Deino'crates
2. A Messenian, went to Rome in B. C. 183, to justify the revolt of Messene from the Achaeans. On his arrival, his hopes were raised by finding that Flamininus, who was a personal friend of his and an enemy to Philopoemen, the Achaean leader, was about to pass into Greece on an embassy to Prusias and Seleucus. Flamininuspromised him his services, and, when he had reached Naupactus, sent to Philopoemen and the other magistrates, desiring them to call an assembly of the Achaeans. Philopoemen, however, was aware that Flamininus had not come with any instructions on the subject from the senate, and he therefore answered, that he would comply with his request if he would first state the points on which he wished to confer with the assembly.
This he did not venture to do, and the hopes of Deinocrates accordingly fell to the ground. Shortly after this, Philopoemen was taken prisoner by the Messenians, and Deinocrates was prominent among those who caused him to be put to death.
In the ensuing year the authors of the revolt were obliged to yield to the wishes of the Messenian people for peace, and Lycortas, the Achaean general, having been admitted into the city, commanded the execution of Deinocrates and the chiefs of his party; but Deinocrates anticipated the sentence by suicide. His qualifications as a statesman were, according to Polybius, of the most superficial character.
In political foresight, for instance, he was utterly deficient. (
Plb. 24.5,
12;
Liv. 39.49;
Plut. Phil. 18-
21,
Flam. 20;
Paus. 4.29.)
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