Seleukid3

Born Alexandros, he changed his name on succeeding to the throne in 225. He was weak and sickly and thus struggled to retain the esteem of the army. He was poisoned in 222 during an expedition to recapture Western Anatolia from the Kingdom of Pergamon and was succeeded by his brother. His general, and maternal cousin, Achaios successfully continued the expedition, setting himself up as the independent King of Anatolia.

222 – 186 Antiochos III Megas ("The Great"), Sixth Seleukid King.

Born between 243 and 241, he succeeded to the throne after his brother’s death on campaign in Anatolia. He led a number of highly successful campaigns; conquering Seleukia Piera (the long-lost western capital of the realm) and Tyre from the Egyptians (The Fourth Syrian War: 219-217), re-conquering Central Anatolia from the rogue general Achaeus (216-213), and leading a great expedition into the east to reassert his power over Media, Persia, Parthia and Bactria (212-205). This expedition consciously paralled the eastern campaign of Alexander the Great and culminated in a two-year siege of the Bactrian capital. On his return Antiochos was hailed as “Megas” (the Great), just like Alexander. In 211 he took Judaea from the Egyptians, and in 202 he took Coele-Syria, also, and would have invaded Egypt itself, but for Roman diplomatic intervention (The Fifth Syrian War). He reoriented himself towards Western Anatolia and in 196 went a step further and invaded Europe. Much of Greece, which had recently come under Roman control, hailed him as their saviour. He received vague threats from the Romans and went to war with them in 192, invading Macedon and Greece, only to be defeated on land by the Romans under Manius Acilius Glabrio at Thermopylae in 191. He was then defeated at sea by the Romans under Livius and the Rhodians, only later winning a naval battle near Ephesus. In 190, the Romans under Publius Cornelius Scipio invaded Anatolia and decisively defeated Antiochos III at Magnesia. He finally received peace in 188, losing not only Europe, but all of Anatolia.

In 199, he married (first) his cousin, Laodikē III, daughter of Mithridatēs, King of Pontus (see PONTUS). In 191 he married (second) Euboia, a Chalcidian girl, the daughter of a Kleoptolemos, in the middle of his invasion of Greece. He died in 187, after plundering a Temple of Bel near Susa, but had issue:

• 1) Antiochos ho Pais ("The Child"), born around 220, he was co-ruler with his father from 209 and led a contingent at the Battle of Panion in 199. He was married to his sister Laodikē IV in 194. He died in 193; allegations that his father was responsible are almost certainly Roman propaganda. He had issue:

  • a) Nysa, who married Pharnakēs, King of Pontus (see PONTUS)

• 2) Seleukos IV Philopatōr, Seventh Seleukid King (son of Laodikē III) (see below)

• 3) Antiochos IV Theos Epiphanēs Nikēphoros, Eighth Seleukid King (son of Laodikē III) (see below)

• 4) Mithradatēs (son of Laodikē III)

• 5) Ardys

• 1) Laodikē IV (daughter of Laodikē III), who married (first) her brother, Antiochos ho Pais in 194 (see above). She married (second) her brother, Seleukos IV Philopatōr, Seventh Seleukid King (see below). She married (third) her brother, Antiochos IV Epiphanēs, Eighth Seleukid King (see below). She may have died in 181, or have been killed by Alexandros I Balas, Eleventh Seleukid King.

• 2) A daughter who may have married Dēmētrios, King of Bactria (200 - 180) (see BACTRIA).

• 3) Kleopatra Syra ("The Syrian"), born 205, who married Ptolemy V Epiphanēs, King of Egypt in 194 (daughter of Laodikē III) (see PTOLEMY)

• 4) Antiochis who married Ariarathēs IV, King of Cappadocia in 193 (daughter of Laodikē III) (see CAPPADOCIA)

• 5) An daughter of Laodikē III, who was engaged to Eumenēs II, King of Pergamon, until he decided to side with the Romans rather than the Seleukids.

• 6) A daughter of Euboia.