Diodotus Tryphon

Diodotus was originally from {{ill|Casiana|el|Κασιανά Συρίας}}, a dependent town of the city of Apamea.Strabo 16.2.10 He served as a general for Alexander Balas, during the civil war which the latter fought with Demetrius II Nicator. In 145 BC, when Alexander's father-in-law Ptolemy VI of Egypt switched his support to Demetrius II and invaded Syria, Diodotus and a man called Hierax were in command of the city of Antioch.Diodorus 33.3. They surrendered Antioch to Ptolemy and declared him king of the Seleucid Empire. Ptolemy, unwilling to rule both the Egyptian and Seleucid realms directly, declined the title in favour of Demetrius II.1 Maccabees 11. 13; Josephus AJ 13.113–15.{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|pp=133–4}}

;Revolt against Demetrius II

File:Antiochos VI.jpg

As Demetrius II secured himself on the throne, he began to eliminate former associates of Alexander Balas.Diodorus Bibliotheca 33.4.2 Diodotus (Trypho) is introduced in the First Book of Maccabees as "a certain Trypho [who] had formerly been one of Alexander’s supporters", who sees and seizes an opportunity when "he saw that all the troops were grumbling against Demetrius [II]".{{bibleverse|1|Maccabees|11:39|NRSV}}: New Revised Standard Version He probably considered himself to be in danger, and he fled to an Arab ruler called Zabdiel or Imalkue, who had been entrusted with the care of Alexander Balas's young son. Diodotus, with Arab support, declared Alexander's son the new king, as Antiochus VI Dionysus. The new king was less than five years old and Diodotus held all actual power as his regent.1 Maccabees 11.39-40; Josephus AJ 13.131, 144

Diodotus and Antiochus were initially ignored by Demetrius who had to consolidate his power and was also faced with financial troubles.Diodorus Bibliotheca 33.4.2–3; I Maccabees 11.45–50; Josephus AJ 13.137–41{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|pp=135–6}} Utilising the discontent against the ruling regime Diodotus gathered a large army at his headquarters in Chalcis ad Belum. Eventually, Demetrius marched against them but he was defeated in battle, after which Diodotus gained control of Apamea and Antioch.Diodoros Bibliotheca 33.4a; 1 Maccabees 11.55-56; Josephus AJ 13.144 Numismatic evidence indicates that Apamea was taken in early 144 and Antioch in late 144 or early 143.{{cite journal |last1=Houghton |first1=Arthur |title=The Revolt of Tryphon and the Accession of Antiochos VI at Apamea |journal=Schweizerische Numismatische Rundschau |date=1992 |volume=71 |pages=119–141}}{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|pp=136–7}}

Diodotus, in the name of the boy-king Antiochus VI, controlled most of Inland Syria, including Antioch, Apamea, Larisa and Chalcis. Demetrius on the other hand based himself in Seleucia Pieria and retained control of many of the Syrian and Phoenician coastal cities and Cilicia.Livy Periochae 52; Josephus AJ 13.145 Mesopotamia continued to recognise Demetrius as well and an invasion of the region by Diodotus in mid-144 seems to have been a failure.Astronomical Diaries III 143 A flake 20–1 Territories further east, such as Susa and Elymais were conquered by the Parthians, who eventually took control of Mesopotamia as well in mid-141 BC.{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|p=137 n. 50 & 51}}

;Intervention in Judaea

At the same time Diodotus made diplomatic overtures to the Jews under Jonathan Apphus in order to have them join with him against Demetrius, giving him honours and appointing his brother Simon Thassi as general. Jonathan accepted these overtures. Josephus justifies this by claiming that Demetrius had persecuted the Jews and that the memory of Alexander Balas encouraged them to support his son Antiochus VI.I Maccabees 11.57-59; Josephus AJ 13.145-148 The situation did not last, however. The Jewish sources claim that the boldness of the Jonathan's attacks on Demetrius' supporters led Diodotus to fear his power and begin to plot against him. In 142 BC, Diodotus dispatched troops who lured Jonathan to Ptolemais with a small guard and captured him. Although Simon Thassi paid the money that Diodotus had demanded as a ransom for his brother, Diodotus had him executed anyway and attempted to attack Jerusalem. Heavy snowfall forced him to abandon the siege and return to Syria.I Maccabees 13.12–24; Josephus AJ 13.203–18.{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|pp=137–8}} Simon quickly became a close ally of Demetrius II, who granted extensive freedoms to him - later seen as the moment when the Hasmonean Jewish state achieved full independence.I Maccabees 13.35-49{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|pp=139–140}}

In the same year an army of Tryphon's routed a pro-Demetrius force under Sarpedon between Ptolemais and Tyre, but as they were marching along the coast in pursuit, a great tidal wave wiped out the army, according to Athenaeus.Athenaeus 8.333

In late 142 or early 141 BC, Antiochus VI Dionysus died, supposedly during a medical operation; most ancient sources accuse Diodotus of having had the young king murdered. Diodotus convinced the army to elect him king.I Maccabees 13.31; Diodorus 33.28; Livy 55.11; App. Syr. 68; Justin 36.7; Josephus 13.128; {{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|pp=138 n. 58, 139}}

