Cleitarchus of Eretria

Cleitarchus or Clitarchus (; lived 4th century BC) was tyrant of Eretria in Euboea. After Plutarch had been expelled from the tyranny of Eretria by Phocion, 350 BC, popular government was at first established; but strong party struggles ensued, in which the adherents of Athens were at length overpowered by those of Macedon, and Philip then sent Hipponicus, one of his generals, to destroy the walls of Porthmus, the harbour ot Eretria, and to set up Hipparchus, Automedon, and Cleitarchus as tyrants. This was subsequent to the peace between Athens and Philip in 346 BC, since Demosthenes adduces it as one of the proofs of a breach of the peace on the part of Macedon. The tyrants, however, were not suffered to retain their power quietly, for Demosthenes mentions two armaments sent by Philip for their support, at different times, under Eurylochus and Parmenion respectively. Soon after, we find Cleitarchus in sole possession of the government; but he does not seem to have been at open hostility with Athens, though he held Eretria for Philip, for we hear of the Athenians sending ambassadors to request his consent to the arrangement for uniting Euboea under one federative government, having its congress at Chalcis, to which Athens was also to transfer the annual contributions from Oreus and Eretria. Aeschines says, that a talent from Cleitarchus was part of the bribe which he alleges that Demosthenes received for procuring the decree in question. Cleitarchus appears therefore to have...
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