Chersonesos (Thrace)


Chersonesos was an ancient Greek city located in Thrace, also known as the Thracian Chersonesos. It is known for its series of tyrants in antiquity.

Tyrants

According to the Greek Historian Herodotus, Militiades the Elder was chosen by the Dolonci to be tyrant of Chersonesos. His most notable achievement was building a long wall to guard from invaders crossing the isthmus. Following the death of Militiades the Elder, his maternal half brother, Stesagoras acquired power.
Stesagoras only ruled for approximately three years, when he was struck in the head by an axe. After Stesagoras' death, the Peisistratids of Athens sent Militiades the Younger, Stesagoras' brother, to mourn and honor him. After grieving for a period of time, Militiades the Younger restrained all the powerful men of Chersonesos and seized control of the area. He later abandoned the area when Darius I invaded in 493 BCE.