This is a list of

tyrant A tyrant (), in the modern English usage of the word, is an absolute ruler who is unrestrained by law, or one who has usurped a legitimate ruler's sovereignty. Often portrayed as cruel, tyrants may defend their positions by resorting to ...

s from

Ancient Greece Ancient Greece ( el, Ἑλλάς, Hellás) was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of classical antiquity ( AD 600), that comprised a loose collection of cu ...

Abydus

Daphnis In Greek mythology, Daphnis (; grc, Δάφνις, from , ''daphne'', "Bay Laurel") was a Sicilian shepherd who was said to be the inventor of pastoral poetry. Family According to tradition, he was the son of Hermes and a nymph, despite which ...

, c. 500 BC * Philiscus, c. 368-360 BC (assassinated) * Iphiades, 360-? BC

Agrigentum (Acragas)

Phalaris Phalaris ( el, Φάλαρις) was the tyrant of Akragas (now Agrigento) in Sicily, from approximately 570 to 554 BC. History Phalaris was renowned for his excessive cruelty. Among his alleged atrocities is cannibalism: he was said to have ...

, 570-554 BC (overthrown and roasted) *

Telemachus Telemachus ( ; grc, Τηλέμαχος, Tēlemakhos, lit=far-fighter), in Greek mythology, is the son of Odysseus and Penelope, who is a central character in Homer's ''Odyssey''. When Telemachus reached manhood, he visited Pylos and Sparta in s ...

, after 554 BC *

Alcamenes Alcamenes ( grc, Ἀλκαμένης) was an ancient Greek sculptor of Lemnos and Athens, who flourished in the 2nd half of the 5th century BC. He was a younger contemporary of Phidias and noted for the delicacy and finish of his works, among w ...

, 6th/5th century BC * Alcandros, 6th/5th century BC * Theron, 488-472 BC *

Thrasydaeus Thrasydaeus ( grc, Θρασυδαῖος), tyrant of Agrigentum, was the son and successor of Theron. Already during his father's lifetime he had been appointed to the government of Himera, where, by his violent and arbitrary conduct, he alienated ...

, 472 BC (expelled and executed) * Phintias, c. 288-279 BC * Sosistratus, 279-277 BC

Alabanda Alabanda ( grc, Ἀλάβανδα) or Antiochia of the Chrysaorians was a city of ancient Caria, Anatolia, the site of which is near Doğanyurt, Çine, Aydın Province, Turkey. The city is located in the saddle between two heights. The area i ...

* Aridolis, 480 BC * Amyntas, after 480 BC

Ambracia Ambracia (; grc-gre, Ἀμβρακία, occasionally , ''Ampracia'') was a city of ancient Greece on the site of modern Arta. It was captured by the Corinthians in 625 BC and was situated about from the Ambracian Gulf, on a bend of the navigabl ...

* Gorgus, fl. 628-600 BC *

Periander Periander (; el, Περίανδρος; died c. 585 BC) was the Second Tyrant of the Cypselid dynasty that ruled over ancient Corinth. Periander's rule brought about a prosperous time in Corinth's history, as his administrative skill made Corinth o ...

, until 580 BC * Archinus, 6th century BC

Amastris

* Amastris, until 284 BC * Eumenes, 284 until c. 270 BC (hands city over to

Kingdom of Pontus Pontus ( grc-gre, Πόντος ) was a Hellenistic period, Hellenistic kingdom centered in the historical region of Pontus (region), Pontus and ruled by the Mithridatic dynasty (of Persian people, Persian origin), which possibly may have been di ...

)

Argos

* Laphaes, 6th century BC *

Pheidon Pheidon (Greek: Φείδων) was an Argive ruler during the 7th century BCE and 10th in line to Temenus. He was arguably Argos's most ambitious and successful ruler during the 7th century BCE. There is a possibility that there were in fact two di ...

, around 550 BC *

Perilaus In Greek mythology, Perileos (; Ancient Greek: Περίλεως) or Perilaus (; Περίλᾱος) is a name that may refer to: *Perileos, son of Icarius and Periboea. He accused Orestes of the murder of his cousin Clytemnestra. *Perileos, son o ...

, c. 546 BC * Archinus, c. 395 BC * Aristippus the Elder, after 272 BC * Aristomachos the Elder, before 250-240 BC (assassinated) *

Aristippus Aristippus of Cyrene (; grc, Ἀρίστιππος ὁ Κυρηναῖος; c. 435 – c. 356 BCE) was a hedonistic Greek philosopher and the founder of the Cyrenaic school of philosophy. He was a pupil of Socrates, but adopted a very diffe ...

, 240-235 BC (killed in action) * Aristomachus the Younger, 235-229 BC (resigned), 224-223 BC (tortured and executed)

Assos Assos (; grc-gre, Ἄσσος, la, Assus) is a beautiful small and historically important town on the Aegean coast in the Ayvacık district of Çanakkale province, Turkey. It is on the southern side of Biga Peninsula (better known by its anc ...
& Atarneus

Eubulus Eubulus is the name of: People: * Eubulus (banker), 4th century BC Bithynian banker and ruler of Atarneus * Eubulus (statesman) (c. 405 BC – c. 335 BC), Athenian statesman * Eubulus (poet), 4th century BC Athenian poet * Saint Eubulus (died 30 ...

, before 351 BC * Hermias, 351-342 BC

Astacus ''Astacus'' (from the Greek , ', meaning "lobster" or "crayfish") is a genus of crayfish found in Europe and western Asia, comprising three extant (living) species and three extinct fossil species. Due to the crayfish plague, crayfish of th ...

