LYSIMACHUS (c. 355—281 B.C.)  , Macedonian general, son of Agathocles, was a citizen of Pella in Macedonia . During Alexander's Persian campaigns he was one of his immediate bodyguard and distinguished himself in India . After Alexander's death he was appointed to the government of Thrace and the Chersonese . For a long time he was chiefly occupied with fighting against the Odrysian king Seuthes . In 315 he joined Cassander, Ptolemy and Seleucus against Antigonus, who, however, diverted his attention by stirring up Thracian and Scythian tribes against him . In 309, he founded Lysimachia in a commanding situation on the neck connecting the Chersonese with the mainland . He followed the example of Antigonus in taking the title of king . In 302 when the second affiance between Cassander, Ptolemy and Seleucus was made, Lysimachus, reinforced by troops from Cassander, entered Asia Minor, where he met with little resistance . On the approach of Antigonus he retired into winter quarters near Heraclea, marrying its widowed queen Amastris, a Persian princess . Seleucus joined him in 301, and at the battle of Ipsus Antigonus was slain . His dominions were divided among the victors, Lysimachus receiving the greater part of Asia Minor . Feeling that Seleucus was becoming dangerously great, he now allied himself with Ptolemy, marrying his daughter Arsine .

Amastris, who had divorced herself from him, returned to Heraclea . When Antigonus's son

Demetrius renewed hostilities (297), during his absence in Greece, Lysimachus seized his towns in Asia Minor, but in 294 concluded a peace whereby Demetrius was recognized as ruler of Macedonia . He tried to carry his power beyond the Danube, but was defeated and taken prisoner by the Getae, who, however, set him free on amicable terms . Demetrius subsequently threatened Thrace, but had to retire in consequence of'a rising in Boeotia, and an attack from Pyrrhus of Epirus . In 288 Lysimachus and Pyrrhus in turn invaded Macedonia, and drove Demetrius out of the country . Pyrrhus was at first allowed to remain in possession of Macedonia with the title of king, but in 285 he was expelled by Lysimachus . Domestic troubles embittered the last years of Lysimachus's life . Amastris had been murdered by her two sons; Lysimachus treacherously put them to death . On his return Arsinoe asked the gift of Heraclea, and he granted her request, though he had promised to free the city . In 284 Arsinoe, desirous of gaining the succession for her sons in preference to Agathocles (the eldest son of Lysimachus), intrigued against him with the help of her brother Ptolemy Ceraunus; they accused him of conspiring with Seleucus to seize the throne, and he was put to death . This atrocious deed of Lysimachus aroused great indignation . Many of the cities of Asia revolted, and his most trusted friends deserted him .

The widow of Agathocles fled to Seleucus, who at once invaded the territory of Lysimachus in Asia . Lysimachus crossed the

Hellespont, and in 281 a decisive battle took place at the plain of Corus (Corupedion) in Lydia . Lysimachus was killed; after some days his body, watched by a faithful dog, was found on the field, and given up to his son Alexander, by whom it was interred at Lysimachia . See Arrian, Anab. v . 13, vi . 28; Justin xv . 3, 4, xvii . 1; Quintus Curtius v . 3, X . 30; Diod . Sic. xviii . 3; Polybius v .

67;

Plutarch, Demetrius, 31 . 52, Pyrrhus, 12; Appian, Syriaca, 62; Thirlwall, History of Greece, vol. viii . (1847); J . P . Mahaffy, Story of Alexander's Empire; Droysen, Hellenismus (2nd ed., 1877); A . Holm, Griechische Geschichte, vol. iv . (1894); B . Niese, Gesch. d. griech. u. maked . Staaten, vols. i. and ii . (1893, 1899); J . Beloch, Griech . Gesch. vol. iii .

(1904) ; Hilnerwadel, Forschungen zur Gesch.

des Konigs Lysimachus (1900) ; Possenti, Il Re Lisimaco di Tracia (1901) ; Ghione, Note sul regno di Lisimaco (Atli d. real . Accad. di Torino, xxxix.); and MACEDONIAN EMPIRE . (E . R .