List of Kings of Tyre
Encyclopedia
The traditional king-list of Tyre, the ancient Phoenicia
n city in what is now Lebanon
, is derived from Josephus
, Against Apion
i. 18, 21, and his Jewish Antiquities viii. 5.3; 13.2. His list was based on a lost history of Menander of Ephesus
, who had drawn his information, Josephus asserts, from the chronicles of Tyre itself.
are established in three places by three independent sources: a Biblical synchronism (Hiram's assistance to Solomon in building the Temple, from 967 BC onwards), an Assyrian record (tribute of Baal-Eser II
/Balazeros II to Shalmaneser III
in 841 BC), and a Roman historian (Pompeius Trogus
, who placed the founding of Carthage
or Dido's flight from her brother Pygmalion in the latter's seventh year of reign, in 825 BC, 72 years before the founding of Rome).
(Syrian Greek) and Ptolemaic
(Egyptian Greek) rule. Phoenicia came under the rule of the Roman Republic
in the 1st century BC.
in the 7th century. The Crusaders
conquered Tyre, which acted as the capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
until this kingdom's fall in 1291. Tyre then became part of surrounding empires again, and finally of France and of independent Lebanon in the 20th century.
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n city in what is now Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, is derived from Josephus
Josephus
Titus Flavius Josephus , also called Joseph ben Matityahu , was a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, which resulted in the Destruction of...
, Against Apion
Against Apion
Against Apion was a polemical work written by Flavius Josephus as a defense of Judaism as a classical religion and philosophy, stressing its antiquity against what he perceived as more recent traditions of the Greeks.-Text:Against Apion 1:8 also defines which books he viewed as being in the Jewish...
i. 18, 21, and his Jewish Antiquities viii. 5.3; 13.2. His list was based on a lost history of Menander of Ephesus
Menander of Ephesus
Menander of Ephesus was the historian whose lost work on the history of Tyre was used by Josephus, who quotes Menander's list of kings of Tyre in his apologia for the Jews, Against Apion...
, who had drawn his information, Josephus asserts, from the chronicles of Tyre itself.
Ancient Tyrian rulers based on Hellenic mythology
| Agenor Agenor Agenor was in Greek mythology and history a Phoenician king of Tyre. Herodotus estimates that Agenor lived sometime before the year 2000 B.C..-Genealogy:... |
c. 1500 BC | Son of Poseidon Poseidon Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon... or of Belus Belus Belus or Belos may be:* The classical Latin or Greek rendition of Bel the Semitic honorific**Ba`al as a Semitic deity** Belus , the Greek Zeus Belos and Latin Jupiter Belus as translations of the Babylonian god Bel Marduk... . |
| Phoenix Phoenix (son of Agenor) In Greek mythology, Phoenix was a son of Agenor and Telephassa , brother of Cadmus, Cilix and Europe.When Europa was carried off by Zeus, her three brothers were sent out by Agenor to find her, but the search was unsuccessful... |
He is the alleged eponym of the Phoenicians. |
- Eri-Aku (Herakles) c. 1400 BC. Eri Aku may be the model for such figures as the Greek Heracles, the Biblical AriochAriochArioch is a Hebrew name that means "fierce lion". It originally appears in the Book of Genesis chapter 14 as the name of the "King of Ellasar", part of the confederation of kings who did battle with the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and with Abraham in the Battle of the Vale of Siddim...
king of Ellaser, and the Homeric ErichthoniusErichthoniusErichthonius may refer to:*Erichthonius of Athens*Erichthonius of Dardania...
King of TroyTroyTroy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
and PontusPontusPontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
.
Late Bronze Age rulers
| Abi-Milku Abi-Milku Abi-Milku was the only mayor/ruler of Tyre, Lebanon , during the period of the Amarna letters correspondence .He is the author of ten letters , EA 146-155 .... |
c. 1350–1335 BC | Mayor/Ruler of Tyre during the period of the Amarna letters Amarna letters The Amarna letters are an archive of correspondence on clay tablets, mostly diplomatic, between the Egyptian administration and its representatives in Canaan and Amurru during the New Kingdom... correspondence (1350–1335 BC). |
| Aribas | fl. c. 1230 | |
| Baal-Termeg (or Baalat-Remeg) | fl. c. 1220 | |
| Baal | c. 1193 | |
| Pummay | c.1163-1125 |
Kings of the Sidonians (with Tyre as capital), 990–785 BC
The dates for the reconstruction of the Tyrian king list from Hiram I through PygmalionPygmalion of Tyre
Pygmalion was king of Tyre from 831 to 785 BC and a son of King Mattan I .During Pygmalion's reign, Tyre seems to have shifted the heart of its trading empire from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, as can be judged from the building of new colonies including Kition on Cyprus, Sardinia , and,...
