Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Basileus of the Seleucid Empire

Other Events and Attributes:

• General Information: His original name was Mithradates (alternative form Mithridates); he assumed the name Antiochus after he ascended the throne. Notable events during the reign of Antiochus IV include his near-conquest of Egypt, his persecution of the Jews of Judea and Samaria, and the rebellion of the Jewish Maccabees. His often eccentric behavior and capricious actions led some of his contemporaries to call him Epimanes ("The Mad One"), a word play on his title Epiphanes.
• Reign: From 175 BCE to 164 BCE; King of the Seleuid Empire
• Last Full Review: 11 Sep 2020

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History:
175 BCE - Seleucus was assassinated in September 175 BCE by the usurper Heliodorus, who presumably hoped to dominate the regency. However with the help of king Eumenes II of Pergamum, Antiochus traveled from Athens, through Asia Minor and reached Syria by November 175 BCE. Seleucus' legitimate heir Demetrius I Soter was still a hostage in Rome, so Antiochus seized the throne for himself proclaiming himself co-regent with another son of Seleucus, an infant named Antiochus, whom he then murdered in 170 BCE.

170 BCE - The guardians of King Ptolemy VI Philometor demanded the return of Coele-Syria in 170 BCE, declaring war on the Seleucids on the assumption that the kingdom was divided after Antiochus' murder of his nephew. However Antiochus had prepared more thoroughly and launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, defeating a Ptolemaic force and seizing Pelusium. He then advanced into Egypt proper, conquering all but Alexandria and capturing King Ptolemy. This was partially achieved because Rome (Ptolemaic Egypt's traditional ally) was embroiled in the Third Macedonian War and was not willing to become involved elsewhere.

To avoid alarming Rome, Antiochus allowed Ptolemy VI to continue ruling as a puppet king from Memphis. Upon Antiochus' withdrawal, the city of Alexandria chose a new king, one of Ptolemy's brothers, also named Ptolemy (VIII Euergetes). The Ptolemy brothers agreed to rule Egypt jointly instead of fighting a civil war.

In 168 BCE, Antiochus led a second attack on Egypt and also sent a fleet to capture Cyprus. Before he reached Alexandria, his path was blocked by a single elderly Roman ambassador named Gaius Popillius Laenas who delivered a message from the Roman Senate directing Antiochus to withdraw his armies from Egypt and Cyprus or consider himself in a state of war with the Roman Republic. Antiochus said he would discuss it with his council, whereupon the Roman envoy drew a line in the sand around Antiochus and said: "Before you leave this circle, give me a reply that I can take back to the Roman Senate." This implied Rome would declare war if the King stepped out of the circle without committing to leave Egypt immediately. Weighing his options, Antiochus decided to withdraw. Only then did Popillius agree to shake hands with him.

168 BCE - He put down the Maccabean Revolt in Judea.

Antiochus married Laodice IV, Queen of the Seleucid Empire on Yes, date unknown. Laodice (daughter of Antiochus III Megas, Basileus of the Seleucid Empire and Laodice III) was born in 223 BCE in Syria; died about 162 BCE in Syria. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Antiochus V Eupator, Basileus of the Seleucid Empire
2. Laodice VI
3. Antiochis

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death

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History:
In 220, he was crowned the King of Syria.

In 220 BCE, he suppressed the revolts in Media and Persia. Then he recovered Armenia and successfully invaded Parthia, Media, and Bactria between 21 and 205 BCE. He was defeated by the Rome at the Battle of Magnesia in 189 BCE.

Died:
He was murdered.

Antiochus married Laodice III. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• History: birth to death

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History:
In 246 BCE, he was crowned the King of Syria.

He was put on the throne by his mother. In 246 BCE, he made war on Ptolemy III Euergates, but was defeated. He was forced to give Asia Minor to his brother, Antiochus Hierax. Later he lost Parthia to the Arcasid dynasty.

Seleucus married Laodice II. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• History: birth to death

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History:
In 250 BCE, he was crowned the King of Pontus.

Mithradates married Laodice II. Laodice (daughter of Antiochus II Theos, King of Syria and Laodice I) was born in 260 BCE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death

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History:
In 261 BCE, he was crowned the King of Syria.

He lost Bactria to Diodatus about 250 BCE and later lost Parthia.

Antiochus married Laodice I. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death

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History:
General Andromachus was living between 245 and 224 BCE.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death

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History:
In 266 BCE, he was crowned the King of Pontus.