* Evarchus, c. 430-420 BC

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates a ...

* Cylon, 632 BC (stoned) *

Pisistratus Pisistratus or Peisistratus ( grc-gre, wikt:Πεισίστρατος, Πεισίστρατος ; 600 – 527 BC) was a politician in ancient Athens, ruling as tyrant in the late 560s, the early 550s and from 546 BC until his death. His unificat ...

, 561 BC, 559-556 BC and 546-528 BC *

Hippias Hippias of Elis (; el, Ἱππίας ὁ Ἠλεῖος; late 5th century BC) was a Greek sophist, and a contemporary of Socrates. With an assurance characteristic of the later sophists, he claimed to be regarded as an authority on all subjects ...

, 527-510 BC *

Theramenes Theramenes (; grc-gre, Θηραμένης; died 404 BC) was an Classical Athens, Athenian statesman, prominent in the final decade of the Peloponnesian War. He was particularly active during the two periods of Oligarchy, oligarchic government at ...

Critias Critias (; grc-gre, Κριτίας, ''Kritias''; c. 460 – 403 BC) was an ancient Athenian political figure and author. Born in Athens, Critias was the son of Callaeschrus and a first cousin of Plato's mother Perictione. He became a leading ...

, and Charicles leading members of the

Thirty Tyrants The Thirty Tyrants ( grc, οἱ τριάκοντα τύραννοι, ''hoi triákonta týrannoi'') were a pro-Spartan oligarchy installed in Athens after its defeat in the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC. Upon Lysander's request, the Thirty were elec ...

404-403 BC *

Lachares Lachares ( grc, Λαχάρης) was a demagogue and tyrant of Athens at the turn from the 4th to the 3rd century BC. Rule in Athens Lachares was one of the most influential leaders in his native city, after Athenian democracy had been re-establis ...

, 300-294 BC *

Aristion Aristion (died 1 March 86 BC in Athens) was a philosopher who became tyrant of Athens from c. 88 BC until his death in 86 BC. Aristion joined forces with king Mithridates VI of Pontus against Greece's overlords, the Romans, fighting alongside Pont ...

, 88-86 BC (executed)

Byzantium Byzantium () or Byzantion ( grc, Βυζάντιον) was an ancient Greek city in classical antiquity that became known as Constantinople in late antiquity and Istanbul today. The Greek name ''Byzantion'' and its Latinization ''Byzantium' ...

* Ariston, c. 513 BC *

Clearchus of Sparta Clearchus or Clearch ( grc, Κλέαρχος; 450 BC – 401 BC), the son of Rhamphias, was a Spartan general and mercenary, noted for his service under Cyrus the Younger. Biography Peloponnesian War Born about the middle of the 5th century ...

, 411-409 BC, 404-401 BC

Cardia The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The stomach has a dilated structure and functions as a vital organ in the digestive system. The stomach is ...

* Hecataeus, fl. 323 BC

Camarina

* Psaumis of Camarina, fl. c. 460 BC

Cassandreia Cassandreia, Cassandrea, or Kassandreia ( grc, Κασσάνδρεια, ''Kassándreia'') was once one of the most important cities in Ancient Macedonia, founded by and named after Cassander in 316 BC. It was located on the site of the earlier Anc ...

Apollodorus Apollodorus (Greek: Ἀπολλόδωρος ''Apollodoros'') was a popular name in ancient Greece. It is the masculine gender of a noun compounded from Apollo, the deity, and doron, "gift"; that is, "Gift of Apollo." It may refer to: :''Note: A f ...

, 279-276 BC (executed)

Catane

* Euarchus, 729 BC-? * Deinomenes the Younger, fl. 470-465 BC *

Mamercus of Catane Mamercus ( grc, Μάμερκος) was tyrant of the Greek city of Catane at the time when Timoleon landed in Sicily 344 BC until 338 BC. He was regarded by Plutarch as a warlike and wealthy man. After the defeat of Hicetas at Adranum by Timol ...

, 345-338 BC

Chalcis Chalcis ( ; Ancient Greek & Katharevousa: , ) or Chalkida, also spelled Halkida (Modern Greek: , ), is the chief town of the island of Euboea or Evia in Greece, situated on the Euripus Strait at its narrowest point. The name is preserved fro ...

* Tynnondas, c. 580 BC *

Antileon Antileon ( grc, Ἀντιλέων) was an ancient Greek author who wrote a work on chronology (Περὶ Χρόνων), the second book of which is referred to by Diogenes Laërtius Diogenes Laërtius ( ; grc-gre, Διογένης Λαέρτι� ...

, 6th century BC * Mnesarchus, before 354 BC * Callias, c. 354-350 BC, c. 343-330 BC * Taurosthenes, c. 330 BC

Chersonese

Miltiades the Elder Miltiades the Elder (ca. 590 – 525 BC) was an Athenian Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seve ...

, 555-519 BC * Stesagoras, 519-516 BC (assassinated) *

Miltiades Miltiades (; grc-gre, Μιλτιάδης; c. 550 – 489 BC), also known as Miltiades the Younger, was a Greek Athenian citizen known mostly for his role in the Battle of Marathon, as well as for his downfall afterwards. He was the son of Cimon ...

, 516-510 BC, 496-492 BC

Chios Chios (; el, Χίος, Chíos , traditionally known as Scio in English) is the fifth largest Greek island, situated in the northern Aegean Sea. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. Chios is notable for its exports of mast ...

