene. The Cyrenean oligarchy called on Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great who reigned over Egypt since his master’s death, to come and deliver the city. Ptolemy sent an army against Thibron, led by Ophellas. The people of Cyrene joined Thibron’s side against the new invader. Despite this, Ophellas was victorious.
After his defeat, Thibron fled, but he was captured by the Amazigh, who delivered him to the new governor of Taucheira who had been appointed hy Ophellas. The citizens of Taucheira delivered him to Cyrene, and he was crucified in Apollonia, in 322.
Cyrenaica was now part of the Ptolemaic Empire. Ophellas became its first governor, with strong autonomy.
Around 10 years later, Ophellas allied with King Agathocles of Syracuse to attack Carthage, becoming the first person in history to lead an army through the central Libyan desert. However, a few days after his arrival at Carthage, Agathocles had him killed. His successor, Magas, established an independent Kingdom of Cyrenaica.
