Seleucid dynasty

The Seleucid dynasty or the Seleucidae (from Greek: Σελευκίδαι, Seleukídai) was a Macedonian Greek royal family, founded by Seleucus I Nicator, 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.

Seleucid dynasty
The Vergina Sun remained a principal standard of the Seleucid dynasty, although the anchor and elephant were more prevalent.
Country	Syria, Persia
Founded	305 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)

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" (Hypaspistai), later known as the "Silvershields" (Ἀργυράσπιδες / Argyraspides). After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, the Partition of Triparadisus assigned Seleucus as satrap of Babylon in 321 BC. 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. Seleucus' later conquests included Persia and Media. He formed an alliance with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya (reigned 324-297 BC). 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. 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

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
	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
	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 BCE
	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

See also: Detailed Family tree of Seleucids

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 IV

Antiochus IV Epiphanes Kg. 175–163

Antiochus Kg. 175–170

Laodice V

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

Tryphaena

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

Seleucus VII Philometer Kg. 83–69

Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Kg. 69–64

See also

• List of kings of Persia
• List of Syrian monarchs

References

Sources

• 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

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seleucid dynasty.

• Livius, The Seleucid Empire by Jona Lendering