Amalickiah

Notable Ancestor
Zoram

Citations

The dissension of Amalickiah and the Amalickiahites.
Amalickiah uses deceit to become king of the Lamanites.
1) And now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites.
2) And thus he did inspire their hearts against the Nephites, insomuch that in the latter end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges, he having accomplished his designs thus far, yea, having been made king over the Lamanites, he sought also to reign over all the land, yea, and all the people who were in the land, the Nephites as well as the Lamanites.
3) Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds, and stirred them up to anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle against the Nephites.
4) For he was determined, because of the greatness of the number of his people, to overpower the Nephites and to bring them into bondage.
5) And thus he did appoint chief captains of the Zoramites, they being the most acquainted with the strength of the Nephites, and their places of resort, and the weakest parts of their cities; therefore he appointed them to be chief captains over his armies.
6) And it came to pass that they took their camp, and moved forth toward the land of Zarahemla in the wilderness.
7) Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.
Amalickiah attacks the Nephites during the rebellion of the king-men. He takes the City of Moroni and then all the cities up the eastern coast until he almost reaches the land of Bountiful, but he is stopped and slain by Teancum.
1) And now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, behold, when the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month, behold, they found Amalickiah was dead in his own tent; and they also saw that Teancum was ready to give them battle on that day.
3) And it came to pass that the brother of Amalickiah was appointed king over the people; and his name was Ammoron; thus king Ammoron, the brother of king Amalickiah, was appointed to reign in his stead.
16) I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of Amalickiah whom ye have murdered. Behold, I will avenge his blood upon you, yea, and I will come upon you with my armies for I fear not your threatenings.
23) I am Ammoron, and a descendant of Zoram, whom your fathers pressed and brought out of Jerusalem.

Notes

I think the evidence suggests that Amalickiah was the first to use serious strategem in battle to lure his opponents out of well-defended positions rather than attack them head-on.

Cross-References