View source for 307 BC

{{distinguish|307 AD|307 (number)}}{{More citations needed|date=November 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
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{{BC year in topic|307}}
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Year '''307 BC''' was a year of the [[Roman calendar|pre-Julian Roman calendar]]. At the time, it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Caecus and Violens''' (or, less frequently, '''year 447 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 307 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

== Events ==
<onlyinclude>

=== By place ===

==== Babylonia ====
* [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]]  makes peace with [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus]], who is left free to consolidate his empire in the east.

====Syria====
* [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] founds the city of  [[Antigonia (Syria)|Antigoneia on the Orontes]] intended to become his eastern capital.<ref name="Diodorus47">{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20C*.html#47|volume=XX|chapter=47}}</ref>

====Asia Minor====
* [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] prepares an expedition to Greece under his son [[Demetrius Poliorcetes|Demetrius]]. They gather a fleet of 250 ships and a large army in western Asia Minor. Antigonus gives his son 5.000 talents and some of his top officers, chief among them [[Medius of Larissa]] and [[Aristodemus of Miletus]].

==== Greece ====
* At the beginning of June (the 26th day of the [[Attica|Attic]] month of Thargelion: Plut. ''Dem.'' 8,3) [[Demetrius Poliorcetes|Demetrius]], son of [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]], launches a surprise attack on [[Pireaus]], Athens' harbour; his forces are able to secure control of the entire port city, except the fortress on the [[Munichia|Munychia]] which remains in the hands of Dionysius, the commander of [[Cassander]]'s garrison in Athens. 
* [[Demetrius of Phalerum]], who ruled [[History of Athens|Athens]] for 10 years with the support of [[Cassander]], recognizes his position has become untenable. He opens up negotiations, and after several diplomatic exchanges involving [[Aristodemus of Miletus]], Antigonus top diplomat, he is given safe conduct to Thebes. Eventually he settles in [[Alexandria]]<ref name=Diod46>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20C*.html#46|volume=XX|chapter=46}}</ref> 
* [[Demetrius Poliorcetes|Demetrius]] captures the fortress on the [[Munichia|Munychia]] and razes it to the ground. The old democracy, with the old constitution, is re-established in Athens under the leadership of [[Stratocles]] and [[Demochares]]. The grateful Athenians honour Antigonus and Demetrius as divine saviours ({{Transliteration|grc|theoi soteres}}).<ref name=Diod46/> 
* [[Demetrius Poliorcetes|Demetrius]] captures [[Megara]] and there he restores the old constitution as well.<ref name=Diod46/><ref>Diod. XX 46,3; Plut. ''Dem.'' 9,2-6.</ref>
* [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] gives Athens control of the island of [[Lemnos]] and [[Imbros]].<ref name=Diod46/><ref>Diod. XX 46,4.</ref>
* Upon becoming ruler of [[Epirus]], [[Pyrrhus of Epirus|Pyrrhus]] allies himself with his brother-in-law, [[Demetrius Poliorcetes|Demetrius]] and through him with [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]].