are established in three places by three independent sources: a Biblical synchronism (Hiram's assistance to Solomon in building the Temple, from 967 BC onwards), an Assyrian record (tribute of Baal-Eser II
Baal-Eser II
Baal-Eser II , also known as Balbazer II and Ba‘l-mazzer I, was a king of Tyre, the son of Ithobaal I.The primary information related to Baal-Eser II comes from Josephus’s citation of the Phoenician author Menander of Ephesus, in Against Apion i.18. Here it is said that “Ithobalus, the priest of...
/Balazeros II to Shalmaneser III
Shalmaneser III
Shalmaneser III was king of Assyria , and son of the previous ruler, Ashurnasirpal II....
in 841 BC), and a Roman historian (Pompeius Trogus
Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus
Gnaeus Pompēius Trōgus, known as Pompeius Trogus, Pompey Trogue, or Trogue Pompey, was a 1st century BC Roman historian of the Celtic tribe of the Vocontii in Gallia Narbonensis, flourished during the age of Augustus, nearly contemporary with Livy.His grandfather served in the war against Sertorius...
, who placed the founding of Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
or Dido's flight from her brother Pygmalion in the latter's seventh year of reign, in 825 BC, 72 years before the founding of Rome).
| Abibaal Abibaal Abibaal was a king of Tyre in the 10th century BC, father of the famous Hiram I. The only information known about him is derived from two passages in Josephus's Against Apion, i.17 and i.18. All that is said in these passages is that he preceded his son Hiram on the throne of Tyre... |
993–981 BC | Beginning date is conjectural (no evidence). |
| Hiram I Hiram I Hiram I , according to the Hebrew Bible, was the Phoenician king of Tyre. He reigned from 980 to 947 BC, succeeding his father, Abibaal. Hiram was succeeded as king of Tyre by his son Baal-Eser I... |
980 – 947 BC | Contemporary of David and Solomon. |
| Baal-Eser I Baal-Eser I Baal-Eser I was a king of Tyre. His father, Hiram I, was a contemporary of David and Solomon, kings of Israel... (Balazeros I, Ba‘l-mazzer I) |
946-930 BC | |
| Abdastartus Abdastartus Abdastartus was a king of Tyre, son of Baal-Eser I and grandson of Hiram I. The only information available about Abdastartus comes from the following citation of the Phoenician author Menander of Ephesus, in Josephus’s Against Apion i.18:Upon the death of Hirom, Beleazarus his son took the... (‘Abd-‘Astart) |
929-921 BC | |
| Astartus Astartus Astartus was a king of Tyre and the first of four brothers who held the kingship. The information about him has been inferred from Frank M. Cross’s reconstruction of Josephus’s citation of the Phoenician author Menander of Ephesus, in Against Apion i.18... (‘Ashtart) |
920-901 BC | Killed predecessor. First of 4 brothers to reign. |
| Deleastartus Deleastartus Deleastartus was a king of Tyre and the second of four brothers who held the kingship. The information about him has been inferred from Frank M. Cross’s reconstruction of Josephus’s citation of the Phoenician author Menander of Ephesus, in Against Apion i.18... (Dalay-‘Ashtart) |
900-889 BC | |
| Astarymus Astarymus Astarymus was a king of Tyre and the third of four brothers who held the kingship. The only information available about him comes from Josephus’s citation of the Phoenician author Menander of Ephesus, in Against Apion i.18... (‘Ashtar-rom) |
888-880 BC | |
| Phelles Phelles Phelles was a king of Tyre and the last of four brothers who held the kingship. The only information available about Phelles comes from Josephus’s citation of the Phoenician author Menander of Ephesus, in Against Apion i.18... (Pilles) |
879 BC | Last of the 4 brothers. |
| Ithobaal I Ithobaal I Ithobaal I was a king of Tyre who founded a new dynasty. During his reign, Tyre expanded its power on the mainland, making all of Phoenicia its territory as far north as Beirut, including Sidon, and even a part of the island of Cyprus... (Ethbaal I) |
