Seleucus IV Philopator, Basileus of the Seleucid Empire

Other Events and Attributes:

• Last Full Review: 11 Sep 2020

Notes:

Name:

History:
He was born about 218 BCE.

He became the Basileus of the Seleucid Empire in 187 BCE.

He was killed by Heliodorus, who gave the throne to Ariochus IV in 3 Sep 175 BCE. The rightful heir, Demetrius, was a captive in Rome.

Seleucus 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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death

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Name:


History:
He was a hostage of Rome from about 187 to 163 BCE. He then escaped, returned to Syria where he overthrew his cousin, Antiochus V in 162 BCE.

In 162 BCE, he was crowned the King of Syria.

He freed Babylonia in 160 BCE, and later fought against the Maccabbes.

Died:
He was killed in battle with Alexander Bales.

Demetrius married Laodice V on yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: From 145 BCE to 138 BCE
• Last Full Review: 13 Jul 2021

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Name:


History:
Say 151 BCE - Demetrios fled to Crete after the death of his father, his mother and his older brother, when Alexander Balas usurped the Seleucid throne.

About 147 BCE - Demetrius returned to Syria with a force of Cretan mercenaries led by a man called Lasthenes, while Alexander Balas was occupied with a revolt in Cilicia. In 145 BC Ptolemy VI Philometor, king of Egypt, ostensibly in support of Alexander Balas, but he switched his support to Demetrius. Ptolemy sealed the alliance by divorcing his daughter Cleopatra Thea from Alexander and remarrying her to Demetrius. Shortly after, Antioch surrendered to the Egyptian forces and offered the kingship to Ptolemy VI. However, he insisted Demetrius would become king, believing that Rome would not tolerate the unification of Egypt and Syria. Ptolemy pledged to serve as "a tutor in goodness and a guide" to Demetrius II. He probably intended for Demetrius to serve as a puppet ruler.

145 BCE - He was crowned the King of Syria.

July/August 138 BCE - He lost the throne and was a captured by the Parthians and held in Hyrcania in Parthia. His brother Antiochus VII ruled the Seleucid Empire in the interim between his two reigns.

130 BCE - Antiochus Sidetes felt secure enough to march against Parthia, and scored massive initial successes. Now Phraates II made what he thought was a powerful move: he released Demetrius, hoping that the two brothers would start a civil war. However, Sidetes was defeated soon after his brother's release and never met him. Phraates II sent people to pursue Demetrius, but he managed to safely return home to Syria and regained his throne and his queen as well.

129 BCE - He gained the throne again and ruled until his death.

Died:
He was assassinated in Tyre in 125 BC at the orders of his wife Cleopatra Thea.

Demetrius married Cleopatra Thea about 145 BCE. Cleopatra (daughter of Pharaoh Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II) was born about 164 BCE; died in 121 BCE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Demetrius married Rhodogunde, Parthian Princess on yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• General Information: He was also known as Antiochus VII Euergetes. He was the last Seleucid king of any stature. After Antiochus was killed in battle, the Seleucid realm was restricted to Syria.
• History: From 164 BCE to 129 BCE
• Last Full Review: 13 Jul 2021

Notes:

History:
July/August 138 - With his brother captured, he assumed the throne.

134 BCE - He laid siege to Jerusalem in 134 BC. During the siege he allowed a seven-day truce for the Jews to celebrate a religious festival, impressing the Jewish leadership.[5] According to Josephus[6] the Hasmonean leader John Hyrcanus opened King David's sepulchre and removed three thousand talents, which he then paid Antiochus to spare the city. Nevertheless, King Antiochus' respectful treatment of the Jews, and respect for their religion, earned him their gratitude and added name Euergetes ("the Benefactor"). With no Jewish sources of that time (the Book of Maccabees ends a few years before his time), it is unclear if the siege of Jerusalem ended with a decisive Seleucid victory or simply a peace treaty. Furthermore, Jewish forces later assisted Antiochus in his wars, and for nearly 20 years after his death, John Hyrcanus refrained from attacking areas under Seleucid control. [see picture below]

125 BCE - With his brother Assassinated, he became the sole ruler.

Died:
In the winter of 130–129 BCE, several Median towns rose in rebellion and attacked their Seleucid garrisons. Antiochus marched to support one such isolated garrison with only a small force (probably only his Royal Guards). In a barren valley, he was ambushed and killed in the Battle of Ecbatana by Phraates II and a large force of Parthians, who had entered the country without being detected. After the battle the Parthians claimed that Antiochus killed himself because of fear. Most Greco-Roman historians state that he died in battle. Appian, however, states that he did commit suicide.

Antiochus married Cleopatra Thea on yes, date unknown. Cleopatra (daughter of Pharaoh Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II) was born about 164 BCE; died in 121 BCE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
He was killed by his mother for taking the crown without her permission.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death

Notes:

Name:


History:
Grypus means "hook nose".

In 124 BCE, he was crowned King of Syria in joint rule with his mother. In 121, he became the sole King of Syria.

He divided the rule of Syriain 115 BCE with his brother Antiochus IX.

Died:
He was murdered.

Family/Spouse: Cleopatra Tryphæna. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Cleopatra V. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Laodice married Phraates II of Partha on yes date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]