Agron
(Ἄγρων).
1. The son of Ninus, the first of the Lydian dynasty of the Heracleidae. The tradition was, that this dynasty supplanted a native race of kings, having been originally entrusted with the government as deputies. The names Ninus and Belus in their genealogy render it probable that they were either Assyrian governors, or princes of Assyrian origin, and that their accession marks the period of an Assyrian conquest. (Hdt. 1.7.)
2. The son of Pleuratus, a king of Illyria. In the strength of his land and naval forces he surpassed all the preceding kings of that country. When the Aetolians attempted to compel the Medionians to join their confederacy, Agron undertook to protect them, having been induced to do so by a large bribe which he received from Demetrius, the father of Philip. He accordingly sent to their assistance a force of 5000 Illyrians, who gained a decisive victory over the Aetolians. Agron, overjoyed at the news of this success, gave himself up to feasting, and, in consequence of his excess, contracted a pleurisy, of which he died. (B. C. 231.) He was succeeded in the government by his wife Teuta. Just after his death, an embassy arrived from the Romans, who had sent to mediate in behalf of the inhabitants of the island of Issa, who had revolted from Agron and placed themselves under the protection of the Romans. By his first wife, Triteuta, whom he divorced, he had a son named Pinnes, or Pinneus, who survived him, and was placed under the guardianship of Demetrius Pharius, who married his mother after the death of Teuta. (D. C. 34.46, 151 ; Plb. 2.2-4; Appian, App. Ill. 7; Flor. 2.5; Plin. H.N. 34.6.) [C.P.M]
- Hdt. 1.7