About the time of Alexander’s death (and to some extent brought about by this event), civil war broke out in Cyrenaica, in consequence of which the followers of one party were forced out of the town of Cyrene.  These joined themselves with the exiles of the town of Barca, and together sought help of foreigners.  They placed themselves under the leadership of the Spartan Thibron, formerly Alexander’s chancellor of the exchequer.  Begged by the exiled Cyrenians to help them, he now directed his forces against Libya, fought a fierce battle, and took possession of the harbour of Apollonia, two miles distant from the town.  He then besieged the town of Cyrene, and forced the Cyrenians at last to sue for peace.  They were obliged to make a payment of five hundred talents and to take back the exiles.  Messengers were sent by Thibron to incite the other towns in Cyrenaica to join him and to help him conquer their neighbour, Libya.  Thibron’s followers were allowed to plunder, and this led to quarrels, desertions, treacherous acts, and the recruiting of his army from the Peloponnesus.  After varying fortunes of war, in the spring of 322 B. C., some of the Cyrenians fled to Egypt, and related to Ptolemy what had occurred in Cyrenaica, begging him to help them back to their homes.  The suggestion was welcome to him, for victory would be easy over these struggling factions.  He sent a strong military and naval force, under Ophelas, the Macedonian, to Cyrenaica in the summer.  When these were seen approaching, those exiles who had found refuge with Thibron decided to join them.  Their plan, however, was discovered, and they were put to death.  The leader of the rabble in Cyrene (fearful for his own safety, now that the exiles who had fled to Egypt were returning) made overtures of peace to Thibron, and joined with him to repulse Ophelas.  The latter worked with the utmost caution, sent an army under Epicides of Olynth against Tancheira, whilst he himself marched against Cyrene.

[Illustration:  036.jpg the Dom palm.]

He met Thibron in a fierce fight.  The latter was completely defeated and fled towards Tancheira, where he hoped to find help, but instead fell into Epicides’ hands.  Thibron was given over to the people of Tancheira for punishment.  He was cruelly scourged, and then dragged to Apollonia, where he was crucified.  Ophelas, however, was not able to conquer the Cyrenians until Ptolemy himself arrived with fresh troops, overpowered the town and joined the province to his own satrapy.

The conquest of this Greek province was a gain equally for himself and for the Greeks.  He put an end to the horrible anarchy that prevailed there, and proved himself their saviour as well as their conqueror.  His name was now an honoured one among all the Greeks.  When it was rumoured that war was likely to break out between Ptolemy and the royal party, the Macedonians flocked to Alexandria, “every man ready to give