* Strattis, fl. 513-480 BC

Cibyra

* Moagetes, fl. 190 BC

Corcyra

Lycophron Lycophron (; grc-gre, Λυκόφρων ὁ Χαλκιδεύς; born about 330–325 BC) was a Hellenistic Greek tragic poet, grammarian, sophist, and commentator on comedy, to whom the poem ''Alexandra'' is attributed (perhaps falsely). Life a ...

(?), before 587 BC * Cleonymus, 303/02 BC

Corinth Corinth ( ; el, Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, ) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part ...

Cypselus Cypselus ( grc-gre, Κύψελος, ''Kypselos'') was the first tyrant of Corinth in the 7th century BC. With increased wealth and more complicated trade relations and social structures, Greek city-states tended to overthrow their traditional her ...

, 657-627 BC *

, 627-587 BC * Psammetich, 587-584 BC *

Timophanes Timophanes was an Ancient Corinthian and brother of the renowned Greek statesman and general Timoleon. Background During the 360s BC, the city-state of Corinth found herself in an unfamiliar and radically changing world. In the forty plus years ...

, 364 BC (assassinated) *

Alexander Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

, 253-247 BC (poisoned?) *

Nicaea Nicaea, also known as Nicea or Nikaia (; ; grc-gre, Νίκαια, ) was an ancient Greek city in Bithynia, where located in northwestern Anatolia and is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea (the first and s ...

, 247-245 BC (married)

Cos Cos, COS, CoS, coS or Cos. may refer to: Mathematics, science and technology * Carbonyl sulfide * Class of service (CoS or COS), a network header field defined by the IEEE 802.1p task group * Class of service (COS), a parameter in telephone syst ...

* Scythes, late 6th century BC *

Cadmus In Greek mythology, Cadmus (; grc-gre, Κάδμος, Kádmos) was the legendary Phoenician founder of Boeotian Thebes. He was the first Greek hero and, alongside Perseus and Bellerophon, the greatest hero and slayer of monsters before the da ...

, resigned 494 BC *

Nicias of Cos Nicias (; Νικίας ''Nikias''; c. 470–413 BC) was an Ancient Athens, Athenian politician and general during the period of the Peloponnesian War. Nicias was a member of the Athenian aristocracy and had inherited a large fortune from his father ...

, 1st century BC * Nicippus, 1st century (with Nicias)

Croton

* Cylonius, c. 530 BC *

Cleinias Cleinias ( grc, Κλεινίας), father of Alcibiades, brother of Axiochus, and member of the Alcmaeonidae family, was an Athenian who married Deinomache, the daughter of Megacles, and became the father of the famous Alcibiades. Plutarch tells u ...

, c. 504-495 BC *

Menedemus Menedemus of Eretria ( grc-gre, Μενέδημος ὁ Ἐρετριεύς; 345/44 – 261/60 BC) was a Greek philosopher and founder of the Eretrian school. He learned philosophy first in Athens, and then, with his friend Asclepiades, he subseq ...

, until 295 BC (conquered and )

Cumae Cumae ( grc, Κύμη, (Kumē) or or ; it, Cuma) was the first ancient Greek colony on the mainland of Italy, founded by settlers from Euboea in the 8th century BC and soon becoming one of the strongest colonies. It later became a rich Ro ...

Aristodemus In Greek mythology, Aristodemus (Ancient Greek: Ἀριστόδημος) was one of the Heracleidae, son of Aristomachus and brother of Cresphontes and Temenus. He was a great-great-grandson of Heracles and helped lead the fifth and final attac ...

, c. 505-490 BC

Cyme

* Aristagoras, fl. 513-493 BC

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...

Nicocreon Nicocreon (Greek Nικoκρέων; lived 4th century BC) was king of Salamis in Cyprus, at the time of Alexander the Great's (336–323 BC) expedition against Persia. Nicocreon submitted to the conqueror along with the other Cypriot kings, ...

, 4th century BC

Cyrene

Ophellas Ophellas or Ophelas (fl. c. 350 – 308 BC) was an Ancient Macedonian soldier and politician. Born in Pella in Macedonia, he was a member of the expeditionary army of Alexander the Great in Asia, and later acted as Ptolemaic governor of Cyre ...

, 312-308 BC * Lycopus, c. 163 BC * Nicocrates, c. 51 BC (assassinated) *

Leander Leander is one of the protagonists in the story of Hero and Leander in Greek mythology. Leander may also refer to: People * Leander (given name) * Leander (surname) Places * Leander, Kentucky, United States, an unincorporated community * Le ...

, c. 50 BC (arrested)

Cyzicus Cyzicus (; grc, Κύζικος ''Kúzikos''; ota, آیدینجق, ''Aydıncıḳ'') was an ancient Greek town in Mysia in Anatolia in the current Balıkesir Province of Turkey. It was located on the shoreward side of the present Kapıdağ Peni ...

* Aristagoras, c. 513 BC

Dardanos

Mania Mania, also known as manic syndrome, is a mental and behavioral disorder defined as a state of abnormally elevated arousal, affect, and energy level, or "a state of heightened overall activation with enhanced affective expression together wi ...

, killed by her son-in-law c. 399 BC

Elatea Elateia ( el, Ελάτεια; grc, Ἐλάτεια) was an ancient Greek city of Phthiotis, and the most important place in that region after Delphi. It is also a modern-day town that is a former municipality in the southeastern part of Phthioti ...

