AGATHOCLES

CHAPTER IV.

10.

The Overthrow of the Acragantine League.

308—7.

Since the relief of Netum and Camarina in 308 nothing has been heard of the Acragantine movement; but there can be little doubt that it had been making great headway, for it is now stated that the Sicilians hoped that the whole island would soon be free.

About this time Xenodicus seems to have made up his mind to march on Syracuse, and advanced with more than 10,000 foot and about 1000 horse. To meet him, Leptines and Demophilus, who were leading the Agathoclean host, raised such troops as could be spared from garrison duty, and marshaled 8200 foot and 1200 horse. The allies had thus far more men, but their citizen levies seem to have been poorly trained and ill led. Xenodicus himself (like Aratus who inherited some of his ideals) had made his way by political means, or at most by small sieges and surprises : now he had to meet in fair fight a seasoned army under professional leaders. Still the blow at Syracuse had to be struck before freedom was assured, and perhaps the news of Agathocles' coming had reached Xenodicus and spurred him to make trial of battle.

At some nameless spot the armies met. The struggle was long and stubborn, but at length the allies were worsted. Xenodicus himself fled straightway to Acragas, leaving fifteen hundred slain upon the field.

This untoward blow quite broke the spirit of the allies. The Acragantines gave up the active conduct of the war, and the smaller cities were left unsheltered to become the prey of the strongest party. In this way the whole movement fell to the ground; the historian may regret its fate, but he cannot wonder at it. In an age of military powers and trained soldiers a league of free cities could not hope for a lasting success unless it had leaders of the highest valor and ability. Acragas had preached freedom without counting the cost; and one defeat was the death-blow of all her aspirations.

A short time after this fight Agathocles landed at Selinus. He marched to Heraclea, which had been free as a member of the Acragantine league. The city yielded, Segesta may have been won about the same time. Agathocles then marched over to Thermae, his own birthplace. There he found a Punic guard, which seems to have agreed to leave the city to be an ally of Agathocles.

Soon after this Agathocles must have been joined by Leptines, no doubt with a large part of the Syracusan army. An attack on the strong town of Cephaloedium was next undertaken: and this was carried by storm. Leaving Leptines to hold the place, Agathocles marched inland to Centuripa, where some partisans were ready to open the gates. A surprise by night was tried, but the alarm was given and the guard came up in time to save the city. Agathocles was driven out with a loss of 500 men.

At Apollonia there were also traitors at work, but when the prince reached the gates these men had already been found out and punished, perhaps with death, for their evil designs. There was nothing for it but to storm Apollonia. The first day's assault was beaten back, but on the morrow, after a sore and bloody fray, the men of Agathocles burst into the town. Most of the citizens were slaughtered and their goods plundered. This no doubt was a measure of vengeance for the punishment of the prince's friends.

The headway made by the arms of Agathocles and the ruthless manner in which his success had been used, now thoroughly roused his enemies of all parties. Deinocrates, who had stood aloof from the Acragantine league, came forward once more as the champion of freedom. His tried ability seemed to promise better things than the feeble efforts of Xenodicus. Men flocked to Deinocrates' standard, and soon 20,000 foot and 1500 horse were in the field : though they can hardly have been all old soldiers, as Diodorus says. Justin adds that a fresh army from Carthage landed about this time: and although the war in Africa must have swallowed up most of the Punic forces, it is quite possible that a small detachment may have been sent. The fleet of Carthage was still master at sea, and the wisdom of helping such a movement as that headed by Deinocrates was undoubted.

Deinocrates camped in the open and offered battle to Agathocles. But the tyrant felt himself too weak to fight, and withdrew step by step towards Syracuse. Deinocrates followed at his heels, and seemed to be winning a bloodless victory.

11.

Archagathus' Warfare in Africa.

306.