Seleucid dynasty

The Seleucid dynasty or the Seleucidae (/sɪˈluːsɪˌdiː/; Greek: Σελευκίδαι, Seleukídai, "descendants of Seleucus") was a Macedonian Greek royal family, which ruled the Seleucid Empire based in West Asia during the Hellenistic period. It was founded by Seleucus I Nicator, a general and successor of Alexander the Great, after the division of the Macedonian Empire as a result of the Wars of the Successors (Diadochi).

Seleucids Σελευκίδαι
312 BC – 64 BC Royal house
The Vergina Sun remained a principal standard of the Seleucid dynasty, although the anchor and elephant were more prevalent.
Country	Syria, Persia
Founded	312 BC
Founder	Seleucus I
Final ruler	Philip II Philoromaeus
Titles	Lord of Asia Shahanshah Basileus of Persia Basileus of Syria King of Babylonia King of Armenia King of Macedon (claimed)
Dissolution	64 BC
Cadet branches	Diodotid dynasty (Bactria)(?)

Through its history, the Seleucid dominion included large parts of the Near East, as well as of the Asian territory of the earlier Achaemenid Persian Empire. A major center of Hellenistic culture, it attracted a large number of immigrants from Greece who, encouraged by the Seleucids, formed a dominant political elite under the ruling dynasty.^[1] After the death of Seleucus I, his successors maintained the empire's strength establishing it as a Greek power in West Asia;^[2] the empire reached its height under emperor Antiochus III.^[3] From the mid-second century BC, after its defeat at the hands of the resurgent Parthian Empire, the polity entered a state of instability with slow territorial losses and internecine civil wars. The Seleucids, now reduced to a rump state occupying a small part of Syria succumbed to the Rome's annexation of their territory in 64 BC under Pompey the Great.

History

Background

Seleucus (c. 358 – 281 BC) served as an officer of Alexander the Great, commanding the elite infantry corps in the Macedonian army: the "Shield-bearers" (Greek: Ὑπασπισταί, Hypaspistai), later known as the "Silvershields" (Ἀργυράσπιδες, Argyraspides).^[4] After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, the Partition of Triparadisus assigned Seleucus as satrap of Babylon in 321 BC.^[5] 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 BC.^[6] Seleucus' later conquests included Persia and Media. He agreed to a peace treaty with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya (reigned 324-297 BC).^[7] Seleucus defeated Antigonus in the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC and Lysimachus (King of Thrace, Macedon and Asia Minor) in the battle of Corupedium (near Sardis) in 281 BC.^[8][6] Ptolemy Ceraunus assassinated Seleucus later in the same year. Seleucus' eldest son Antiochus I succeeded him as ruler of the Seleucid territories in 281 BC.