;Royal titles and representation

As king, Diodotus used the name Tryphon Autocrator. 'Tryphon' referred to the Hellenistic royal virtue of tryphe (luxury). Tryphe was sometimes a negative attribute, implying softness, but could also be a positive virtue, advertising the ruler's wealth and ability to reward his subjects. The epithet Autokrator is unique; it is not attested for any other Greek ruler from this period. Edwyn Bevan argued that this epithet was intended to recall the Macedonian kings Philip II and Alexander the Great, who had held the title of Strategos Autokrator as elected leaders of the Greek forces against Persia. In Bevan's view this reference indicated Tryphon's election as king by the 'free Greco-Macedonian states of Syria'.Bevan, The House of Seleucus, Vol.II, p.302 Boris Chrubasik argues that Tryphon took the epithet in imitation of the Parthian rulers and to emphasise his independence from his predecessors (the term Autokrator literally means 'ruling (by) himself'). The martial overtones of it perhaps served to counter the implications of softness that sometimes were associated with tryphe.{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|p=139}}

Image:Tryphon.jpg

There is no sign that Tryphon considered himself to be part of the Seleucid dynasty. On the contrary, he emphasised the break with his Seleucid predecessors through his unusual title, as well as the iconography of his coinage. His coins depicts him in a mature guise, with a rather fat face and long flowing hair - emphasising the luxuriousness implied by the name Trypon. The reverse side of his coins depict an elaborately decorated Boeotian helmet. This might have been meant to extend his connection to the army, and/or to further emphasise the idea of martial luxury. The break with the Seleucids was also indicated by the abandonment of the Seleucid dating system, in which years were counted continuously from the rise to power of Seleucus I. Tryphon instituted a new system, counting from his own accession as king.{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|pp=157–60}}

In order to secure Roman recognition of his kingship, Tryphon sent a golden statue of the goddess Nike to Rome. The Roman Senate chose to accept this Nike as a gift from Antiochus VI and did not extend recognition to Tryphon. There is no evidence that any of the neighbouring kings recognised Tryphon's kingship either.Diodorus 33.28a; {{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|p=139}}

;War against Demetrius II and Antiochus VII

Once he was king, Tryphon expanded his control to at least Ptolemais-Akke and Dor.Bevan, ‘The House of Seleucus’, Vol.II, p.230-231 Demetrius, meanwhile, had journeyed east in 139/8 to fight the Parthians, who had seized control of Mesopotamia the previous year. He was defeated and captured by them July or August of 138 BC, leaving Tryphon as uncontested ruler of the remaining Seleucid territories.Astronomical Diaries III 137 A rev. 8–11; I Maccabees 14.1-3; Josephus AJ 13.186; Porphyry FGrH 260 F32.16; {{cite journal |last1=van der Spek |first1=Robertus |date=August 1997 |title=New Evidence from the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries Concerning Seleucid and Asarcid Chronology |url=https://www.academia.edu/826620 |journal=Archiv für Orientforschung |volume=44/45 |page=172}}; {{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|p=140}}

Almost immediately, however, Demetrius' brother, Antiochus VII Sidetes took up the conflict against Tryphon. He declared himself King Antiochus Euergetes, left his home in Rhodes, and landed in Phoenicia in the face of staunch resistance.Josephus AJ 13.222 He married the wife of Demetrius, Cleopatra Thea, further legitimizing his position. Numismatic evidence shows that many coastal cities remained loyal to Tryphon, but that Sidon and Tyre immediately attached themselves to Antiochus' cause.{{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|p=140}} Antiochus also successfully won over Simon Thassi by confirming and augmenting the grants made by his brother.I Maccabees 15.5-9; {{harvnb|Chrubasik|2016|p=141}}.

File:Coin of Antiochus VII Euergetes.jpg

Antiochus defeated Tryphon in battle and took control of Antioch by the middle of 138 BC. He moved south to the fortress-city of Dor, where he was besieged.1 Maccabees 15.10-38 From there he escaped by sea to Orthosia and made his way to his home-region of Apamea, where he was besieged again. He died in late 138 or early 137 BC.Josephus AJ 13.223 Some sources say he was captured and executed, others that he committed suicide.Execution: Josephus AJ 13.223; Appian Syrian Wars 68. Suicide: Strabo 14.5.2; George Syncellus 351.18-19.

{{Portal|Asia}}

• List of Syrian monarchs
• Timeline of Syrian history

{{Reflist|2}}

;Primary

• Polybius, Histories
• Periochae of Livy, Ab Urbe Condita Libri LV
• Strabo, Geographica
• Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews (AJ) XIII
• Appian, Syrian Wars
• Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus XXXVI
• Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica XXXIII
• First Book of Maccabees, a deutero-canonical biblical text

;Secondary

• {{cite book |last1=Bevan|first1=Edwyn Robert|title=The House of Seleucus |date=1902}}
• {{cite book |last1=Sherwin-White |first1=Susan |last2=Kuhrt |first2=Amelie |title=From Samarkhand to Sardis: A new approach to the Seleucid Empire |date=1993}}
• {{cite book |last1=Grainger |first1=John D. |title=A Seleukid Prosopography and Gazetter |date=1997}}
• {{cite book |last1=Chrubasik |first1=Boris |title=Kings and Usurpers in the Seleukid Empire: The Men who would be King |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=9780198786924}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef|before=Antiochus VI Dionysus}}

{{s-ttl|title=Seleucid King (King of Syria)|years=142–138 BC|regent1=Demetrius II Nicator|years1=145–138 BC}}

{{s-aft|after=Antiochus VII Sidetes}}

{{s-end}}

{{Hellenistic rulers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tryphon, Diodotus}}

Category:138 BC deaths

Category:2nd-century BC Seleucid monarchs

Category:People in the books of the Maccabees

Category:Year of birth unknown