Amynander ( grc-gre, Ἀμύνανδρος, ''Amynandros'', in Polybios also ''Amynas'') was king of the Athamanes in south

Epirus sq, Epiri rup, Epiru , native_name_lang = , settlement_type = Historical region , image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg , map_alt = , map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinrich ...

, following his predecessor

Theodorus of Athamania Theodorus of Athamania was king of the Athamanians in south-eastern Epirus. He is known otherwise only from the Delian temple inventories: his daughter Phila made dedications there before 225 BC. In 250 BC, King Theodorus founded the city of Theodo ...

. He was a brother-in-law of the Illyrian king

Scerdilaidas Scerdilaidas or Skerdilaid ( grc, Σκερδιλαΐδας; ruled 218206 BC) was an Illyrian ruler of the Illyrian kingdom under the Labeatan dynasty. Before taking the throne, Scerdilaidas was commander of the Illyrian armies and played a majo ...

and first appears in history as a mediator between

Philip V of Macedon Philip V ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 238–179 BC) was king ( Basileus) of Macedonia from 221 to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of the Roman Republic. He would lead Macedon ag ...

and the Aetolians. When the Romans were about to wage war on Philip, they sent ambassadors to Amynander to inform him of their intention. On the commencement of the war, he came to the camp of the Romans and promised them assistance: the task of bringing over the Aetolians to an alliance with the Romans was assigned to him. In 198 BC Amynander took the towns of

Phoca ''Phoca'' ( ) is a genus of the earless seals, within the family Phocidae, source of the French name for seal, 'phoque'. It now contains just two species, the common seal (or harbour seal) and the spotted seal (or largha seal). Several specie ...

and

Gomphi Gomphi ( grc, Γόμφοι) was a town and polis (city-state) of Histiaeotis in ancient Thessaly, situated upon a tributary of the Peneius, and near the frontiers of Athamania and Dolopia. Its position made it a place of historical importance, s ...

, and ravaged Thessaly. He was present at the conference between

Flamininus Titus Quinctius Flamininus (c. 228 – 174 BC) was a Roman politician and general instrumental in the Roman conquest of Greece. Family background Flamininus belonged to the minor patrician '' gens'' Quinctia. The family had a glorious pla ...

and Philip, and during the short truce was sent by the former to Rome. He was again present at the conference held with Philip after the

battle of Cynoscephalae The Battle of Cynoscephalae ( el, Μάχη τῶν Κυνὸς Κεφαλῶν) was an encounter battle fought in Thessaly in 197 BC between the Roman army, led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus, and the Antigonid dynasty of Macedon, led by Phili ...

. On the conclusion of peace, he was allowed to retain all the fortresses which he had taken from Philip. In the war which the Romans, supported by Philip, waged with

Antiochus III Antiochus III the Great (; grc-gre, Ἀντίoχoς Μέγας ; c. 2413 July 187 BC) was a Greek Hellenistic king and the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire, reigning from 222 to 187 BC. He ruled over the region of Syria and large parts of the res ...

, Amynander was induced by his brother-in-law,

Philip of Megalopolis Philip ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος) was son of Alexander of Megalopolis. His father's pretended descent from Alexander the Great appears to have filled him with the most puerile schemes of ambition. On the marriage of his sister Apama with Amynand ...

, to side with Antiochus, to whom he rendered active service. But in 191 BC he was driven from his kingdom by Philip and fled with his wife and children to

Ambracia Ambracia (; grc-gre, Ἀμβρακία, occasionally , ''Ampracia'') was a city of ancient Greece on the site of modern Arta. It was captured by the Corinthians in 625 BC and was situated about from the Ambracian Gulf, on a bend of the navigabl ...

. The Romans required that he should be delivered up, but their demand was not complied with, and with the assistance of the Aetolians he recovered his kingdom. He sent ambassadors to Rome and to the ''

Scipiones The gens Cornelia was one of the greatest patrician (ancient Rome), patrician houses at ancient Rome. For more than seven hundred years, from the early decades of the Roman Republic, Republic to the third century AD, the Cornelii produced more em ...

'' (generals

Scipio Africanus Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (, , ; 236/235–183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the best military com ...

and Lucius Cornelius Scipio, who would earn the ''

agnomen An ''agnomen'' (; plural: ''agnomina''), in the Roman naming convention, was a nickname, just as the ''cognomen'' was initially. However, the ''cognomina'' eventually became family names, so ''agnomina'' were needed to distinguish between simila ...

'' "Asiaticus" from this war) in Asia, to treat for peace, which was granted him. (b. c. 189.) He afterwards induced the Ambraciots to surrender to the Romans. Amynander married Apama, the daughter of

Alexander of Megalopolis Alexander of Megalopolis ( grc-gre, Ἀλέξανδρος) was originally a Macedonian, but he received the franchise and was settled at Arcadian Megalopolis about 190 BC. He pretended to be a descendant of Alexander the Great, and accordingly, h ...

. Regarding his death we have no accounts.

References

* {{authority control Ancient Epirotes Rulers of Ancient Epirus