Mnason Mnason ( gr, μνασωνι τινι κυπριω) was a first-century Cyprus, Cypriot Christians, Christian, who is mentioned in Acts 21, chapter 21 of the Acts of the Apostles as offering hospitality to Luke the Evangelist, Luke the evangelist, P ...

, 4th century BC

Elea

* Demylus, 5th century BC *

Nearchus Nearchus or Nearchos ( el, Νέαρχος; – 300 BC) was one of the Greek officers, a navarch, in the army of Alexander the Great. He is known for his celebrated expeditionary voyage starting from the Indus River, through the Persian Gulf and ...

, c. 430 BC

Elis Elis or Ilia ( el, Ηλεία, ''Ileia'') is a historic region in the western part of the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece. It is administered as a regional unit of the modern region of Western Greece. Its capital is Pyrgos. Until 2011 it was ...

* Aristotimus, 272 BC (assassinated)

Ephesus Ephesus (; grc-gre, Ἔφεσος, Éphesos; tr, Efes; may ultimately derive from hit, 𒀀𒉺𒊭, Apaša) was a city in ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia, southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. It was built i ...

* Athenagoras, 6th century BC *Pythagoras, 6th century BC *Pindarus, around 560 BC *Aristarchus, around 545-540 BC * Pasicles, 540-530 BC *Aphinagorus, fl. 530 BC *Comas, fl. 530 BC *Phanes *Melancomas, around 500 BC *Hegesias, 4th century BC * Syrpax, until 334 BC (stoned) *Melancomas II, fl. 214 BC

Epidaurus Epidaurus ( gr, Ἐπίδαυρος) was a small city ('' polis'') in ancient Greece, on the Argolid Peninsula at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros: '' Palaia Epidavros'' and '' Nea Epidavros''. Since 2010 they belong t ...

Procles In Greek legends, Procles ( el, Προκλῆς, "the renowned") was one of the Heracleidae, a great-great-great-grandson of Heracles, and a son of Aristodemus and Argia. His twin was Eurysthenes. Together they received the land of Lacedaemon aft ...

, 640 BC

Eretria Eretria (; el, Ερέτρια, , grc, Ἐρέτρια, , literally 'city of the rowers') is a town in Euboea, Greece, facing the coast of Attica across the narrow South Euboean Gulf. It was an important Greek polis in the 6th and 5th centur ...

* Themison, fl. 366 BC *

Plutarch Plutarch (; grc-gre, Πλούταρχος, ''Ploútarchos''; ; – after AD 119) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for hi ...

, c. 355-350 BC (expelled) *

Hipparchus Hipparchus (; el, Ἵππαρχος, ''Hipparkhos''; BC) was a Greek astronomer, geographer, and mathematician. He is considered the founder of trigonometry, but is most famous for his incidental discovery of the precession of the e ...

, c. 345 BC *

Automedon In Greek mythology, Automedon (; Ancient Greek: Αὐτομέδων), son of Diores, was Achilles' charioteer, who drove the immortal horses Balius and Xanthos. Mythology In Homer's ''Iliad'', Automedon rides into battle once Patroclus dons ...

, c. 345 BC * Cleitarchus, 345-341 BC (expelled)

Gela

* Cleander, 505-498 BC (assassinated) *

Hippocrates Hippocrates of Kos (; grc-gre, Ἱπποκράτης ὁ Κῷος, Hippokrátēs ho Kôios; ), also known as Hippocrates II, was a Greek physician of the classical period who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history o ...

, 498-491 BC * Gelon, 491-485 BC *

Hieron I Hiero or hieron (; grc, ἱερόν, "holy place") is a holy shrine, temple, or temple precinct in ancient Greece. Hiero may also refer to: Places and jurisdictions * Hieron, Caria, an Ancient city and former bishopric in Asia Minor, now Av ...

, 485-466 BC * Polyzalus, fl. c. 476 BC

Halicarnassus Halicarnassus (; grc, Ἁλικαρνᾱσσός ''Halikarnāssós'' or ''Alikarnāssós''; tr, Halikarnas; Carian: 𐊠𐊣𐊫𐊰 𐊴𐊠𐊥𐊵𐊫𐊰 ''alos k̂arnos'') was an ancient Greek city in Caria, in Anatolia. It was locate ...

Artemisia I of Caria Artemisia I of Caria ( grc, Ἀρτεμισία; fl. 480 BC) was a queen of the ancient Greek city-state of Halicarnassus and of the nearby islands of Kos, Nisyros and Kalymnos,Enc. Britannica, "Artemisia I" within the Achaemenid satrapy o ...

, fl. 480 BC *

Lygdamis II of Halicarnassus Lygdamis II ( gr, Λύγδαμις) (ruled c.460-454 BCE) was a tyrant of Caria during the 5th century BCE, under the Achaemenid Empire. His capital was in Halicarnassus. He was the grandson of Artemisia, and son of Pisindelis, the previous ty ...

, fl. 469-444 BC

Heraclea Pontica NOTOC Heraclea Pontica (; gr, Ἡράκλεια Ποντική, Hērakleia Pontikē), known in Byzantine and later times as Pontoheraclea ( gr, Ποντοηράκλεια, Pontohērakleia), was an ancient city on the coast of Bithynia in Asi ...

Clearchus The name Clearchus or Clearch may refer to: *Clearchus of Athens, Greek comic poet *Clearchus of Heraclea (c. 401 BCE – 353 BCE), Greek tyrant of Heraclea Pontica *Clearchus of Rhegium, Greek sculptor, pupil of Eucheirus, teacher of Pythagoras th ...

