Battle of Labrytai

The Battle of Labrytai (Greek: Μάχη του Λαμπράι) was a battle around 380 BC that occurred nearly directly after Oktamasades usurped the Sindian throne from his father Hekataios and attacked and took the city of Labrytai, presumably a city under Bosporan rule. Leukon, the ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom, had made war upon Oktamasades on behalf of Hekataios, who was a vassal of the Bosporans prior to his removal from the throne.[1]

Battle of Labrytai
Part of Bosporan wars of expansion
Datecirca. 380 BC
Location
Labrytai, Bosporan Kingdom
Result

Strategic Bosporan Victory

  • Okatamasades driven out into Scythia
Belligerents
Sindike Kingdom Bosporan Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Oktamasades  Leukon I
Casualties and losses
Presumably high Low

Prelude

Hekataios had suffered a war against his former wife Tirgatao after marrying the wife of Satyros I and casting out Tirgatao to a tower. Tirgatao had escaped and rallied her tribe of Ixomatae and laid fire and sword to both the lands of Hekataios and those of Satyros.[2] This made the two seek for peace, Tirgatao giving it to them after negotiations, with Metrodoros, a son of Satyros, being sent as a hostage.[3] Satyros then back stabbed Tirgatao in an assassination attempt, but failed and lost his son Metrodoros in the process. Peace was made when Gorgippos,[4] one Satyros's sons who became a co-king of Leukon, upon his ascension to the throne.[5] Oktamasades may have been a son of Tirgitao, and therefore usurped the throne from his father presumably shortly after the war had ended with his mother and her tribe.[6] His rebellion must've required some sort of backing from the at least a part of aristocracy in the Sindike Kingdom.[7]

Battle

Oktamasades had taken the city before the battle, prompting Leukon to involve himself due to an attack on a Bosporan city.[8] Leukon likely saw this as an opportunity to add the Sindike Kingdom to his possessions, and waged war. Leukon, before the battle, had made a vow to erect a monument not to the Apollo the Labyreans worshipped, but Apollo, the god the Spartocids worshipped the most.[9] Upon battling Oktamasades, Leukon quickly routed his army, and forced him to flee to Scythia, leaving behind the throne for his father to re-take.[10]

Aftermath

Leukon upon gaining victory, made good on his vow and erected a statue to Phoebus Apollo at Labrytai.[11] It is unknown whether Hekataios renounced his power to Leukon, or died while Leukon fought Oktamasades. The Sindike Kingdom had been made a province of the Bosporan Kingdom shortly after the battle, suggesting that Leukon became ruler of the land shortly after gaining victory.

References
  1. Tokhtasev, S.R. Bosporus and the Sindike In the era of Leukon I. Oktamasades’ attack against Labrys (perhaps, to his capture of the city as well)
  2. Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. The confederates first invaded the country of Hecataeus, and afterwards ravaged the dominions of Satyrus
  3. Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. accompanied by Metrodorus the son of Satyrus, who was offered as a hostage
  4. Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2.
  5. Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. leaving his son Gorgippus to succeed him in the throne. He renounced his father's proceedings, and sued for peace, which she granted on payment of a tribute, and put and end to the war.
  6. Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2.
  7. Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. The rebellion of Oktamasades would also hardly have been possible without active support from some section of that aristocracy.
  8. Tokhtasev, S.R. Bosporus and the Sindike In the era of Leukon I. Leukon came out in defence of the legal power of Hekataios, king of Sindike, who had long been a vassal of the Bosporus, when his own son rebelled against him.
  9. Tokhtasev, S.R. Bosporus and the Sindike In the era of Leukon I. made a vow to erect a victory monument, but not to the local Apollo of Labrys, but to the supreme deity and patron of all the Bosporans, Apollo the Healer.
  10. Tokhtasev, S.R. Bosporus and the Sindike In the era of Leukon I. which ended in his being routed by Leukon’s army and to Oktamasades later being ousted (“driven out”) from the confines of Sindike
  11. Tokhtasev, S.R. Bosporus and the Sindike In the era of Leukon I.
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