Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ιστορία της Ελληνικής και Ρωμαϊκής ΑρχαιότηταςLibrary of the School of Philosophy
Supervisors info:
Σοφία Ανεζίρη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια αρχαίας ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Μπουραζέλης Κωνσταντίνος, Καθηγητής αρχαίας ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Ψωμά Σελήνη, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια αρχαίας ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Original Title:
Ομαδικές πολιτογραφήσεις στρατιωτών στην Ελληνιστική Μ. Ασία και τον Εύξεινο Πόντο: οι περιπτώσεις της Ασπένδου, της Σμύρνης, της Περγάμου και της Φαναγόρειας
Translated title:
Collective Naturalization of Enlisted Men at the areas of Asia Minor and Black Sea – Euxine Sea; Concerning Aspendos, Smyrna, Pergamos, Phanagoria
Summary:
This research addresses the issue of the collective naturalization of mercenary units in certain regions of the Hellenistic period. We are dealing with the historic period where traditional city-states faced various challenges. Through these challenges a city-state would negotiate with Alexander the Great’s successors who dominated extended kingdoms, and not with the powerful city-states, as it would happen in tne Classical period. For this reason all city-states of the Hellinistic times were obligated to hire mercenary armies in order to survive the challenges. The Hellinistic period is charactarized by constant disputes between the Hellinistic kings. Most of the times the city-states could not remain neutral towards these clashes. This had as a result the great need for military forces which would be able to measure up to the geopolitical demands.
The objective of this research is to investigate the different circumstances under which the mercenary units were given political rights by the city-states. Another aim is to observe the privileges of these units as well as their naturalization rights.
In order to answer these questions, we must examine the 4 epigraphs which originated in the cities of the Hellinistic period. The resolutions of Pergamos, Smyrna, Aspendos and Phanagoria had to be taken in to consideration to understand under which circumstances the city-states provided the mercenaries with political as well as civil rights.
It is important at this point, to point out a few facts. The first being, that the chosen epigraphs are not the only ones which refer to the collective naturalization of units in this period (Hellinistic), as numerous epigraphs originated in main Greek cities. These epigraphs were chosen mainly, as they were found in cities of Minor Asia, and geographicaly these areas were the centre of clashes between Hellinistic kings.
Furthermore, another important fact to consider is that it is not always easy to read and interperate the epigraphs, and understand how the mercenary units were decreed. This is the reason why there are extensive references to the wording used on the epigraphs from these four cities.
In conclusion the cases of Aspendos, Smyrna, Pergamos and Phanagoria reveal similarities and differences. However it is clear that the collective naturalization method was not common and still remains an interesting subject matter.
Main subject category:
History
Keywords:
Mercenaries, Citizenship, War, Hellenistic era
Number of references:
160
