city state · Greece and the Aegean

Tyranny of Pherae

406 BCE – 352 BCE (approx.) · capital Pherae

Line of ambitious tyrants in the Thessalian city of Pherae who briefly made Thessaly a great power under Jason before falling to Philip II.

Origins

Pherae, in south-eastern Thessaly near the port of Pagasae, rose against the old aristocratic families of Larissa and Pharsalus. Around 406 BCE Lycophron of Pherae seized power and tried to dominate all of Thessaly, defeating his rivals in 404 BCE. His successor Jason built a large mercenary army and was elected tagos, leader of the Thessalian federation, around 374 BCE.

Rule and society

The tyrants depended on paid mercenaries, the port of Pagasae and alliances with outside powers. Jason planned a fleet and even, according to Xenophon, a campaign against Persia, but was assassinated in 370 BCE. Alexander of Pherae (369-358 BCE) was notorious for cruelty and fought Thebes, killing Pelopidas at Cynoscephalae in 364 BCE though losing the battle.

Decline and legacy

Alexander was murdered by his wife Thebe and her brothers, who ruled in turn. Their struggle with the Thessalian League brought in Philip II of Macedon, who defeated the Phocian allies of Pherae at the Crocus Field in 352 BCE and expelled the tyrants. Thessaly then came under Macedonian control.

Connections (2)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Tyranny of Pherae. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/tyranny-of-pherae
MLA
“Tyranny of Pherae.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/tyranny-of-pherae. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Tyranny of Pherae.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/tyranny-of-pherae.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Tyranny of Pherae’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/tyranny-of-pherae (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