, 365-353 BC (assassinated) * Satyrus, 353-? BC *

Timotheus Timotheus is a masculine male name. It is a latinized version of the Greek name (Timόtheos) mmeaning "one who honours God", from τιμή "honour" and θεός "god"., . The English version '' Timothy'' (and its variations) is a common name in ...

, 352-337 BC *

Dionysius The name Dionysius (; el, Διονύσιος ''Dionysios'', "of Dionysus"; la, Dionysius) was common in classical and post-classical times. Etymologically it is a nominalized adjective formed with a -ios suffix from the stem Dionys- of the name ...

, 337-305 BC * Amastris, 305-284 BC (drowned by her sons) * Oxyathres, 305-284 BC *

, 305-284 BC

Hermione

Xenon Xenon is a chemical element with the symbol Xe and atomic number 54. It is a dense, colorless, odorless noble gas found in Earth's atmosphere in trace amounts. Although generally unreactive, it can undergo a few chemical reactions such as the ...

, stepped down 229 BC

Himera Himera ( Greek: ), was a large and important ancient Greek city, situated on the north coast of Sicily at the mouth of the river of the same name (the modern Imera Settentrionale), between Panormus (modern Palermo) and Cephaloedium (modern Ce ...

* Terillus, early 5th century BC

Keryneia

* Iseas, 275 BC (resigned)

Lampsacus Lampsacus (; grc, Λάμψακος, translit=Lampsakos) was an ancient Greek city strategically located on the eastern side of the Hellespont in the northern Troad. An inhabitant of Lampsacus was called a Lampsacene. The name has been transmitte ...

Hippoclus Hippoclus ( grc, Ἳπποκλος), tyrant of Lampsacus, to whose son, Aeantides, Hippias gave his daughter Archedice in marriage, induced thereto, says Thucydides, by consideration of his influence at the Persian court. He is clearly the same w ...

, c. 513 BC *

Aeantides Aeantides ( grc, Αἰαντίδης) is the name of several people in Classical antiquity: * Aeantides, the tyrant of Lampsacus, to whom Hippias gave his daughter Archedice in marriage. * Aeantides, a tragic poet of Alexandria, mentioned as one o ...

, fl. 515-510 BC *

Astyanax In Greek mythology, Astyanax (; grc, Ἀστυάναξ ''Astyánax'', "lord of the city") was the son of Hector, the crown prince of Troy, and his wife, Princess Andromache of Cilician Thebe."Astyanax". ''Oxford Classical Dictionary''. Oxford, ...

, before 360 BC

Larissa Larissa (; el, Λάρισα, , ) is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 144,651 according to the 2011 census. It is also capital of the Larissa regiona ...

* Medius, fl. 395 BC

Leontini

Panaetius Panaetius (; grc-gre, Παναίτιος, Panaítios; – ) of Rhodes was an ancient Greek Stoic philosopher. He was a pupil of Diogenes of Babylon and Antipater of Tarsus in Athens, before moving to Rome where he did much to introduce Stoic ...

, c. 615/609 BC *

Aenesidemus Aenesidemus ( grc, Αἰνησίδημος or Αἰνεσίδημος) was a Greek Pyrrhonist philosopher, born in Knossos on the island of Crete. He lived in the 1st century BC, taught in Alexandria and flourished shortly after the life of C ...

, 498-491 BC *

Hicetas Hicetas ( grc, Ἱκέτας or ; c. 400 – c. 335 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Pythagorean School. He was born in Syracuse. Like his fellow Pythagorean Ecphantus and the Academic Heraclides Ponticus, he believed that the daily movemen ...

, c. 347-338 BC * Heracleides, fl. 278 BC

Lindos Lindos (; grc-gre, Λίνδος) is an archaeological site, a fishing village and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rhodes, of which it ...

Cleobulus Cleobulus (; el, Κλεόβουλος ὁ Λίνδιος, ''Kleoboulos ho Lindios''; fl. 6th century BC) was a Greek poet and a native of Lindos. He is one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Life Cleobulus was the son of Evagoras and a citizen of L ...

, 6th century BC

Locri Locri is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, southern Italy. Its name derives from that of the ancient Greek region of Locris. Today it is an important administrative and cultural centre on the Ion ...

Dionysius the Younger Dionysius the Younger ( el, Διονύσιος ὁ Νεώτερος, 343 BC), or Dionysius II, was a Greek politician who ruled Syracuse, Sicily from 367 BC to 357 BC and again from 346 BC to 344 BC. Biography Dionysius II of Syracuse was the s ...

, 356-346 BC

Megalopolis A megalopolis () or a supercity, also called a megaregion, is a group of metropolitan areas which are perceived as a continuous urban area through common systems of transport, economy, resources, ecology, and so on. They are integrated enoug ...

* Aristodemus the Good, c. 262-252 BC (assassinated by the "philosopher tyrannicides" Ecdemus and Damophanes) * Lydiadas, c. 245-235 BC (joined the

Achaean League The Achaean League ( Greek: , ''Koinon ton Akhaion'' "League of Achaeans") was a Hellenistic-era confederation of Greek city states on the northern and central Peloponnese. The league was named after the region of Achaea in the northwestern P ...

)

Megara Megara (; el, Μέγαρα, ) is a historic town and a municipality in West Attica, Greece. It lies in the northern section of the Isthmus of Corinth opposite the island of Salamis, which belonged to Megara in archaic times, before being take ...

