Sirras

Sirras
King
Reign	c. 423–393 BC
Died	After 390
Consort	A daughter of Arrhabaeus
Ancient Greek	Σίρρας
Dynasty	Bacchiadae

Sirras or Sirrhas (Ancient Greek: Σίρρας; d. 390 BC) was a prince, royal member and perhaps prince-regent of Lynkestis (Lyncestis) in Upper Macedonia for his father-in-law King Arrhabaeus (fl. 423-393 BC). He participated in the Pelopponesian War against Sparta.

Sirras's origin is disputed, scholars being divided on whether he was of Lynkestian origin, or of Illyrian origin.Plutarch explicitly stated that his daughter, Eurydice, was an Illyrian, so does Libanius, as is stated in the 10th-century Byzantine encyclopaedia Suda.

Sirras took part in the Pelopponesian War as an ally of Athens, on the side of Arrhabaeus I of Lyncestis against Perdiccas of Macedonia. In 423 BC Arrhabaeus threw off the Lower Macedonian yoke and became an ally of Sirras. This was reinforced when Sirras married the daughter of Arrhabaeus. At first Sparta avoided involvement in Macedon's war with Arrhabaeus, but in 423 BC they joined an expedition which ended with a retreat by the Macedonians and a brilliantly contrived escape of the Spartans.

After an initial success against Arrhabaeus, Perdiccas persuaded his allies to await the arrival of Illyrian mercenaries. It has been claimed that the Illyrians were under the command of Sirras but this is not supported in historiography (Thucydides did not mention Sirras). Rather the Illyrians opted instead to join the army of Arrhabaeus as they were now allies. The Spartan general, Brasidas who came to support the Macedonians in their advance into the remote regions of Lyncestis, was abandoned by the Macedonians but was able to extract his army of 4,000 from Illyrian encirclement.Thucydides stated that the fear inspired by their warlike character made both Greek armies think it best to retreat. The young Spartans were clearly shaken by the fearsome appearance of the Illyrian forces.

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