Amalickiah was a leader of significant influence and notoriety in the Book of Mormon narrative, particularly known for his cunning and ambitions to become a monarch. As a Nephite by birth and a descendant of Zoram, he used his skills in manipulation to attract a following, especially among the lower judges, seeking to overthrow the established freedoms and government of the Nephite people (Alma 46:4-5).
His lust for power led him to oppose the Church of Christ and to contend against Helaman and the other leaders of the Church, leading to a rebellion so severe that Captain Moroni was compelled to act defensively in order to preserve the liberties of the people (Alma 46:1-2, 10-11). Following his failed attempt to dethrone the legitimate Nephite rulers, Amalickiah defected to the Lamanites, where his manipulation blossomed into outright betrayal as he deceitfully positioned himself to command the Lamanite armies, eventually arranging the assassination of the Lamanite king and marrying the widowed queen to secure the throne for himself (Alma 47).
Once in a position of power, Amalickiah wasted no time inspiring the Lamanite population to war against the Nephites, furthered by his propaganda and towering ambition (Alma 48:1-2). His military campaign against the Nephite nation, which included the capture of several Nephite cities along the eastern shoreline, was marked by cruelty and fierce determination to subjugate both the Nephite and Lamanite peoples under his rule (Alma 51:23-26).
However, Amalickiah’s reign and conquests were brought to an abrupt end when he was assassinated by the Nephite captain Teancum as he slept in his tent, demonstrating a poetic end to his nefarious schemes (Alma 51:33-34). His death highlighted a significant moral lesson within the text of the Book of Mormon, emphasizing the destructive potential of wicked individuals and serving as a testimony to the constant struggle between the forces seeking to preserve freedom and those striving for tyrannical control.