Seleucid dynasty

Seleucus I Nicator

The Seleucid dynasty or the Seleucidae (from Greek: Σελευκίδαι, Seleukídai) was a Greek Macedonian royal family, founded by Seleucus I Nicator ("the Victor"), which ruled the Seleucid Empire centered in the Near East and regions of the Asian part of the earlier Achaemenid Persian Empire during the Hellenistic period.

Background

Seleucus (ca. 358 – 281 BCE) served as an officer of Alexander the Great, commanding the élite infantry corps in the Macedonian army: the "Shield-bearers" (Hypaspistai), later known as the "Silvershields" (Ἀργυράσπιδες / Argyraspides). After the death of Alexander in 323 BCE, the Partition of Triparadisus assigned Seleucus as satrap of Babylon in 321 BCE. Antigonus, the satrap of much of Asia Minor, forced Seleucus to flee from Babylon, but, supported by Ptolemy, the Satrap of Egypt, Seleucus returned in 312 BCE. Seleucus' later conquests included Persia and Media. He formed an alliance with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya (reigned 324-297 BCE). Seleucus defeated Antigonus in the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BCE and Lysimachus (King of Thrace, Macedon and Asia Minor) in the battle of Corupedium (near Sardis) in 281 BCE. Ptolemy Ceraunus assassinated Seleucus later in the same year. Seleucus' eldest son Antiochus I succeeded him as ruler of the Seleucid territories.

Seleucid rulers

Seleucid Rulers

King	Reign (BCE)	Consort(s)	Comments
Seleucus I Nicator	Satrap 320–315, 312-305 BCE King 305–281 BCE	Apama
Antiochus I Soter	co-ruler from 291, ruled 281–261 BCE	Stratonice of Syria	Co-ruler with his father for 10 years
Antiochus II Theos	261–246 BCE	Laodice I Berenice	Berenice was a daughter of Ptolemy II of Egypt. Laodice I had her and her son murdered.
Seleucus II Callinicus	246–225 BCE	Laodice II
Seleucus III Ceraunus (or Soter)	225–223 BCE		Seleucus III was assassinated by members of his army.
Antiochus III the Great	223–187 BCE	Laodice III Euboea of Chalcis	Antiochus III was a brother of Seleucus III
Seleucus IV Philopator	187–175 BCE	Laodice IV	This was a brother-sister marriage.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes	175–163 BCE	Laodice IV
Antiochus V Eupator	163–161 BCE
Demetrius I Soter	161–150 BCE	Apama ? Laodice V?	Son of Seleucus IV Philopator and Laodice IV
Alexander I Balas	150–145 BCE	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Antiochus IV and Laodice IV
Demetrius II Nicator	first reign, 145–138 BCE	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Demetrius I
Antiochus VI Dionysus (or Epiphanes)	145–140 BCE?		Son of Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea
Diodotus Tryphon	140–138 BCE		General who was a regent for Antiochus VI Dionysus. Took the throne after murdering his charge.
Antiochus VII Sidetes (or Euergetes)	138–129 BCE	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Demetrius I
Demetrius II Nicator	second reign, 129–126 BCE	Cleopatra Thea	Demetrius was murdered at the instigation of his wife Cleopatra Thea.
Alexander II Zabinas	129–123 BCE		Counter-king who claimed to be an adoptive son of Antiochus VII Sidetes
Cleopatra Thea	126-121 BCE		Daughter of Ptolemy VI of Egypt. Married to three kings: Alexander Balas, Demetrius II Nicator, and Antiochus VII Sidetes. Mother of Antiochus VI, Seleucus V, Antiochus VIII Grypus, and Antiochus IX Cyzicenus. Coregent with her son Antiochus VIII Grypus. Gorgias (Greek General) and War against Jews
Seleucus V Philometor	126/125 BCE		Murdered by his mother Cleopatra Thea
Antiochus VIII Grypus	125–96 BCE	Tryphaena of Egypt Cleopatra Selene I of Egypt
Antiochus IX Cyzicenus	114–96 BCE	Cleopatra IV of Egypt Cleopatra Selene I of Egypt
Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator	96–95 BCE
Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator	95–92 BC or 83 BCE	Cleopatra Selene I
Demetrius III Eucaerus (or Philopator)	95–87 BCE
Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus	95–92 BCE
Philip I Philadelphus	95–84/83 BCE
Antiochus XII Dionysus	87–84 BCE
(Tigranes I of Armenia)	83–69 BCE
Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes or Philometor	83–69 BCE
Antiochus XIII Asiaticus	69–64 BCE
Philip II Philoromaeus	65–63 BCE

Family tree

Antiochus

Laodice

Seleucus I Nicator Kg. 305–281

Apama

Achaeus

Stratonice

Antiochus I Soter Kg. 281–261

Andromachus

Antiochus II Theos Kg. 261–246

Laodice I

Achaeus Kg. 220–213

Laodice II

Seleucus II Callinicus Kg. 246–226

Antiochus Hierax Kg. 240–228

Seleucus III Ceraunus Kg. 226–223

Antiochus III the Great Kg. 223–187

Laodice III

Seleucus IV Philopator Kg. 187–175

Laodice

Antiochus IV Epiphanes Kg. 175–163

Apama

Demetrius I Soter Kg. 161–150

Antiochus V Eupator Kg. 163–161

Alexander I Balas Kg. 150–146

Cleopatra Thea Qu. 125–121

Demetrius II Nicator Kg. 145–125

Antiochus VII Sidetes Kg. 138–129

Antiochus VI Dionysus Kg. 144–142

Seleucus V Philometor Kg. 126–125

Antiochus VIII Grypus Kg. 125–96

Cleopatra

Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Kg. 116–96

Seleucus VI Epiphanes Kg. 96–95

Antiochus XI Epiphanes Kg. 95–92

Philip I Philadelphus Kg. 95–83

Demetrius III Eucaerus Kg. 95–88

Antiochus XII Dionysus Kg. 87–84

Antiochus X Eusebes Kg. 95–83

Philip II Philoromaeus Kg. 69–63

Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Kg. 69–64

See also

• List of kings of Persia

References

• Glanville Downey (8 December 2015). History of Antioch. Princeton University Press. pp. 735–736. ISBN 978-1-4008-7773-7.
• Mehrdad Kia (27 June 2016). The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 287–311. ISBN 978-1-61069-391-2.

External links

• Livius, The Seleucid Empire by Jona Lendering