In the Book of Mormon, Amalickiah was a Nephite leader of a movement to reestablish a king, specifically him as the king of the Nephites. When he failed to gain power through a popular uprising he dissented
In the Book of Mormon, Amalickiah was a Nephite leader of a movement to reestablish a king, specifically him as the king of the Nephites. When he failed to gain power through a popular uprising he dissented to the Lamanites becoming their king and using them as a means to gain power over the Nephites. He was killed during the ensuing war.
This movement arose during a power vacuum following the separation of church and state and by the transfer of leadership of the church from Alma the Younger to his son Helaman. Helaman succeeded his father as High Priest over the Nephite Church but did not have any political authority. His father was the last High Priest who also held the post of Chief Judge (or governor) of the Nephites. Alma the Younger had found that the church suffered from neglect due to his political duties and so resigned the latter office.
Amalickiah is described as a large and strong man who was also an eloquent speaker. He may have been a lower (i.e. local) judge for many of his followers (called Amalickiahites) held that office. It is noted that he was also a member of the Nephite Church and that the lower judges were members themselves. They were upset with the reforms or "regulation" of the church established by Helaman following the last war with the Lamanites. They were angry over the preaching by Helaman and his high priests. So angry that they were willing to kill Helaman and all those that held an opposing view.
Captain Moroni learned of the Amalickiahites rebellion and rallied the Nephite people against it. He raised the Title of Liberty over the capital and then over every city of the land where the rebellion was taking place. Those that followed the Title of Liberty and the reformed church called themeselves Christians. The rebels were soon outnumbered in the land, their hopes for power broken.
Dissent to the Lamanites
Amalickiah led his followers away into the wilderness to join the Lamanites when he realized his political campaign had failed. Moroni did not want their enemy to gain any further strength so he set off in pursuit with the army. Moroni's army defeated the rebels but Amalickiah and a small band of trusted followers escaped to the Land of Nephi.
Amalickiah becomes King of the Lamanites
Amalickiah and his men go to the court of the Lamanite king and persuade him to issue a call to arms against the Nephites. However this proves unpopular with the majority of warriors, the Lamanites having just lost a costly war against the Nephites. Amalickiah flatters the king and gets appointed to command the loyalists. He is ordered to go and compel the rest of the warriors into the army to fight for the king.
The rebels outnumber the loyalist army that Amalickiah commands. Knowing he will likely fail to press the warriors into the army he comes up with plan to use his greatest strengths, flattery and treachery. Camping before the hill where the rebels are in their defensive position he secretly sends word to Lehonti that he will betray the loyalists into the rebels' hands if he is made second in command of the rebel army. Lehonti agrees and Amalickiah sets his own men as guards, allowi