* Theagenes, c. 620-600 BC

Messana

* Scythes, c. 494 BC *

, c. 494-490 BC * Anaxilas, c. 490-476 BC * Micythus, c. 476-467 BC (retired) *

Leophron Leophron was the son of Anaxilas, tyrant of Rhegium and Messana. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, he succeeded his father in the sovereign power. It is therefore probable that he was the eldest of the two sons of Anaxilas, in whose name Mic ...

, c. 467-461 BC (popular revolt) *

Hippon Hippo (; grc-gre, Ἵππων, ''Hippon''; fl. 5th century BC) was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. He is variously described as coming from Rhegium,Hippolytus, i.16 Metapontum, Samos, and Croton,''Medical Writings'', London Papyrus 137, col. x ...

, c. 338 BC * Cios the Mamertine, c. 269 BC

Messene Messene (Greek: Μεσσήνη 𐀕𐀼𐀙 ''Messini''), officially Ancient Messene, is a local community within the regional unit (''perifereiaki enotita'') of Messenia in the region (''perifereia'') of Peloponnese. It is best known for the ...

* Phyliades, before 336 BC (?)

Methymnae

* Aristonicus, before 332 BC (tortured and executed)

Miletus Miletus (; gr, Μῑ́λητος, Mī́lētos; Hittite transcription ''Millawanda'' or ''Milawata'' ( exonyms); la, Mīlētus; tr, Milet) was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia, near the mouth of the Maeander River in ...

* Amphitres, late 8th or 7th century BC * Thrasybulus, 7th century BC * Thoas, 6th century BC * Damasanor, 6th century BC * Histiaeus, 518-514 BC * Aristagoras, c. 513-499 BC (reintroduced democracy) * Timarchus, 3rd century BC

Mytilene Mytilene (; el, Μυτιλήνη, Mytilíni ; tr, Midilli) is the capital of the Greek island of Lesbos, and its port. It is also the capital and administrative center of the North Aegean Region, and hosts the headquarters of the University o ...

* Melandrus, late 7th century BC * Myrsilus, late 7th century BC, ( Alcaeus was against him) *

Pittacus Pittacus (; grc-gre, Πιττακός; 640 – 568 BC) was an ancient Mytilenean military general and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Biography Pittacus was a native of Mytilene and son of Hyrradius. He became a Mytilenaean general who, with ...

, fl. 600 BC (resigned after ten years) * Coes, c. 507-499 BC (stoned)

Naxos Naxos (; el, Νάξος, ) is a Greek island and the largest of the Cyclades. It was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture. The island is famous as a source of emery, a rock rich in corundum, which until modern times was one of the best ab ...

* Lygdamis, until c. 512 BC * Aristagoras, c. 502-499 BC

Orchomenus

*Aristomelidas, Archaic period (?) *

, 234 BC (resigned)

Oreus Oreus or Oreos ( grc, Ὠρεός, Ōreos), prior to the 5th century BC called Histiaea or Histiaia (Ἱστίαια), also Hestiaea or Hestiaia (Ἑστίαια), was a town near the north coast of ancient Euboea, situated upon the river Ca ...

* Philistides, c. 341 BC (expelled) *

Menippus Menippus of Gadara (; el, Μένιππος ὁ Γαδαρεύς ''Menippos ho Gadareus''; fl. 3rd century BC) was a Cynic satirist. The Menippean satire genre is named after him. His works, all of which are lost, were an important influence ...

, c. 341 BC (expelled)

Parium Parium (or Parion; el, Πάριον) was a Greek city of Adrasteia in Mysia on the Hellespont. Its bishopric was a suffragan of Cyzicus, the metropolitan see of the Roman province of Hellespontus. History Founded in 709 B.C., the ancient ci ...

* Herophantus, c. 513 BC

Pellene Pellene (; grc, Πελλήνη; grc-x-doric, Πελλάνα or Πελλίνα) was a city and polis (city-state) of ancient Achaea, the most easterly of the twelve Achaean cities (the Achaean League). Its territory bordered upon that of Sicyon o ...

* Chaeron, after 336 BC

Pharsalus ''Pharsalus''Melichar L (1906) ''Monographie der Issiden. (Homoptera). Abhandlungen der K. K. Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien.'' Wien 3: 1-327 21 is the type genus of planthoppers in the subfamily Pharsalinae (family Ricaniidae); it ...

Sisyphus In Greek mythology, Sisyphus or Sisyphos (; Ancient Greek: Σίσυφος ''Sísyphos'') was the founder and king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth). Hades punished him for cheating death twice by forcing him to roll an immense boulder up a hill ...

, fl. 395 BC * Polydamas, until 370 BC

Pherae

Jason Jason ( ; ) was an ancient Greek mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was married to the sorceress Medea. He ...

, before 370 BC (assassinated) * Polydorus, before 370 BC (assassinated) * Polyphron, 370-369 BC (assassinated) *

, 369-358 BC (assassinated) * Tisiphonus, 357-355/4 BC * Lykophron II, 355-352 BC (resigned) * Peitholaus, 355-352 BC (resigned)

Phlius Phlius (; grc-gre, Φλιοῦς) or Phleius () was an independent polis (city-state) in the northeastern part of Peloponnesus. Phlius' territory, called Phliasia (), was bounded on the north by Sicyonia, on the west by Arcadia, on the east by ...

* Leo, c. 540 BC * Cleonymus, before 229 BC (resigned)

Phocaea Phocaea or Phokaia (Ancient Greek: Φώκαια, ''Phókaia''; modern-day Foça in Turkey) was an ancient Ionian Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia. Greek colonists from Phocaea founded the colony of Massalia (modern-day Marseille, in ...

