A market gardener is suddenly and unexpectedly elevated to become the new ruler of Sidonia.

>The Sidonians repudiated their reigning prince (he appears to have been executed) and left the appointment of a successor to [Alexander](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg) [**the Great**]. Alexander, we are told, asked his friend [Hephaestion](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Hephaestion_Cropped.jpg) to select a suitable candidate. Hephaestion’s choice fell on a collateral member of the royal house, now living in reduced circumstances and working as a market gardener. >This man, Abdalonymus – his Phoenician name means ‘servant of the gods’ – duly ascended the throne, and ancient moralists never tired of citing his history as a classic instance of ‘the incredible changes which Fortune can effect.’ _________________________ **Source:** Green, Peter. “Intimations of Immortality.” Alexander of Macedon: 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography. Univ. of California Press, 2005. 246. Print. ___________________________ **Further Reading:** [Alexander III of Macedon / Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Μέγας (Alexander the Great)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great) [Ἡφαιστίων (Hephaestion)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hephaestion) [Ἀβδαλώνιμος / אבדעלנמ (Abdalonymus)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdalonymus) ___________________________ **If you enjoy this type of content, please consider donating to my [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/HistoryLockeBox)!**