Name Alexander of Role Pyrrhus of Epirus' son | Died 242 BC | |
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Children Phthia of Macedon, Ptolemy of Epirus Parents Pyrrhus of Epirus, Lanassa Siblings Olympias II of Epirus, Ptolemy, Helenus Grandchildren Philip V of Macedon, Pyrrhus III Grandparents Agathocles of Syracuse, Phthia of Epirus, Aeacides of Epirus Similar People Pyrrhus of Epirus, Philip V of Macedon, Agathocles of Syracuse | ||
Alexander II was a king of Epirus, and the son of Pyrrhus and Lanassa, the daughter of the Sicilian tyrant Agathocles.
Contents
Reign
He succeeded his father as king in 272 BC, and continued the war which his father had begun with Antigonus II Gonatas, whom he succeeded in driving from the kingdom of Macedon. He was, however, dispossessed of both Macedon and Epirus by Demetrius II of Macedon, the son of Antigonus II; upon which he took refuge amongst the Acarnanians. By their assistance and that of his own subjects, who entertained a great attachment for him, he recovered Epirus. It appears that he was in alliance with the Aetolians.
Alexander married his paternal half-sister Olympias, by whom he had two sons, Pyrrhus, Ptolemy and a daughter, Phthia. On the death of Alexander, around 242 BC, Olympias assumed the regency on behalf of her sons, and married Phthia to Demetrius. There are extant silver and copper coins of this king. The former bear a youthful head covered with the skin of an elephant's head. The reverse represents Pallas holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other, and before her stands an eagle on a thunderbolt.
Relations with India
One Alexander is mentioned in the Edicts of Ashoka, as one of several rulers in the West to receive the "religious emissionaries" of the third Indian Emperor of the Maruya-dynasty Ashoka around 250 BCE. However, Alexander of Corinth and Alexander, Seleucid vicegerent at Sardis have more arguments on their side.