Laodamas Laodamas (; Ancient Greek: Λᾱοδάμᾱς, ''Lāodámās'', literally "tamer of the people") refers to five different people in Greek mythology. * Laodamas, son of Eteocles, inherited Thebes from his father. Pausanias, 9.5.13 In one version o ...

, c. 513 BC

Phocis Phocis ( el, Φωκίδα ; grc, Φωκίς) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Var ...

* Aulis, fl. c. 520 BC * Phayllus, fl. 352 BC

Pisa Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the ci ...

* Damophon, before 7th century BC (?) *

Pantaleon Pantaleon, also known as Panteleimon, (Greek: ) was a Greek king who reigned some time between 190–180 BC in Bactria and India. He was a younger contemporary or successor of the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius, and is sometimes believed to ha ...

, fl. 660-644 BC * Damophon, fl. 588 BC * Pyrrhus, 6th century BC

Priene Priene ( grc, Πριήνη, Priēnē; tr, Prien) was an ancient Greek city of Ionia (and member of the Ionian League) located at the base of an escarpment of Mycale, about north of what was then the course of the Maeander River (now called th ...

* Hieron of Priene, 300-297 BC

Proconnesus Marmara Island ( ) is a Turkish island in the Sea of Marmara. With an area of it is the largest island in the Sea of Marmara and is the second largest island of Turkey after Gökçeada (older name in Turkish: ; el, Ίμβρος, links=no '' ...

* Metrodorus, c. 513 BC

Rhegium Reggio di Calabria ( scn, label= Southern Calabrian, Riggiu; el, label=Calabrian Greek, Ρήγι, Rìji), usually referred to as Reggio Calabria, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, is the largest city in Calabria. It has an estimated popul ...

* Anaxilas, 494-476 BC * Micythus, c. 476-467 BC (retired) *

, c. 467-461 BC (popular revolt) *

, before 352 BC (expelled) * Calippus, 352/351 BC (assassinated) *

Leptines II Leptines II ( grc-gre, Λεπτίνης Β΄; died after 342 BC), son of Leptines I, was the nephew of Dionysius the Elder. In 351 BC, Leptines aided Callippus in successfully expelling the garrison of Dionysius the Younger Dionysius the Younge ...

, after 351 BC *

Decius Vibellius Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius ( 201 ADJune 251 AD), sometimes translated as Trajan Decius or Decius, was the Roman emperor, emperor of the Roman Empire from 249 to 251. A distinguished politician during the reign of Philip the Arab, De ...

, 280-270 BC (conquered)

Samos Samos (, also ; el, Σάμος ) is a Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea, south of Chios, north of Patmos and the Dodecanese, and off the coast of western Turkey, from which it is separated by the -wide Mycale Strait. It is also a sepa ...

* Demoteles, 7th century BC * Syloson, c. 538 BC *

Polycrates Polycrates (; grc-gre, Πολυκράτης), son of Aeaces, was the tyrant of Samos from the 540s BC to 522 BC. He had a reputation as both a fierce warrior and an enlightened tyrant. Sources The main source for Polycrates' life and activ ...

, c. 538-522 BC * Maiandrius, c. 522 BC (reintroduced democracy) *

Charilaus Charilaus ( grc-gre, Χαρίλαος), also spelled Charilaos, Charillos, or Charillus, was a king of Sparta in the middle of the 8th century BC. He was probably the first historical king of the Eurypontid dynasty. Life and reign Sparta was a d ...

, c. 522 BC * Syloson, again c. 521 BC * Aeaces, around 513 BC, reinstalled after 494 BC * Theomestor, after 480 BC * Duris, c. 280 BC

Selinus

* Theron, 6th/5th century BC * Pythagoras, 6th/5th century BC * Euryleon of Sparta, 6th/5th century BC (killed)

Sicyon Sicyon (; el, Σικυών; ''gen''.: Σικυῶνος) or Sikyon was an ancient Greek city state situated in the northern Peloponnesus between Corinth and Achaea on the territory of the present-day regional unit of Corinthia. An ancient mon ...

* Orthagoras, from 676 BC * Myron the Elder, fl. 648 BC * Myron the Younger * Isodemus *

Cleisthenes Cleisthenes ( ; grc-gre, Κλεισθένης), or Clisthenes (c. 570c. 508 BC), was an ancient Athenian lawgiver credited with reforming the constitution of ancient Athens and setting it on a democratic footing in 508 BC. For these accomplishm ...

, 600-560 BC *

Aeschines Aeschines (; Greek: , ''Aischínēs''; 389314 BC) was a Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators. Biography Although it is known he was born in Athens, the records regarding his parentage and early life are conflicting; but it seems ...

, 560-556 BC *

Euphron Euphron was a tyrant of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon between 368 and 364 BC. Euphron was a citizen of Sicyon, who held the chief power during the period of its subjection to Sparta. In 368 BC the city was compelled by Epaminondas t ...

, 368-366 BC (assassinated) * Aristratus, fl. c. 340 BC * Epichares (?), fl. c. 330 BC * Cratesipolis, 314-308 BC (bribed) *

Cleon Cleon (; grc-gre, Κλέων, ; died 422 BC) was an Athenian general during the Peloponnesian War. He was the first prominent representative of the commercial class in Athenian politics, although he was an aristocrat himself. He strongly advocat ...

, c. 300-280 BC (assassinated) * Euthydemus, c. 280-270 BC (expelled) *

Timocleidas Timocleidas ( el, Τιμοκλείδας) was a tyrant of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in the 3rd century BC. After the violent death of the previous tyrant Cleon, he ruled jointly with Euthydemus, until the two were deposed by the citi ...