Seleucid rulers

Main article: Seleucid Empire

Seleucid Rulers

Portrait	King	Reign (BC)	Consort(s)	Comments
	Seleucus I Nicator	Satrap 320–315, 312–305 BC King 305–281 BC	Apama
	Antiochus I Soter	co-ruler from 291, ruled 281–261 BC	Stratonice of Syria	Co-ruler with his father for 10 years.
	Antiochus II Theos	261–246 BC	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 BC	Laodice II	Brother of Antiochus Hierax
	Seleucus III Ceraunus (or Soter)	225–223 BC		Seleucus III was assassinated by members of his army.
	Antiochus III the Great	223–187 BC	Laodice III Euboea of Chalcis	Antiochus III was a brother of Seleucus III.
	Seleucus IV Philopator	187–175 BC	Laodice IV	This was a brother-sister marriage.
	Antiochus (son of Seleucus IV)	175–170 BC		Antiochus IV as co-ruler.
	Antiochus IV Epiphanes	175–163 BC	Laodice IV	This was a brother-sister marriage.
	Antiochus V Eupator	163–161 BC		Son of Antiochus IV and Laodice IV
	Demetrius I Soter	161–150 BC	Apama ? Laodice V?	Son of Seleucus IV Philopator and Laodice IV.
	Alexander I Balas	150–145 BC	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Antiochus IV and Laodice IV.
	Demetrius II Nicator	first reign, 145–138 BC	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Demetrius I.
	Antiochus VI Dionysus (or Epiphanes)	145–140 BC?		Son of Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea.
	Diodotus Tryphon	140–138 BC		General who was a regent for Antiochus VI Dionysus. Took the throne after murdering his charge.
	Antiochus VII Sidetes (or Euergetes)	138–129 BC	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Demetrius I.
	Demetrius II Nicator	second reign, 129–126 BC	Cleopatra Thea	Demetrius was murdered at the instigation of his wife Cleopatra Thea.
	Alexander II Zabinas	129–123 BC		Counter-king who claimed to be an adoptive son of Antiochus VII Sidetes.
	Cleopatra Thea	126–121 BC		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 Antiochus VIII Grypus.
	Seleucus V Philometor	126/125 BC		Murdered by his mother Cleopatra Thea.
	Antiochus VIII Grypus	125–96 BC	Tryphaena of Egypt Cleopatra Selene I of Egypt
	Antiochus IX Cyzicenus	114–96 BC	Cleopatra IV of Egypt Cleopatra Selene I of Egypt
	Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator	96–95 BC
	Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator	95–92 BC or 83 BC	Cleopatra Selene I
	Demetrius III Eucaerus (or Philopator)	95–87 BC
	Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus	95–92 BC
	Philip I Philadelphus	95–84/83 BC
	Antiochus XII Dionysus	87–84 BC
	Cleopatra Selene or Seleucus VII	83–69 BC
	Antiochus XIII Asiaticus	69–64 BC
	Philip II Philoromaeus	65–63 BC

Family tree

Detailed Seleucid dynasty Family tree

Seleucus Laodice of Macedonia Antiochus from Orestia, Macedonia Ptolemy somatophylax 1.Apama daughter of Spitamenes satrap of Sogdiana Seleucus I Nikator emperor of Seleucid Empire 305–281 BC 2.Stratonice daughter of Demetrius I king of Macedonia Didymeia Stratonice of Syria daughter of Demetrius I king of Macedonia (1) Antiochus I Soter emperor of Seleucid Empire 281–261 BC (1) Achaeus the Elder landowner in Asia Minor (2) Phila ∞ Antigonus II Gonatas king of Macedonia Apama II ∞ Magas king of Cyrene Stratonice ∞ Demetrius II king of Macedon 2.Berenice daughter of Ptolemy II king of Egypt Antiochus II Theos emperor of Seleucid Empire 261–246 BC 1.Laodice I Laodice II ∞ Seleucus II Callinicus Alexander landowner in Asia Minor Andromachus landowner in Asia Minor Antiochis ∞ Attalus Attalid dynasty Laodice II daughter of Achaeus landowner in Asia Minor (1) Seleucus II Callinicus emperor of Seleucid Empire 246–225 BC (1) Antiochus Hierax ruler of Asia Minor (1) Stratonice ∞ Ariarathes III of Cappadocia (1) Laodice ∞ Mithridates II of Pontus Achaeus commander of Asia Minor Laodice daughter of Mithridates II of Pontus Antiochis ∞ Xerxes king of Sophene & Commagene Seleucus III Ceraunus emperor of Seleucid Empire 225–223 BC Antiochus III the Great emperor of Seleucid Empire 222–187 BC Laodice III daughter of Mithridates II of Pontus Cleopatra I Syra ∞ Ptolemy V of Egypt Antiochus co-emperor 210–193 BC Laodice IV ∞ 3.Antiochus IV Epiphanes Seleucus IV Philopator emperor of Seleucid Empire 187–175 BC Antiochus IV Epiphanes emperor of Seleucid Empire 175–164 BC Antiochis ∞ Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia Nyssa ∞ Pharnaces I of Pontus Mithridatic dynasty Antiochus emperor of Seleucid Empire 175–170 BC Laodice V ∞ Perseus king of Macedonia Demetrius I Soter emperor of Seleucid Empire 161–150 BC Antiochus V Eupator emperor of Seleucid Empire 164–161 BC Laodice VI ∞ Mithridates V of Pontus Mithridatic dynasty Laodice ∞ Mithridates III of Pontus Alexander Balas emperor of Seleucid Empire 152/150–146 BC Cleopatra Thea daughter of Ptolemy VI of Egypt 2.Rhodogune of Parthia daughter of Mithridates I of Parthia Demetrius II Nicator emperor of Seleucid Empire 145–138 BC 1.Cleopatra Thea daughter of Ptolemy VI of Egypt queen of Syria 126–121 BC Antiochus VII Sidetes emperor of Seleucid Empire 138–129 BC Antiochus VI Dionysus emperor of Seleucid Empire 144–142/1 BC (1) Seleucus V Philometor co-king of Syria 126–125 BC 1.Tryphaena daughter of Ptolemy VIII of Egypt (1) Antiochus VIII Grypus co-king of Syria 125–122 BC king of Syria 122–96 BC 2.Cleopatra Selene daughter of Ptolemy VIII of Egypt Antiochus IX Cyzicenus king of Syria 116–96 BC Cleopatra IV of Egypt daughter of Ptolemy VIII of Egypt Alexander II Zabinas king of Syria 128–123 BC (1) Seleucus VI Epiphanes king of Syria 96–94 BC (1) Antiochus XI Epiphanes king of Syria 94–93 BC (1) Laodice VII Thea ∞ Mithridates I Callinicus king of Commagene (1) Philip I Philadelphus king of Syria 94–83/75 BC (1) Demetrius III Eucaerus king of Syria 96–87 BC (1) Antiochus XII Dionysus king of Syria 87–82 BC Antiochus X Eusebes king of Syria 95–92/88 BC Cleopatra Selene daughter of Ptolemy VIII of Egypt Philip II Philoromaeus king of Syria 65–64 BC Antiochus XIII Asiaticus king of Syria 69–64 BC Seleucus VII Philometor king of Syria 83–69 BC Berenice IV daughter of Ptolemy XII of Egypt

