{"slug": "hiero-ii-of-syracuse", "label": "Hiero II of Syracuse", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiero_II_of_Syracuse", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313675", "qid": "Q313675", "description": "3rd-century BC Sicilian Greek ruler", "entries": 10, "years": 9, "span": [-307, -214], "span_label": ["308 BCE", "215 BCE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 6}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 2}, {"title": "Births", "count": 1}, {"title": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "sicily", "label": "Sicily", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "syracuse-sicily", "label": "Syracuse, Sicily", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "roman-republic", "label": "Roman Republic", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "carthage", "label": "Carthage", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "campania", "label": "Campania", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "agathocles", "label": "Agathocles", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "messina", "label": "Messina", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": -307, "year_label": "308 BCE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Hiero II, Greek Sicilian tyrant and king of Syracuse (approximate date)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1358626493#Births", "title": "308 BC", "revid": 1358626493, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": -274, "year_label": "275 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Following the departure of Pyrrhus from Sicily, the Syracusan army and the city's citizens appoint Hiero II as the commander of their slaves. He strengthens his position by marrying the daughter of Leptines, the city's leading citizen.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1164823364#Sicily", "title": "275 BC", "revid": 1164823364, "section": "Events › By place › Sicily"}}, {"year": -268, "year_label": "269 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Mamertines, a body of Campanian mercenaries who have been employed by Agathocles, the former tyrant of Syracuse, capture the stronghold of Messana (Messina in north-eastern Sicily), from which they harass the Syracusans. The Syracusan military leader, Hieron, defeats them in a pitched battle at the Longanus River near Mylae, but Carthaginian forces intervene to prevent him from capturing Messana. His grateful countrymen then choose Hieron as their king and tyrant, to be known as Hieron II.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370480925#Sicily", "title": "269 BC", "revid": 1370480925, "section": "Events › By place › Sicily"}}, {"year": -264, "year_label": "265 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Hiero II threatens to renew his attack on the Mamertines. They appeal to Carthage and receive the support of a Carthaginian garrison. The Mamertines also appeal to the Romans who are also willing to help.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1354172727#Italy", "title": "265 BC", "revid": 1354172727, "section": "Events › By place › Italy"}}, {"year": -262, "year_label": "263 BCE", "section": "Geopolitics & Diplomacy", "date": null, "text": "The Romans under the consul Manius Valerius Messalla secure the alliance of Hiero II of Syracuse. The treaty with Rome restricts Hiero's kingdom to southeast Sicily and the eastern coast of Sicily as far as Tauromenium. From this date until his death, Hiero remains loyal to the Romans.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1325948852#Roman_Republic", "title": "263 BC", "revid": 1325948852, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -256, "year_label": "257 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "The Battle of Tyndaris is fought between the Roman fleet (with Gaius Atilius Regulus in command) and the Carthaginian fleet off Tyndaris (modern Tindari) in Sicily. Hiero II, tyrant of Syracuse, has allowed Tyndaris to be a base for the Carthaginians. However, after this battle, the town falls to Roman forces.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1128152509#Roman_Republic", "title": "257 BC", "revid": 1128152509, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -238, "year_label": "239 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Carthage is besieged by the mercenary armies, while the city of Utica revolts and attempts to secede from Carthage. Carthage appeals to Hiero II of Syracuse and to Rome for aid against the mercenaries. However, the mercenary leaders reject the efforts of Roman mediators.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1212004865#Carthage", "title": "239 BC", "revid": 1212004865, "section": "Events › By place › Carthage"}}, {"year": -215, "year_label": "216 BCE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "A loan of money and supplies for the Roman army in Sicily is sought and obtained from Hiero II of Syracuse.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1336012311#Roman_Republic", "title": "216 BC", "revid": 1336012311, "section": "Events › By place › Roman Republic"}}, {"year": -214, "year_label": "215 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Hieronymus, grandson of Hiero II of Syracuse and tyrant (assassinated) (b. c. 231 BC)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1337286145#Deaths", "title": "215 BC", "revid": 1337286145, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": -214, "year_label": "215 BCE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Hiero II, tyrant of Syracuse from 270 BC (b. c. 308 BC)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1337286145#Deaths", "title": "215 BC", "revid": 1337286145, "section": "Deaths"}}]}