DIONY'SIUS THE YOUNGER, sou of Dionysius the Elder, suc ceeded him as tyrant of Syracuse, being acknowledged as such by the people. Hie father bad left the state in a prosperous condition, but young Dionysius had neither his abilities nor his prudence and expe rience. He followed at first the advice of Dion, who, although a republican in principle, had remained faithful to his father, aud who now endeavoured to direct the inexperienced eon for the good of his cometry. For this purpose Dion invited his friend Plato to Syracuse about ac. 364. Dionysius received the philosopher with great respect, and in defereuce to his advico reformed for a while his loose babita and the manners of bis court. But a faction, led by PhiEstes, who had always been a supporter of the tyranny of the elder Dionysius, succeeded in prejudicing his son against both Dion and Peet°. Dion was exiled under pretence that he had written privately to the senate of Carthage for the purpose of concluding a peace. Plato nrgeetly demanded of Dionysius recall of Dion, and not being able to obtain it, be left Syracuse, after which Dionysius gave himself up to debauchery without restraint. Aristippus, who was then at his court, was the kind of philosopher best suited to the taste of Diony sins. Dion meantime was travelling through Greece, where his character gained him numerous friends. Dionysius, moved by jealousy, confiscated his property, and obliged his wife to marry another. Upon this Dion collected a small force at Zacynthua, with which he sailed for Sicily, and entered Syracuse without resistance. Dionyeins was absent at the time, but his adherents retired to the citadel in the Otlygia. Dionysius soon returned, and after some resistance, in which old Philistine his best supporter, was taken prisoner and put to death, he quitted Syracuse, and retired to Locri, the country of his mother, whine belied connections and friends.
After the murder of Dion (Dios) several tyrants succeeded each other in Syracuse, until Dimities himself came and retook it about D.C. 346. Dionesius however, instead of improving by his ten year.' exile, had grown worse; having usurped the euprome power in Locri, he had committed many atrocities, had put to death several citizens, and abused their wives and daughters. (Juetinus, Misuses.) Upon his return to Syracuse, his cruelty and profligacy drove away a great Dumber of people, who emigrated to various parts of Italy and Greece, whilst others joined limb's, tyrant of Leontini, and a former friend of Dioo. The latter sent inceseogers to Corinth to request assistance against Dionyalus. The Corinthians appointed as leader of the expe dition Timoleon, who bad already figured in the affairs of his own country as a determined opponent of tyranny. Timoleon landed in Sicily D.C. 344, notwithstanding the opposition of the Carthaginians and of Diets', who acted. perfidious port on this occasion ; he entered Syracuse, and soon after obliged Dionyeine to surrender. Dionysius was sent to Corinth, where he spent the remainder of his life hi the company of actors and low women ; some say that at one time he kept a school. Justin (xxi. 5) says that he purposely affected low habits in order to disarm revenge, and that being despised, be might no longer be feared or hated for his former tyranny. Several repartees are related of him in answer to those who taunted him upon hie altered fortunes, which are not destitute of wit or wisdom.
(Plutarch, Dion ; Diodorue, xvi.)