Evagoras (ĭvăgˈərəs) [key], d. c.374 B.C., despot of Cyprus.
Exiled in his youth, he returned (411 B.C.) and made good his
claim as ruler of Salamis. By 410 B.C. he had spread his control
over the whole island. Friendly to Athens, he sought to bring
Athenian culture to Cyprus, partly by giving refuge to exiled
Athenians (notably Conon). Evagoras built a powerful fleet and
with it harried the mainland (under Persian control). After the
Peace of Antalcidas (386 B.C., see Corinthian War), he lost all
Greek support and found himself alone in war with Persia.
Artaxerxes II defeated him in 381 B.C. and destroyed his fleet.
Given easy peace terms, Evagoras kept at least nominal rule of
the island. Isocrates wrote an encomium of him. The Columbia
Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia
University Press. All rights reserved. More on Evagoras from
Fact Monster: See more Encyclopedia articles on: Ancient
History, Greece: Biographies