The Hellenistic king as ideal ruler? Ideas of "good" rule in the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stefan Pfeiffer
• Subject Area: Ancient History
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 544238214

The network will take a multi-perspective approach to addressing the question of what constituted an ideal ruler in the age of Hellenism. Which facets of the ideal ruler, their development and (medial) expression can be found in the Hellenistic kingdoms? In this sense, both the self-portrayal of the king himself and the perception and portrayal of the king by his subjects will be analyzed. The aim of the network is to compile a chronologically and regionally differentiated overview of the various ideals of the Hellenistic king based on a broad range of sources. Specialists will focus on the fields of (1) historiography, (2) archaeology, (3) poetry and philosophy and (4) inscriptions, papyri and coins. The aim is not to proceed according to empires or regions, as is usually the case, but rather to scrutinize the respective sources (genres) for facets of a Hellenistic king as an ideal ruler. The following key questions should be addressed to the material: 1. What statements can be found about the actors or initiators of the respective statements in the individual sources (or genres)? Are there criteria to distinguish them precisely, especially in the sequence of action and reaction? 2. Can certain preferences be identified for the kingdoms of the Hellenistic period regarding the content of statements about an ideal ruler and the sources (or genres) used, and how can they be explained? 3. Do general developments emerge both in the facets of the ideal ruler and in their mention in the various sources (or genres) that go beyond the individual preferences of a particular king or dynasty, and which stand out as certain trends in the self-portrayal or in the requirements profile of a king? 4. How were situations dealt with when a king did not fulfil expectations? Was he given another chance or did failure lead to elimination or death? Can learning effects be identified? What ultimately makes a usurpation successful? 5 In what way did the expectations of the indigenous population, which are often rooted in centuries-old tradition, find their way into the royal self-portrayal? 6. how do the facets and modes of representation of the Hellenistic queens differ significantly from those of their male counterparts? 7. should the catalogue of elements constituting the ideal of a Hellenistic king be supplemented by further statements? In which genres of sources are they favored?

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Gregor Weber