, c. 280-270 BC (expelled) *

Abantidas Abantidas (in Greek Ἀβαντίδας), the son of Paseas, became tyrant of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon in 264 BC after murdering Cleinias, the father of Aratus. After the assassination, Abantidas had the remaining friends and rela ...

, 264-252 BC (assassinated) *

Paseas Paseas (Πασέας) was a tyrant of the ancient Greek city-state of Sicyon Sicyon (; el, Σικυών; ''gen''.: Σικυῶνος) or Sikyon was an ancient Greek city state situated in the northern Peloponnesus between Corinth and Achae ...

, 252-251 BC (assassinated) * Nicocles, 251 BC (expelled by

Aratus of Sicyon Aratus of Sicyon (Ancient Greek: Ἄρατος ὁ Σικυώνιος; 271–213 BC) was a politician and military commander of Hellenistic Greece. He was elected strategos of the Achaean League 17 times, leading the League through numerous m ...

)

Sigeum

* Hegesistratus, fl. 510 BC

Sinope Sinope may refer to: *Sinop, Turkey, a city on the Black Sea, historically known as Sinope ** Battle of Sinop, 1853 naval battle in the Sinop port Sinop Province Sinope, Leicestershire, a hamlet in the Midlands of England *Sinope (mythology), in ...

* Timesilaus, before 433 BC * Scydrothemis, 301-280 BC

Sparta Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referr ...

* Machanidas, 210-207 BC (killed in action) *

Nabis Nabis ( grc-gre, Νάβις) was the last king of independent Sparta. He was probably a member of the Heracleidae, and he ruled from 207 BC to 192 BC, during the years of the First and Second Macedonian Wars and the eponymous " War against Nab ...

, 207-192 BC (assassinated by allies) * Chaeron, 180 BC

Sybaris Sybaris ( grc, Σύβαρις; it, Sibari) was an important city of Magna Graecia. It was situated in modern Calabria, in southern Italy, between two rivers, the Crathis (Crati) and the Sybaris (Coscile). The city was founded in 720 BC ...

* Telys, c. 510 BC

Syracuse Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy * Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' * Province of Syracuse United States Syracuse, New York East Syracuse, New York North Syracuse, New York Syracuse, Indiana Syracuse, Kansas Syracuse, M ...

* Gelon, 491-478 BC *

, 478-466 BC * Thrasybulus, 466-465 BC (expelled, democracy restored) * Dionysius the Elder, 405-367 BC * Dionysius II, the Younger, 367-357 BC * Apollocrates, 357 BC * Heracleides, 357 BC * Dion, 357-354 BC * Calippus, 354-352 BC * Hipparinus, 352-351 BC * Aretaeus, 352-350 BC * Nysaeos, 350-346 BC * Dionysius II, the Younger, (restored, 346-344 BC) *

Timoleon Timoleon ( Greek: Τιμολέων), son of Timodemus, of Corinth (c. 411–337 BC) was a Greek statesman and general. As a brilliant general, a champion of Greece against Carthage, and a fighter against despotism, he is closely connected ...

, 345-337 BC *

Agathocles Agathocles ( Greek: ) is a Greek name, the most famous of which is Agathocles of Syracuse, the tyrant of Syracuse. The name is derived from , ''agathos'', i.e. "good" and , ''kleos'', i.e. "glory". Other personalities named Agathocles: *Agathocles ...

, 320 BC (banished) * Acestorides, 320-319 BC *

, 317-289 BC *

, 289-279 BC * Thoenon, 279 BC * Sosistratus, 279-277 BC * Hieron II, 275-215 BC * Gelon II, c. 240-216 BC * Hieronymus, 215-214 BC * Adranodoros, 214-212 BC *

, 213-212 BC * Epicydes, 213-212 BC

Tarentum Tarentum may refer to: * Taranto, Apulia, Italy, on the site of the ancient Roman city of Tarentum (formerly the Greek colony of Taras) **See also History of Taranto * Tarentum (Campus Martius), also Terentum, an area in or on the edge of the Camp ...

* Aristophylidas, c. 516-492 BC

Tarsus

* Lysias, before 67 BC

Tauromenium Taormina ( , , also , ; scn, Taurmina) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Messina, on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy. Taormina has been a tourist destination since the 19th century. Its beaches on ...

* Andromachus, fl. 344 BC * Tyndarion, fl. 278 BC

Thasos Thasos or Thassos ( el, Θάσος, ''Thásos'') is a Greek island in the North Aegean Sea. It is the northernmost major Greek island, and 12th largest by area. The island has an area of and a population of about 13,000. It forms a separate r ...

* Symmachus, c. 520 BC

Thebes

Leontiades Leontiades of Thebes, son of Eurymachus, and apparently a grandson of the Theban commander Leontiades in the Battle of Thermopylae. Plutarch calls him, throughout, "Leontidas". He was one of the polemarchs at Thebes, in 382 BC, when the Spartan c ...

, 382-379 BC (killed) * Archias, 382-379 BC (killed)

Zeleia Zeleia ( grc, Ζέλεια) was a town of the ancient Troad, at the foot of Mount Ida and on the banks of the river Aesepus (both located in Turkey), at a distance of 80 stadia from its mouth. It is mentioned by Homer in the Trojan Battle Order ...

* Nicagoras, 334 BC (conquered by

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to ...

) {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Ancient Greek Tyrants Tyrants

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

Ancient tyrants