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
Royal house
The Vergina Sun remained a principal standard of the Seleucid dynasty, although the anchor and elephant were more prevalent.
CountrySyria, Persia
Founded312 BC
FounderSeleucus I
Final rulerPhilip II Philoromaeus
Titles
Dissolution64 BC
Cadet branchesDiodotid dynasty (Bactria)(?)
History of Greater Iran
Pre-Islamic
BCE / BC
Prehistory
Kura–Araxes culture c. 3400 – c. 2000
Proto-Elamite civilization 3200–2800
Elamite dynasties 2800–550
Jiroft culture
Mannaea
Lullubi/Zamua
Gutians
Cyrtian
Corduene
Bactria–Margiana Complex 2200–1700
Avestan period c. 1500 BCE – 500 BCE
Kingdom of Mannai 10th–7th century
Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–609
Urartu 860–590
Median Empire 728–550
Scythian Kingdom 652–625
Achaemenid Empire 550–330
Ancient kingdom of Armenia 331 BCE – 428 CE
Seleucid Empire 330–150
Caucasian Iberia c. 302 BCE – 580 CE
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 250–125
Parthian Empire 248 BCE–224 CE
Caucasian Albania 2nd century BCE –
8th century CE
Roman Empire 27 BCE – 330 CE
CE / AD
Kushan Empire 30–275
Sasanian Empire 224–651
Afrighid dynasty 305–995
Hephthalite Empire 425–557
Kabul Shahi kingdom 565–879
Dabuyid dynasty 642–760
Bagratid Armenia 880s – 1045
Alania 8th/9th century – 1238 / 9
Kingdom of Georgia 1008–1490
Islamic
Rashidun Caliphate 637–651
Umayyad Caliphate 661–750
Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258
Shirvanshah 799–1607
Tahirid dynasty 821–873
Dulafid dynasty 840–897
Zaydis of Tabaristan 864–928
Saffarid dynasty 861–1003
Samanid Empire 819–999
Sajid dynasty 889/90–929
Ziyarid dynasty 928–1043
Buyid dynasty 934–1055
Sallarid dynasty 941–1062
Ghaznavid Empire 975–1187
Ghurid dynasty pre-879 – 1215
Seljuk Empire 1037–1194
Khwarazmian dynasty 1077–1231
Sultanate of Rum 1077–1307
Salghurids 1148–1282
Ilkhanate 1256–1353
Kart dynasty 1231–1389
Ottoman Empire 1299–1923
Muzaffarid dynasty 1314–1393
Chupanid dynasty 1337–1357
Jalairid Sultanate 1339–1432
Timurid Empire 1370–1507
Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans 1407–1468
Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans 1378–1508
Safavid Empire 1501–1722
Mughal Empire 1526–1857
Hotak dynasty 1722–1729
Afsharid Iran 1736–1750
Zand dynasty 1750–1794
Durrani Empire 1794–1826
Qajar Iran 1794–1925
Periods and dynasties of Babylon
All years are BC
Old Babylonian
Amorite dynasty I c. 1894–1595
First Sealand dynasty II c. 1732–1475
Kassite
Kassite dynasty III c. 1594–1155
Middle Babylonian
Second Dynasty of Isin IV c. 1157–1026
Second Sealand dynasty V c. 1025–1005
Bazi dynasty VI c. 1004–985
Elamite dynasty VII c. 984–979
Dynasty of E VIII c. 978–732
Neo-Assyrian
Assyrian dynasty
(combined rule of the Adaside
dynasty and the Sargonid
dynasty)		 IX 732–626
Neo-Babylonian
Chaldean dynasty X 626–539
Persian
Achaemenid dynasty XI 539–331
Hellenistic
Argead dynasty XII 331–309
Seleucid dynasty XIII 311–141
Parthian
Arsacid dynasty XIV 141 BC–AD 224
See also: List of kings by Period and Dynasty

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
PortraitKingReign (BC)Consort(s)Comments
Seleucus I NicatorSatrap 320–315, 312–305 BC
King 305–281 BC		Apama
Antiochus I Soterco-ruler from 291, ruled 281–261 BCStratonice of SyriaCo-ruler with his father for 10 years.
Antiochus II Theos261–246 BC
Berenice was a daughter of Ptolemy II of Egypt. Laodice I had her and her son murdered.
Seleucus II Callinicus246–225 BCLaodice II
Seleucus III Ceraunus (or Soter)225–223 BCSeleucus III was assassinated by members of his army.
Antiochus III the Great223–187 BC
Antiochus III was a brother of Seleucus III.
Seleucus IV Philopator187–175 BCLaodice IVThis was a brother-sister marriage.
Antiochus (son of Seleucus IV)175–170 BCAntiochus IV as co-ruler.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes175–163 BCLaodice IVThis was a brother-sister marriage.
Antiochus V Eupator163–161 BC
Demetrius I Soter161–150 BC
Son of Seleucus IV Philopator and Laodice IV.
Alexander I Balas150–145 BCCleopatra TheaSon of Antiochus IV and Laodice IV.
Demetrius II Nicatorfirst reign, 145–138 BCCleopatra TheaSon of Demetrius I.
Antiochus VI Dionysus (or Epiphanes)145–140 BC?Son of Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea.
Diodotus Tryphon140–138 BCGeneral who was a regent for Antiochus VI Dionysus. Took the throne after murdering his charge.
Antiochus VII Sidetes (or Euergetes)138–129 BCCleopatra TheaSon of Demetrius I.
Demetrius II Nicatorsecond reign, 129–126 BCCleopatra TheaDemetrius was murdered at the instigation of his wife Cleopatra Thea.
Alexander II Zabinas129–123 BCCounter-king who claimed to be an adoptive son of Antiochus VII Sidetes.
Cleopatra Thea126–121 BCDaughter 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 Philometor126/125 BCMurdered by his mother Cleopatra Thea.
Antiochus VIII Grypus125–96 BC
Antiochus IX Cyzicenus114–96 BC
Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator96–95 BC
Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator95–92 BC or 83 BCCleopatra Selene I
Demetrius III Eucaerus (or Philopator)95–87 BC
Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus95–92 BC
Philip I Philadelphus95–84/83 BC
Antiochus XII Dionysus87–84 BC
Cleopatra Selene or Seleucus VII83–69 BC
Antiochus XIII Asiaticus69–64 BC
Philip II Philoromaeus65–63 BC

Family tree

See also

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.
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