Agathocles ( Greek: Ἀγαθοκλῆς, flourished 4th century BC) was a Greek nobleman who was a contemporary to King Philip II of Macedon (reigned 359 BC–336 BC).

Agathocles was a Thessalian serf ^[1] from Crannon. ^{[2] [3]} His father’s name may have been Alcimachus. It was through his flattery that Agathocles became an intimate friend of Philip II, ^[1] who raised him to high rank. ^[4] Agathocles was granted Macedonian citizenship for himself and his family. ^[2] Agathocles shared in Philip II’s councils and Phillip II sent him to deal with the Perrhaebi and Agathocles took charge of affairs in that area. ^[1]

There is a possibility that Phillip II rewarded Agathocles for his services with estates in Pella. ^[1] Agathocles became a favorite in the Argead court in Pella and his family assimilated into Macedonian society. ^[1]

Agathocles married an unnamed Greek woman, a local Thessalian, perhaps a woman called Arsinoe. With his wife they had four sons:

• Alcimachus ^[5]
• Lysimachus, ^[5] one of the Diadochi of Alexander the Great ^[6]
• Autodicus ^[5]
• Philip ^[5]

References

Sources

• Ancient Library Article: Agathocles no.1
• Lysimachus’ article at Livius.org Archived 2014-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
• H.S. Lund, Lysimachus: A Study in Early Hellenistic Kingship, Routledge, 2002
• W. Heckel, Who’s who in the age of Alexander the Great: prosopography of Alexander’s empire, Wiley-Blackwell, 2006