During the Hellenistic period the leading figure in Sicily was the condottiere Agathocles of Syracuse (361--289 BCE) who after seizing the city with an army of mercenaries in 317 BCE had himself proclaimed king, in imitation of the Hellenistic monarchs of the east.
During the Hellenistic period the leading figure in Sicily was the condottiere Agathocles of Syracuse (361--289 BCE) who seized the city with an army of mercenaries in 317 BCE. After this war he controlled most of south-east Sicily and had himself proclaimed king, in imitation of the Hellenistic monarchs of the east.