==== North Africa ====
* [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]], the tyrant of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], (who has been campaigning in North Africa for several years) launches a surprise attack on [[Utica, Tunisia|Utica]]. He captures around 300 citizens outside the walls and tries to negotiate a surrender of the city; Utica refuses. Agathocles then uses the prisoners as human shields by binding them to his siege engines.<ref name=Diod54>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#54|volume=XX|chapter=54}}</ref>
* [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]] assaults the walls of Utica. The Uticans, despite having to inflict death and injury on their fellow citizens, fiercely defend their city. Eventually, Agathocles' army is able to break into the city, they sacked the city and left behind a garrison.<ref name=Diod54/><ref name=Diod55>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#55|volume=XX|chapter=55}}</ref>
*  [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]] besieges and takes a town called [[Hippo Diarrhytus|Hippu Acra]]. After capturing Hippu Acra several towns and cities come over to his side; even some [[Numidians|Numidian]] tribes start sending their warriors to join Agathocles.<ref name=Diod55/>
* With his expeditionary army now superior in numbers to the Carthaginians, Agathocles decides to leave his son [[Archagathus (son of Agathocles of Syracuse)|Archagathus]] in command of the African campaign and return to [[Sicily]]. He starts constructing transports and when enough ships have been built sets sail for Sicily.<ref name=Diod55/>
* [[Archagathus (son of Agathocles of Syracuse)|Archagathus]] sends Eumachus, one of his father's generals, on two successful inland campaigns. On both occasions Eumachus gained a lot of war booty.<ref name=Diod57>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#57|volume=XX|chapter=57}}</ref><ref name=Diod58>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#58|volume=XX|chapter=58}}</ref>  
* [[Carthage]] musters (30,000 soldiers in total) and sends out three armies; one inland, one into the midlands, and one against the cities along the coast.<ref name=Diod59>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#59|volume=XX|chapter=59}}</ref>
* [[Archagathus (son of Agathocles of Syracuse)|Archagathus]] counters by dividing his army in three and sending them against the Carthaginian armies. Unfortunately for the Greeks, one army (commanded by Aeschrion) gets ambushed and another (commanded by Eumachus) is defeated in battle. Archagathus retreats to [[Tunis]], regroups his army and sends messengers to his father in Sicily to inform him on the situation .The Carthaginians concentrate their forces at Tunis as well and start a blockade of the city.<ref name=Diod60>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#60|volume=XX|chapter=60}}</ref><ref name=Diod61>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#61|volume=XX|chapter=61}}</ref>
* [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]] returns to his expeditionary army. Trying to restore his army's moral, he fights a battle under less than ideal conditions and suffers a bloody defeat (losing 3,000 soldiers).<ref name=Diod64>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#64|volume=XX|chapter=64}}</ref>
* During a victory ceremony involving human sacrifice (the Carthaginians sacrificed prisoners of war by burning them alive) the Carthaginian camp catches fire, in the ensuing panic the Carthaginian army breaks and flees back to Carthage.<ref name=Diod65>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#65|volume=XX|chapter=65}}</ref><ref name=Diod66>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#66|volume=XX|chapter=66}}</ref>
* 5,000 Libyans deserters, who came fleeing back to Agathocles' camp, cause panic in the Greek camp, scattering the army.<ref name=Diod67>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#67|volume=XX|chapter=67}}</ref>
* After the lost battle and the night-time panic, all his Libyan allies desert. With his army in no condition to fight on, Agathocles decides to return to Sicily.<ref name=Diod68>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#68|volume=XX|chapter=68}}</ref><ref name=Diod69>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#69|volume=XX|chapter=69}}</ref>
* [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]] abandons his army and his sons and secretly sails back to Sicily. His soldiers kill his sons in anger.<ref name=Diod68/><ref name=Diod69/>

==== Sicily ====
* Xenodocus, a general from [[Agrigento|Acragas]], leads an army of 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry against [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]]' generals on Sicily. Leptines and Demophilus, two of Agathocles' generals, oppose Xenoducus with 8,200 infantry and 1,200 cavalry. Xenoducus is defeated and retreats to Acragas. As a result of this defeat the people of Acragas give up the fight against Agathocles.<ref name=Diod56>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#56|volume=XX|chapter=56}}</ref>
* Agathocles puts in at [[Selinus]], marches on Heraclea (probably [[Heraclea Minoa]]) and forces its people to submit once more. He then marches across the island on the city of [[Termini Imerese|Therma]], makes a treaty with its people and removes its Carthaginian garrison. After taking [[Cephaloedium]] (near Therma), he marches back south taking the cities of [[Centuripe|Centuripa]] and [[Apollonia (Sicily)|Sicily]].<ref name=Diod56/>
* Deinocrates, the leader of the exiles, proclaims himself the champion of common liberty and  uses this to gather the bulk of Agathocles' enemies into one army. After mustering an army of 20,000 infantry and 1,500 cavalry, he marches on Agathocles, who refuses to do battle and retreats to [[Syracuse (Sicily)|Syracuse]].<ref name="Diod57"/>
* Receiving word of the losses that had been inflicted on his expeditionary army (commanded by his son Archagathus) in Africa, Agathocles equips 17 warships to go to his son's aid. While breaking through the Carthaginian blockade, he is able to defeat his opponents' fleet.<ref name=Diod61/>
* Leptines, one of Agathocles' generals, defeats Xenodocus for the second time.<ref name=Diod62>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#62|volume=XX|chapter=62}}</ref>
* Agathocles purges Syracuse of his opponents; 500 citizens are executed. With the city secure in his loyalty he sets sail for Africa.<ref name=Diod63>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#63|volume=XX|chapter=63}}</ref>
* After meeting disaster in Africa (losing his army and two of his sons), Agathocles returns to Sicily. In dire need of cash, he razes the city of [[Segesta]].<ref name=Diod71>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/20B*.html#71|volume=XX|chapter=71}}</ref>

==== China ====
* The Chinese [[King Wuling of Zhao]] reforms the military of the [[Zhao (state)|State of Zhao]] by putting more emphasis on [[cavalry]] over [[chariot]]eers.

=== By topic ===

==== Philosophy ====
* [[Epicureanism]], a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of [[Epicurus]], is founded (approximate date).
</onlyinclude>

== Births ==
{{Empty section|date=June 2021}}

== Deaths ==
* [[Archagathus (son of Agathocles of Syracuse)|Archagathus]], son of [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]] the tyrant of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]].
* [[Heracleides (307 BC)|Heracleides]], son of [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]] the tyrant of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]].

== References ==
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[[Category:307 BC| ]]