Editing 251 BC (section)

==== Greece ====
* [[Paseas]], the [[tyrant]] of the [[Polis|Greek city-state]] of [[Sicyon]], is assassinated by [[Nicocles (Sicyon)|Nicocles]], with the acquiescence of the [[Ancient Macedonians|Macedonian]] king [[Antigonus II Gonatas|Antigonus II]]. Nicocles reigns as tyrant of Sicyon for only four months, during which period he drives into exile eighty of the city's citizens. Then the citadel of Sicyon is surprised in the night by a party of Sicyonian exiles, headed by a young nobleman, [[Aratus]]. The palace of the tyrant is set on fire, but Nicocles escapes from the city through a subterranean passage.
* Aratus recalls back to Sicyon those exiled by Nicocles. This leads to confusion and division within the city. Fearing that Antigonus II will exploit these divisions to attack the city, Aratus applies for the city to join the [[Achaean League]], a league of a few small [[Achaea]]n towns in the [[Peloponnese]]. Aratus then gains the financial support of the [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] king [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy II]] to enable the Achaean League to defend itself against [[Macedon]]ia.