Ancient Coin Stories

The remaining Bacchiads in Corinth are expelled by the tyrant Kypselos. They flee throughout Magnia Grecia and found Syracuse and Korkyra.

Foundation of Dyrrhachion by Greek colonists.

Ambrakia founded by Gorgos, son of the Corinthian tyrant Kypselos.

Death of the tyrant Periander of Corinth, who had built the city into a major trading center. After Periander supposedly defiles the corpse of his wife, his son Lykophron departs for Korkyra. When Periander offers him the rule of Corinth, the inhabitants of Korkyra kill Lykophron rather than let him depart. Periander dies of grief.

Hippokrates of Gela besieges Syracuse, but withdraws when Corinth and Korkyra get involved.

Faced with the Persian invasion, the Greeks ask Korkyra for aid. They supply 80 ships, but they don’t arrive in time for the Battle of Salamis. Many Greeks believe this was deliberate.

The Battle of Sybota takes place between Corinth and Korkyra over control of the latter. Korkyra was aided by Athens, while Corinth was joined by Ambrakia. Corinth was forced to withdraw.

Corinth obtains control over Anaktorion through fraud after the city had been joinly occupied by Corinth and Korkyra.

The Athenian general Phormio makes his base at Aphytis and leads his army against Pallene. He also takes Argos Amphilochian, removes the Ambrakians, and restores the town to the original inhabitants.

Ambrakians attempt to take Argos Amphilochian but are repulsed.

Ambrakia is crushed by Athens in the Battle of Idomene in an attempt to re-take Argos Amphilochian.

The Athamanians leave Sparta and join an Athenian alliance.

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.

Mnasippos of Sparta blockades Korkyra and subjugates them to starvation, then puts to death or sells to slavery all who flee.

Chares is given control of the Athenian fleet after Leosthenes’ defeat by Alexander of Pherai. Chares sails to Korkyra and manages to enrage them.

The Athamanians join Philip II in the Third Sacred War against Phokis.

Kassope founded.

Ambrakia is besieged by Philip II of Macedon. Although Corinth and Athens come to its aid and prevent its complete destruction, Ambrakia is forced to accept a Macedonian garrison.

Kassander seizes Dyrrhachion, but the garrison he leaves there is besieged and the city is retaken by Illyrians and Korkyra.

Kassander again attempts to take Dyrrhachion until the city comes under the protection of Glaukias, king of the Illyrians. Kassope is also involved.

Kassander besieges Korkyra, but is unsuccessful.

Kleonymos of Sparta takes Korkyra, but doesn’t hold it for long.

Korkyra is again besieged by Kassander, but Agathokles of Syracuse destroys his fleet.

Approximate date when Dyrrhachion comes under the control of Pyrrhos of Epeiros.

Korkyra is provided as dowry to Pyrrhos by Agathokles of Syracuse for the marriage of his daughter, Lanassa.

Ambrakia given to Pyrrhos of Epiros by Alexander V of Macedon. It then becomes his capital.

Lanassa leaves Pyrrhos for Demetrios Poliorketes and attempts to transfer ownership of Korkyra to him.

The Athamanians are conquered by Pyrrhos of Epeiros.

Dyrrhachion comes under the control of King Monounios.

Ptolemy of Epeiros, son of Pyrrhos, takes Korkyra.

Alexander II of Epeiros dies, ending the Epirote League and giving Korkyra its independence.

Dyrrhachion comes under the control of King Argon of the Ardiai, who fortifies it.

Dyrrhachion comes under Queen Teuta after the death of her husband, Agron.

The Illyrians under Queen Teuta are defeated by the Romans and Dyrrhachion is placed under Demetrios of Pharos.

Korkyra is occupied by Illyrians under Demetrios of Pharos.

Rome liberates Korkyra from the Illyrians and declares the city free and a Roman protectorate.

Orikos becomes part of the Roman protectorate of Illyricum.

Ambrakia is besieged by Philip V of Macedon, Phytia taken, and Metropolis is burned during the Social War between the Achaean League and the Aetolian League, of which Ambrakia is a member.

The Romans defeat the Illyrians again in the Second Illyrian War and Dyrrhachion comes under Roman control.

Troops the Athamanes and the Aetolian League camp near Pharkadon, but are attacked by troops of Philip V and pushed away.

Amynander, King of the Athamanes, in cooperation with the Romans, takes Gomphoi.

The Athamanes take Pelinna, Gomphi, Trikka, Meliboia, and Phaloria from Philip V.

Ambrakia captured and plundered by the Romans under Marcus Fulvius Nobilior, then declared a free city. Argos Amphilochikan is used as his base.

The Athamanians are freed from the Macedonians by King Amynander.

Korkyra is ruled by a Roman prefect.

The last king of that Athamanians, King Selipos, resists the Romans.

The Romans under Aemilius Paulus destroy the cities of the Athamanians and Kassope.

Korkyra is attached to the Roman province of Macedonia.

Pompey forces Julius Caesar to retreat at the Battle of Dyrrhachion.

Julius Caesar, having been repulsed at Dyrrhachion, arrives at Gomphoi but they bar their gates. He takes the city by force.

After the Battle of Actium (near Ambrakia), Augustus consolidates his control over the Roman Empire, and Cilicia is firmly incorporated as part of the Roman sphere of influence. Aigai, Tarsos, Mallos, and Soloi become part of the Roman Province of Cilicia.

Augustus makes Dyrrhachion a colony for veterans of the Battle of Actium.