878-847 BC | Killed predecessor. Father of Biblical Jezebel Jezebel Jezebel may refer to:* Jezebel, wife of King Ahab*Jezebel, in the Book of Revelation 2:20 a prophetess in the church of Thyatira* Jezebel , starring Bette Davis and Henry Fonda* Jezebel , a blog aimed at women... . |
| Baal-Eser II Baal-Eser II Baal-Eser II , also known as Balbazer II and Ba‘l-mazzer I, was a king of Tyre, the son of Ithobaal I.The primary information related to Baal-Eser II comes from Josephus’s citation of the Phoenician author Menander of Ephesus, in Against Apion i.18. Here it is said that “Ithobalus, the priest of... (Balazeros II, Ba‘l-mazzer II) |
846-841 BC | Tribute to Shalmaneser III Shalmaneser III Shalmaneser III was king of Assyria , and son of the previous ruler, Ashurnasirpal II.... in 841 BC. |
| Mattan I Mattan I Mattan I ruled Tyre from 840 to 832 BC, succeeding Baal-Eser II of Tyre/Sidon.He was the father of Pygmalion , king of Tyre from 831 to 785 BC, and of Dido. As such, he may be the same person as Virgil's The Aeneid character Belus II... |
840-832 BC | Father of Pygmalion and his sister Dido. |
| Pygmalion Pygmalion of Tyre Pygmalion was king of Tyre from 831 to 785 BC and a son of King Mattan I .During Pygmalion's reign, Tyre seems to have shifted the heart of its trading empire from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, as can be judged from the building of new colonies including Kition on Cyprus, Sardinia , and,... (Pummay) |
831-785 BC | Dido fled from Pygmalion and founded Carthage Carthage Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC... during his reign. |
Assyrian ascendancy, 8th and 7th centuries BC
Assyria established its control over the area and ruled through vassal rulers. The existence of these kings has been established by references in Assyrian records.| Ithobaal II (Tuba‘il) |
750–739 BC | Name found only on Iran Stele of Tiglath-Pileser III Tiglath-Pileser III Tiglath-Pileser III was a prominent king of Assyria in the eighth century BC and is widely regarded as the founder of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Tiglath-Pileser III seized the Assyrian throne during a civil war and killed the royal family... . Gave tribute to T-P III. |
| Hiram II | 739–730 BC | Also gave tribute to T-P III. |
| Mattan II | 730–729 BC | |
| Elulaios (Luli) |
729–694 BC | |
| Abd Melqart | 694–680 BC | |
| Baal I Baal I Baal I was the king of Tyre . His name is the same as that of the Phoenician deity, Baal. He was tributary to the Assyrians, who had conquered the rest of Phoenicia, and sent his son Yehawmelek to Ashurbanipal with heavy tribute. He also may have assisted the Assyrians in their war against Elam.-... |
680–660 BC |
Post-Assyrian period
Tyre regained independence with Assyria's demise, although Egypt controlled Tyre some of the time.| Ithobaal III (Ethbaal II) |
591–573 BC | This is the king mentioned in Ezekiel 28:2 at the time of the fall of Jerusalem. Carthage became independent of Tyre in 574 BC. |
Under control of Babylon 573–539 BC
| Baal II | 573–564 BC |
| Yakinbaal | 564 BC |
Shoftim of Tyre
In the 560s the monarchy was overthrown and an oligarchic government established, headed by "judges" or shoftim (cf. Carthage). The monarchy was restored with the ascension of Hiram III to the throne.| Chelbes | 564–563 BC |
| Abbar Abbar Abbar is a name.People with this given name include:* Abbar , king of TyrePeople with this surname include:* Samir Abbar , Algerian footballer* Mohammed bin Ali Al Abbar, United Arab Emirati businessman... |
563–562 BC |
| Mattan III and Ger Ashthari |
562–556 BC |
| Baal-Eser III | 556–555 BC |
| Hiram III | 551–532 BC |
Under Persian control 539–411 BC
- Mattan IV fl. c. 490-480
- Boulomenus fl. c. 450
- AbdemonAbdemonAbdemon , was one of the kings of Cyprus at the end of the fifth century BC. He was of Phoenician origin and was born either in Tyre or Kition on Cyprus. Around 415 BC, Abdemon deposed the Phoenician ruler of Salamis on Cyprus. Evagoras, who allegedly came from a Greek dynasty , had to leave the...
c.420–411 BC. He ruled Salamis, in Cyprus.
