Thrasydaeus (), tyrant of Agrigentum in

Magna Graecia Magna Graecia refers to the Greek-speaking areas of southern Italy, encompassing the modern Regions of Italy, Italian regions of Calabria, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania, and Sicily. These regions were Greek colonisation, extensively settled by G ...

, was the son and successor of Theron. Already during his father's lifetime he had been appointed to the government of

Himera Himera (Greek language, Greek: ), was a large and important ancient Greece, 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) ...

, where, by his violent and arbitrary conduct, he alienated the citizens, so that they were close to revolt. But when they sought support from Hiero of Syracuse, he betrayed them to Theron, who then put to death the leaders of the disaffected party and re-established his authority. Whether Thrasydaeus retained his position at Himera after this is unknown; but on the death of Theron (473 BC) he succeeded without opposition to rule both cities. His tyrannical and violent character soon displayed itself, and made him as unpopular at Agrigentum as he had been at Himera. But his first object was to renew the war with Hiero, against whom he had already taken an active part during his father's lifetime. He therefore assembled a large force of mercenaries, besides a general levy from Agrigentum and Himera, and advanced against Hiero, but was defeated after a stubborn and bloody struggle. The Agrigentines immediately took advantage of this disaster to expel him from their city. He made his escape to

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

, but was arrested at Megara, and publicly executed.Diodorus Siculus, xi. 53.

Notes

, width=25% align=center, Preceded by:
Theron , width=25% align=center, Tyrant of Agrigentum
473 BC - 472 BC , width=25% align=center, Succeeded by:
democracy , - Ancient Acragantines Sicilian tyrants 5th-century BC deaths Year of birth unknown 5th-century BC Greek people {{AncientGreece-bio-stub