Bibliotheca Historica

​After this, having gathered an assembly, he accused the Six Hundred and the oligarchy that had previously existed under them, and having said that he had made the city clean of those who attempted to exercise power, he declared to the people that he was delivering pure autonomy to them and that he wished, being released at last from his labors, to live as a private citizen on equal terms with everyone.

​And while saying this, he stripped off his chlamys and, changing into a himation, began to walk away, showing himself to be one of the multitude. He did this pretending to be a man of the people, and knowing clearly that the majority of those in the assembly had shared in the impious deeds and for this reason would never wish to entrust the generalship to anyone else.

​At once, indeed, those who had plundered the property of the unfortunate citizens cried out not to abandon them, but to accept the care of the whole state. He at first kept quiet, but then, as the multitude pressed upon him more violently, he said that he would accept the generalship, but that he would not, however, rule with others;

​for he would not endure, for whatever illegal things others might commit, to render an account for these according to the laws as their fellow ruler. When the multitude agreed that he should rule alone, he was elected general with absolute power, and thereafter he openly exercised power and took charge of the city. ​Of the undefiled Syracusans, some were compelled through fear to endure it, while others, overborne by the multitude, did not dare to display their hostility in vain. But many of those who were needy and in debt gladly welcomed the change; for Agathocles had promised in the assembly both to make a cancellation of debts and to distribute land to the poor.

​Moving on from these measures, he desisted from killing or punishing anyone further, and changing to the opposite, he behaved kindly toward the multitudes; by doing good to many, elevating not a few with promises, and leading all with humane words, he met with no moderate approval.

​Although he possessed such great power, he neither assumed a diadem nor had bodyguards nor sought to be difficult of access—things which almost all tyrants are accustomed to do. He also took care of the revenues and the preparation of arms and missiles, and in addition to the existing warships he built others. He also annexed most of the territories and cities in the interior. And the affairs of Sicily were in this state.