A. M. 3 700. ARTICLE I. SECT. I. Hiero the fecond chofen captain-general by the Syracufans, and foon after appointed king. He makes an alliance with the Romans in the beginning of the first punick war. IERO II. was defcended from the family of Gelon, who had formerly reigned Ant. J. C. in Syracufe. As his mother was of flavish extraction, his father Hierocles, according to I. 23. c. 4. the barbarous custom of thofe times, caufed 304. Juftin. 1. him to be expofed foon after his birth; believing that the infant would dishonour the nobility of his race. If Juftin's fabulous account may be believed, the bees nourished him feveral days with their honey. The oracle declaring, that fo fingular an event was a certain prefage of his future greatnefs, Hierocles caufed him to be brought back to his house, and took all poffible care of his education. The child improved as much as could be expected from the pains taken to form him. He diftinguished himself early from all thofe of his years, by his addrefs in military exercifes, and his courage in battle. He acquired the esteem of Pyrrhus, and received several rewards from his own hands. He was of a beautiful afpect, large ftature, and robust complexion. In his converfation* he was humane and polite, in business juft, and moderate in In alloquio blandus, in negotio juftus, in imperia moderatus prorfus ut ni hil ei regium deeffe, præter regnum, videretur. Jußin. com command: fo that he seemed to want nothing royal except a throne. 275 Difcord having arose between the citizens A. M. of Syracuse and their troops, the latter, who 3729. were in the neighbourhood, raifed Artemidorus Ant. J. C. and Hiero to the fupreme command, which Polyb. 1.1. comprehended all authority civil and military. p. 8, 9. The latter was at that time thirty years old, but of prudence and maturity, that promifed a great king. Honoured with this command, by the help of fome friends he entered the city, and having found means to bring over the adverfe party, intent upon nothing but raifing diforders, he behaved with fo much wisdom and greatnefs of mind, that the Syracufans, though highly diffatisfled with the liberty affumed by the foldiers of making an election without any right, were however unanimous in conferring upon him the title and power of fupreme commander. From his first measures it was easy to judge; that the new magiftrate afpired at fomething more than that office. In effect, obferving that the troops no fooner quitted the city, than Syracufe was involved in new troubles by feditious fpirits and lovers of novelty, he perceived how important it was, in his own, and the abfence of the army, to have fomebody, upon whom he might rely, for retaining the citizens in their duty. Leptinus feemed very fit for this purpofe. He had abundance of perfons devoted to his interefts, and was in very great credit with the people. Hiero attached him to himself for ever, by espousing his daughter, and by the fame alliance fecured the publick tranquillity, during the time he fhould be obliged to remove from Syracufe, and march at the head of the armies. B 2 VOL. X. Another He Another much bolder, though far lefs juft, ftroke of policy, established him in perpetual fecurity and repofe. He had every thing to fear from the foreign foldiers, fluctuating malignant men, void of refpect for their commanders, and of affection for a state of which they made no part, folely actuated by the defire of lording it, and of amaffing money, and always ready for a revolt; who having been bold enough to affume a right in the election of magiftrates, which did not belong to them, were capable, upon the least discontent, to attempt any thing against himself. eafily comprehended, that he should never have the mastery over them, from their being toowell united amongst themselves; that if he undertook to punish the most criminal, their chaftifement would only provoke the reft; and that the only means to put an end to the troubles they occafioned, was utterly to exterminate that factious militia; whofe licentioufnefs and rebellious difpofition could only corrupt others, and incline them to the fame pernicious exceffes. Deceived by a falfe zeal and blind love for the publick good, and fenfibly moved alfo by the profpect of the dangers to which he was perpetually expofed, he thought it incumbent on him, for the fafety of his country, and fecurity of his perfon, to proceed to a cruel and fad extremity, which was equally contrary to his character and juftice; but feemed neceffary to him in the prefent conjuncture. He therefore took the field under the pretext of marching against the * Mamertines. When *They were originally Campanian troops, whom Agathocles had taken into his pay, and who afterwards feized Meina, having first cut the principal inhabitants throats. he he came within view of the enemy, he divided his army in two parts: on the one fide he posted fuch of the foldiers, as were Syracufans; on the other, those who were not fo. He put himself at the head of the first, as if he intended an attack, and left the others exposed to the Mamertines, who put them all to the fword after which, he returned quietly to the city with the Syracufan troops. The army being thus purged of all who might excite disorders and feditions, he raised a fufficient number of new troops, and afterward peaceably discharged the duties of his function. The Mamertines, elate with their first fuccefs, advancing into the country, he marched against them with the Syracufan troops, whom he had armed and disciplined well, and gave them battle in the plain of Myla. A A. M. great part of the enemies were left upon the 3736. Ant. J. C. place, and their generals made prifoners. At 268. his return he was declared king by all the citizens of Syracufe, and afterwards by all the allies. This happened seven years after his being raised to the fupreme authority. It would be difficult to juftify the manner in which he attained that eminence, Whether he put the foreign foldiers in motion himself, which feems probable enough, or only lent himself to their zeal, it was a criminal infidelity to his country, and the publick authority, to which he gave a mortal stroke by his example. It is true, the irregularity of his entrance upon office was fomewhat abated, by the confent which the people and the allies afterwards gave to it. But can we fuppofe, in fuch a conjuncture, that their confent was perfectly free? As to his being elected king, there was nothing forced in that: If his fecret ambition had any part in it, that fault was well atoned for, by his wife and difinterested conduct through the long duration of his reign and life. The lofs of the battle we have spoken of, entirely difconcerted the affairs of the Mamertines. Some of them had recourse to the Carthaginians, to whom they furrendred their citadel; others refolved to abandon the city to the Romans, and fent to defire their aid. Hence Hift. of the arofe the first Punick war, as I have explained Carthagi- more at large elsewhere. Vol. I. nians. Frontin. Appius Claudius the conful put to fea, in Stratag. order to aid the Mamertines. Not being able 1.4 to pafs the ftrait of Meffina, poffeffed by the Polyb. 1. 1. Carthaginians, he made a feint of abandoning that enterprize, and of returning towards Rome with all the troops he had on board his fleet. Upon this news the enemy, who blocked up Meffina on the fide next the fea, having retired, as if there had been nothing farther to apprehend, Appius tacked about, and paffed the ftrait without danger. The Mamertines having, between menaces p. 1o, 11, and furprize, driven the officer out of the citadel, who commanded in it for the Carthaginians, they called in Appius, and opened the gates of their city to him. The Carthaginians foon after formed the fiege of it, and made a treaty of alliance with Hiero, who joined his troops to theirs. The Roman conful thought fit to venture a battle, and attacked the Syracufans first. The fight was rude. Hiero fhewed all poffible courage, but could not refift the valour of the Romans, and was obliged to give way, and retire to Syracufe. Claudius, having obtained a like victory over the Carthaginians, faw himself mafter of the field, ad |