Bithynia

560 BCE

Herakleia Pontika founded by colonists from Megara and named after Herakles, who it was believed entered the underworld through a nearby cave.

480 BCE
August 7

The Greek allies are forced to withdraw against the Persians in the Battle of Artemisium. Afterwards the Persians occup Histaia. The Greek fleet is supplied by Athens, Chalkis, Sparta, Troizen, Opuntian Lokris, Corinth, Megara, Epidauros, Aegina, Sikyon, and Kios.

410 BCE

Pharnabazos orders ships built at Antandros. At the same time, Syracuse helps Antandros finish its city wall, resulting in citizen privileges for Syracusans there. When the ships are complete, Pharnabazos sails for Kalchedon.

377 BCE

Eresos, Byzantion, Chios,Mytilene, Methymna, Rhodes, Thebes, Korkyra, Eretria, Kios, Samos, Naxos, Andros, Myrina (Lembos), Hephaistia, Imbros, and Thasos join the Second Athenian League, reaffirming its alliance with Athens in response to the growing threat of Persian interference and internal Greek conflicts.

365 BCE

Klearchos obtains a band of mercenaries and takes control of Herakleia Pontika.

353 BCE

Klearchos is murdered at Herakleia Pontika by Chion and Leon. His brother Satyros takes over.

353 BCE

Satyros murders the families, including the children, of all who took part in the assassination of his brother, Klearchos, in Herakleia Pontika. However, he protects his brothers’ children, including Dionysios.

346 BCE

Death of Satyros of Herakleia Pontika. Timotheos, the son of Klearchos, takes over and makes his brother Dionysios a joint ruler.

338 BCE

Death of Timotheos of Herakleia Pontika. His brother Dionysios is now the sole ruler.

334 BCE
July

After the Battle of the Granicus, Dionysios of Herakleia Pontika increases his power and the size of his kingdom.

333 BCE

Exiles from Herakleia Pontika beg Alexander to remove Dionysios and restore their city to democracy. To protect his interests, Dionysios reaches out to Kleopatra, and on her behalf Alexander leaves him in place.

322 BCE

Dionysios puts up a statue of joy in Herakleia Pontika after the death of Alexander. Exiles attempt to persuade Perdikkas to remove him, but through flattery he is able to remain in power.

322 BCE

Dionysios of Herakleia Pontika marries Amastris, after her first husband Krateros divorces her to marry Phila, the daughter of Antipater.

320 BCE

Antigonos Monophthalmos sails to and secures Cyprus. He is given aid by Dionysios of Herakleia Pontika. Antigonos thus marries his nephew Ptolemaios to Dionysios’ daughter.

320 BCE

Birth of son Klearchos to Amastris and Dionysios of Herakleia Pontika.

319 BCE

Birth of son Oxyathres to Amastris and Dionysios of Herakleia Pontika.

306 BCE

Death of Dionysios at Herakleia Pontika. The kingdom is left to his wife Amastris.

302 BCE

Lysimachos takes control of Herakleia Pontika and marries Amastris.

301 BCE

Amastris travels to Sardis with Lysimachos, who turns his attention to Arsinoe II. Amastris returns to Herakleia Pontika.

300 BCE

The city of Amastris is founded by Amastris, a Persian princess and the niece of the Persian king Darius III. She establishes the city by combining four smaller settlements: Sesamos, Kytoros, Tios, and Kromna.

284 BCE

Amastris is drowned by her two sons, Klearchos and Oxyathres. The two brothers take over Herakleia Pontika.

283 BCE

Lysimachos returns to Herakleia Pontika and is initially warm to Klearchos and Oxyathres, then kills them for drowning their mother and allows the city to return to democracy.

282 BCE

Arsinoe II begs Lysimachos to let her have Herakleia Pontika. He eventually relents, and she installs Herakleides of Kyme, who becomes tyrant.

281 BCE
March

When news of the death of Lysimachos reaches Herakleia Pontika, they seize the tyrant Herakleides, appoint Phokritos as governor, and make overtures to Seleukos.

281 BCE
July

Zipoetes, the first ruler in the Bithynian dynasty, lays waste to the territory around Herakleia Pontika.

258 CE

Adramytteion, Ephesos, Smyrna, Magnesia, Pergamon, Nikaia, and Kyzikos suffer damage during an invasion of the Goths.

325 CE

Council of Nicaea is convened by Constantine to address the Arian controversy. Athanasius, a key figure from Alexandria, emerges as a defender of orthodox Christianity against Arianism.