Under control of Cypriot Salamis 411–374 BC
- EvagorasEvagorasEvagoras was the king of Salamis in Cyprus. The son of Nicocles, a previous king of Salamis, he claimed descent from Teucer, the son of Telamon and half-brother of Ajax, and his family had long been rulers of Salamis, although during his childhood Salamis came under Phoenician control, which...
of Salamis, CyprusSalamis, CyprusSalamis was an ancient Greek city-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the river Pedieos, 6 km north of modern Famagusta. According to tradition the founder of Salamis was Teucer, son of Telamon, who could not return home after the Trojan war because he had failed to avenge his...
. He united Cyprus under his rule and achieved independence from the Persian Empire.
Under Persian control 374–332 BC
- Eugoras fl. 340's
- AzemilcusAzemilcus, King of TyreAzemilcus was the King of Tyre during its siege by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. Alexander had already peacefully taken Bylos and Sidon and Tyre sent envoys to Alexander agreeing to do his bidding. His response was to declare that he wished to enter the city to sacrifice to Melqart, known to...
c.340–332 BC. He was king during the siege by Alexander the Great. - Abd-olunimAbdalonymusAbdalonymus or, variously, Abdolonymus, Abdolonimus, and Abdalonimus was a gardener, but of royal descent, who was made king of Sidon by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.-Life:...
332- ?
Under the Greeks and Romans
After Alexander the Great conquered Tyre in 332 BC, the city alternated between SeleucidSeleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
(Syrian Greek) and Ptolemaic
Ptolemaic Kingdom
The Ptolemaic Kingdom in and around Egypt began following Alexander the Great's conquest in 332 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. It was founded when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt, creating a powerful Hellenistic state stretching from...
(Egyptian Greek) rule. Phoenicia came under the rule of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
in the 1st century BC.
- MarionMarion-People:Surname*Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox", American Revolutionary War general*J. Paul Marion, Canadian politician*Jean-Luc Marion, a continental philosopher*Marty Marion, American baseball player, nicknamed "Mr...
(c. 42 BC) was the Roman tyrant of Tyre.
Middle Ages and later
Tyre was conquered by the Rashidun CaliphateRashidun Caliphate
The Rashidun Caliphate , comprising the first four caliphs in Islam's history, was founded after Muhammad's death in 632, Year 10 A.H.. At its height, the Caliphate extended from the Arabian Peninsula, to the Levant, Caucasus and North Africa in the west, to the Iranian highlands and Central Asia...
in the 7th century. The Crusaders
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
conquered Tyre, which acted as the capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
until this kingdom's fall in 1291. Tyre then became part of surrounding empires again, and finally of France and of independent Lebanon in the 20th century.
See also
- Hiram IHiram IHiram I , according to the Hebrew Bible, was the Phoenician king of Tyre. He reigned from 980 to 947 BC, succeeding his father, Abibaal. Hiram was succeeded as king of Tyre by his son Baal-Eser I...
, for discussion of date of founding of Carthage used by Menander - Pygmalion of TyrePygmalion of TyrePygmalion was king of Tyre from 831 to 785 BC and a son of King Mattan I .During Pygmalion's reign, Tyre seems to have shifted the heart of its trading empire from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, as can be judged from the building of new colonies including Kition on Cyprus, Sardinia , and,...
, for inscriptional evidence regarding Pygmalion and Baal-Eser IIBaal-Eser IIBaal-Eser II , also known as Balbazer II and Ba‘l-mazzer I, was a king of Tyre, the son of Ithobaal I.The primary information related to Baal-Eser II comes from Josephus’s citation of the Phoenician author Menander of Ephesus, in Against Apion i.18. Here it is said that “Ithobalus, the priest of... - Dido (Queen of Carthage)