Simplified Seleucid dynasty 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 Antiochus (son of Antiochus) Seleucus IV Philopator Kg. 187–175 Laodice IV Antiochus IV Epiphanes Kg. 175–163 Antiochus (son of Seleucus) Kg. 175–170 Laodice V Demetrius I Soter Kg. 161–150 Antiochus V Eupator Kg. 163–161 (possibly) 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 Tryphaena Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Kg. 116–96 (claimed) Alexander II Zabinas 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 Seleucus VII Philometer Kg. 83–69 Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Kg. 69–64

See also

• List of kings of Persia
• List of Syrian monarchs

Footnotes

References

1. Glubb 1967, p. 34.
2. Eckstein 2006, p. 106.
3. "Seleucid dynasty | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
4. Esposito 2019, Chapter 8: The Seleucid Army.
5. Kosmin 2014, p. 16.
6. "Seleucid empire | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
7. Kosmin 2014, p. 24.
8. Kosmin 2014, p. 80.

Sources

• Bevan, Edwyn Robert (2015). The House of Seleucus. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108082754.
• Eckstein, Arthur M. (2006). Mediterranean Anarchy, Interstate War, and the Rise of Rome. University of California Press. ISBN 0520246187.
• Esposito, Gabriele (2019). Armies of the Hellenistic States, 323 BC–AD 30, History, Organization & Equipment. Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 9781526730305.
• Glanville Downey (8 December 2015). History of Antioch. Princeton University Press. pp. 735–736. ISBN 978-1-4008-7773-7.
• Glubb, John Bagot (1967). Syria, Lebanon, Jordan. Walker.
• Kosmin, Paul J. (2014). The Land of the Elephant Kings, Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire. Harvard University Press.
• 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 Archived 2013-07-19 at the Wayback Machine by Jona Lendering