Editing Dionysius I of Syracuse (section)

==Rise to power==
Dionysius seized power with the help of a personal group of mercenaries, likely recruited from among the [[Sileraioi]]. This force, initially 600 men and later raised to 1,000, was granted to him as a bodyguard after he faked an attack on his own life.{{cn|date=December 2023}} Having consolidated his position, Dionysius imposed the mercenaries on all parts of the [[polis]] community, signaling that democracy had ended in Syracuse. His rule was "unconstitutional and illegitimate and could not fail to provoke rebellions among the partisans of democratic government".<ref>Yalichev, Serge. (1997) ''Mercenaries of the Ancient World'', London: Constable, page 210</ref> Dionysius' position at home was threatened as early as 403 by those philosophically opposed to tyranny. [[Ancient Sparta|Sparta]], which had in the past [[Deposition (politics)|deposed]] tyrants from [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]] to [[Ancient Athens|Athens]], did not damn Dionysius and his [[autocracy]]. In fact, according to the historian [[Diodorus Siculus]], relations between the two were very positive:

<blockquote>
When the Lacedaemonians [Spartans] had settled the affairs of Greece to their own taste, they dispatched Aristus, one of their distinguished men, to Syracuse, ostensibly pretending that they would overthrow the government, but in truth with intent to increase the power of the tyranny; for they hoped that by helping to establish the rule of Dionysius they would obtain his ready service because of their benefactions to him.<ref>Diodorus Siculus 14.10.2</ref></blockquote>

Dionysius even received the privilege of conscripting mercenaries from lands under Spartan authority. The demise of such a prominent democratic ''polis'' and the subsequent actions of Dionysius represented a recurring norm in fourth-century Greek states, thanks to the prevalence of mercenaries. The mercenary and the tyrant went hand in hand; for example, [[Polybius]] noted that "the security of despots rests entirely on the loyalty and power of mercenaries".<ref>Polybius 11.13</ref> [[Aristotle]] wrote that some form of "guard" (i.e., a personal army) is needed for absolute kingship,<ref name="Aristotle Politics 1286b28-40">Aristotle ''Politics'' 1286b28-40</ref> and for an elected tyrant an optimum number of professional soldiers should be employed. Too few would undermine the tyrant's power, while too many would threaten the polis itself. The philosopher also notes that the people of Syracuse were warned not to let Dionysius conscript too many "guards" during his regime.<ref name="Aristotle Politics 1286b28-40"/>