AR Siglos 340-320 BCE
5.24g
Bull standing left on a dolphin, monogram of Byzantion above. Incuse wind-sail pattern.
SNG Cop 475-477
Who founded Istanbul? Well, that was technically Sultan Mehmed II, who conquered and renamed the city. But who founded the actual city? The wrong answer is Constantine the Great. All he did was rename it. In truth, we don’t know.
What we do know is that Constantinople was no more the original name than Istanbul. Before that it was called Byzantion. That also wasn’t the original name, as before that it was called Lygos. Before that it was named Snorgasnorga, and I dare you to find proof that I’m wrong.
Nevertheless, during the Hellenistic period it was known as Byzantion, and due to its strategic position, it played a major part in events. It was a major target of Philip II, who started by besieging its neighbor Perinthos. Since the two cities were best buddies, Byzantion helped prevent Philip‘s success by sending aid.
This pissed Philip off, so he sent half his army to besiege Byzantion as well. Despite many of their soldiers being in Perinthos, they resisted. Also a major thorn to the side of Philip, was a naval blockage by Athens.
Eventually things got to a boiling plate between Philip II and Athens, so the Athenians sent their top general Chares, who was promptly thrown out of Byzantion and subsequently looted several of Byzantion’s allies. Since this wasn’t at all what Athens wanted, they replaced Chares with other commanders, and subsequently thwarted Philip‘s goals and forced him to retreat.
This was only a temporary loss for Philip, though, as after he defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea, Byzantion had to make an agreement with Philip.
Roughly thirty years later, Byzantion was again the center of conflict in 317 BCE during the Era of the Diadochi. Kleitos the White, who was on the side of Polyperchon, faced off against Antigonos‘ naval commander Nikanor. Kleitos won a tremendous victory, and so he decided to party like it was 333 BCE.
He landed his fleet ashore and had a big celebration. Unfortunately, Antigonos himself found them encamped on the shore and annihilated them. He was aided by Byzantion in the endeavour, as they helped transport his army to the spot.