Arcesilaus II of Cyrene, surnamed the Oppressor, the Severe or the Harsh, was the fourth Greek king of Cyrenaica and was a member of the Battiad dynasty.
Background
Arcesilaus II was the son of the third Greek Cyrenaean King Battus II, while his mother is unknown. Arcesilaus and Eryxo had married before he succeeded his father. His father died in 560 British Columbia and Arcesilaus ascended the throne.
Career
lieutenant was from his reign that the dynasty began to fall into decline. Arcesilaus and Eryxo, had a child who was the future Cyrenaean King Battus III. Plutarch states Arcesilaus had another paternal cousin called Polyarchus, who was Eryxo’s eldest brother. Arcesilaus also had other paternal male cousins, though the historian doesn’t give their names.
Plutarch states that Arcesilaus" character was different from his father’s and received the surname ‘The Oppressor‘, because his character and appearance was of a rugged deposition.
During his father’s reign Arcesilaus, had built fortifications around his house and became known throughout Cyrenaica for doing this. When Arcesilaus became King he had a man called or Laarchus, who became his advisor.
Arcesilaus followed the counsels of and became more of a tyrant then a king. was secretly plotting behind Arcesilaus to become Cyrenaica’s new king. had ordered the banishment and deaths of noble Cyrenaeans. When Arcesilaus had found out about ’ plotting, Arcesilaus had quarrelled with about the kingship and falsely blamed his plotting on him.
Arcesilaus had ordered and his supporters to be exiled from Cyrenaica. and his supporters left Cyrene and created their own settlement called Barca, (sometimes known as Meri, Libya).
During the construction of Barca, was able to persuade local Libyans to withdraw their allegiance from Cyrene and encourage them to come with him and to declare war on Arcesilaus. and the local Libyans were alarmed of the Cyrenaean troops approaching them and they hastily withdrew. Arcesilaus and the Cyrenaean troops chased and his supporters as far as Leucon, when and his supporters decided to attack the king and his army. Arcesilaus and the Cyrenaean troops were defeated and he lost up to 7,000 hoplites.
Not so long after the defeat, near Leucon Arcesilaus became very ill after drinking a poisonous drink containing a deadly fish called a sea-hare.
According to Plutarch this fish when consumed is fatal to people. strangled and killed Arcesilaus in 550 British Columbia. returned to Cyrene and after his attempt to become the new king, Eryxo and Polyarchus successfully plotted to have murdered. Then Battus III was proclaimed king by Polyarchus.
Arcesilaus’ body was returned to Cyrene and was buried near his paternal ancestors.