Attalus the King

Attalus I (Soter "Savior") (269 BCE – 197 BCE) ruled Pergamon, a Greek
city-state in what is now Turkey, from 241 BCE to 197 BCE. He was the
second cousin and the adoptive son of Eumenes I, whom he
succeeded, and was the first of the Attalid dynasty to assume the title
of king.

He won an important victory over the Galatians, newly arrived Celtic
tribes from Thrace, who had been, for more than a generation,
plundering and exacting tribute throughout most of Asia Minor without
any serious check. This victory, celebrated by the triumphal
monument at Pergamon, famous for its Dying Gaul, and the liberation
from the Gallic "terror" which it represented, earned for Attalus the
name of "Soter," and the title of "king."

A courageous and capable general and loyal ally of Rome, he played a
significant role in the first and second Macedonian Wars, waged
against Philip V of Macedon. He conducted numerous naval operations,
harassing Macedonian interests throughout the Aegean, winning
honors, collecting spoils, and gaining for Pergamon possession of the
Greek islands of Aegina during the first war, and Andros during the
second, twice narrowly escaping capture at the hands of Philip.

He died in 197 BCE, shortly before the end of the second war, at the age
of 72, having suffered an apparent stroke while addressing a Boeotian
war council some months before. He enjoyed a famously happy
domestic life, shared with his wife and four sons. He was succeeded
as king by his son Eumenes II.