Carian War
Carian War is the conventional name for the conflict between the Hellenistic states of the Ptolemies and the Seleucids, dated to 280–279 BC.
Situation in Asia Minor after the war between Seleucus and Lysimachus
In February 281 BC, the Syrian ruler Seleucus defeated the king of Macedon and Asia Minor Lysimachus. The latter was killed in battle, and Seleucus was able to absorb the entire state of his opponent. However, by September of the same year, he was treacherously killed by his companion Ptolemy Keraunos, who hastened to seize the throne of Macedon. As for the peninsula of Asia Minor, a number of barbarian states and Hellenistic cities refused to submit to Seleucus's heir Antiochus I, which led to the struggle with the so-called Northern League.Since at the beginning of Antiochus I's reign he was occupied with suppressing disturbances in the old provinces of the Seleucid Empire and could not devote enough attention to the remnants of Lysimachus's kingdom in Asia Minor, the ruler of Egypt Ptolemy II decided to take advantage of this situation. Continuing the policy of his father, he built a maritime trading empire and was therefore interested in acquiring ports throughout the Hellenistic world. Furthermore, deprived of forests, Egypt needed sources of timber to support its fleet, which could be obtained in Cyprus, in Phoenicia, and on the southern coast of Asia Minor.
Since no historical works recounting the events following the deaths of the last Diadochi have survived to us, researchers have to rely on scarce and fragmented reports and individual inscriptions. In one of his elegies, which is dated to the period between 273 and 270 BC, the poet Theocritus refers to Ptolemy as the ruler of Cilicia, Pamphylia, Lycia, and Caria, but it is unknown when exactly these lands passed to the Egyptian kings.
Likely Acquisitions of Ptolemy II in Caria
Although there are grounds to believe that Yasos belonged to Ptolemy I, the acquisition of significant territories in Caria by the Egyptian kingdom likely dates to 280-279 BC. It is also important that this time not only the coastal area was involved, but also certain inland regions. North of the ancient capital of the Carian rulers, Milas, in the city of Amizon, an inscription dated to 277 BC honoring the Egyptian commander Margos has been found. In a settlement to the east of Milas, which was later refounded as Stratonikeia, an inscription dating to the 9th year of Ptolemy II's reign was discovered. Located on the central Carian coast, Halicarnassus and Mind sent judges to the island of Samos shortly after 280 BC on behalf of this Egyptian king to resolve disputes among its citizens. As for the recently mentioned Milas, there are no confidently dated testimonies, but in the decree of the Seleucid commander, who captured this city during the Second or Third Syrian War, it is mentioned that it was previously governed by the Ptolemies. Considering its location between Halicarnassus, Amizon, and Stratonikeia, there are grounds to assume Milas came under Egyptian control at the same time as they did.The capture of the city of Cavn, located in the eastern part of the Carian coast near the border with Lycia, may also relate to the Carian War. In this context, the ancient Roman historian Polyen describes an episode of the siege of Cavn, during which Ptolemy's commander Philocles bribed certain city officials. They organized the distribution of bread to the soldiers in such a way that the Egyptians were able to attack the temporarily unguarded city and capture it. However, Philocles is mentioned as early as the beginning of the 300s BC as an associate of Ptolemy I, so this episode could also relate to the period of his struggle against the Antigonids.
At the same time, it is worth noting that the situation regarding the reconstruction of events in Caria is complicated by the presence of the dynasty of Eupolemus, the date and circumstances of whose rule are unknown.
Possible Acquisitions of Ptolemy II in Ionia
North of Caria lay the most attractive part of the Asia Minor coastline – Ionia – with its large Greek cities. It is believed that no later than 280 BC the Ionian island of Samos came under the control of Ptolemy II, as indicated by a discovered decree in which the Egyptian commander Philocles conducted assemblies of the island league formed in the Cyclades, dedicated to the first festival in honor of the deceased Ptolemy I. However, it cannot be stated unequivocally that Samos belonged to the kingdom of Lysimachus and, accordingly, should belong to Antiochus I as the heir of Seleucus.Some historians also consider the endowment of land by Ptolemy II to the neighboring southern Ionian city of Miletus as evidence of its incorporation into the Egyptian state. This gift from the king is known from an inscription, which is considered key to determining the date of the end of the Carian War—it dates to 279/278 BC and reports the mediation of the Milesians in reaching an agreement with Antiochus I.
In any case, most of Ionia remained in the hands of the Seleucids even after the subsequent First Syrian War—a letter dated 269 BC was found addressed to Antiochus from the Ionian League. Unfortunately, only a fragment remains from the section listing the signatory cities, which includes only the first two names—Ephesus and Lebedos—yet it is unlikely that a minority of participants could represent the league.