Seleucid dynasty#Family tree

{{Royal house

| name = Seleucids

| native_name = Σελευκίδαι

| coat_of_arms = Vergina Sun WIPO.svg

| coat_of_arms_size = 150px

| coat_of_arms_caption = The Vergina Sun remained a principal standard of the Seleucid dynasty, although the anchor and elephant were more prevalent.

| type = 312 BC – 64 BC
Royal house

| parent_family =

| country = Syria, Persia

| founded = 312 BC

| founder = Seleucus I

| dissolution = 64 BC

| final_ruler = Philip II Philoromaeus

| titles = * Lord of Asia

| cadet_branches = Diodotid dynasty (Bactria)(?)

}}

The Seleucid dynasty or the Seleucidae ({{IPAc-en|s|ɪ|ˈ|l|uː|s|ɪ|ˌ|d|iː}}; {{langx|el|Σελευκίδαι}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|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).

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.{{Sfn|Glubb|1967|p=34}} After the death of Seleucus I, his successors maintained the empire's strength establishing it as a Greek power in West Asia;{{Sfn|Eckstein|2006|p=106}} the empire reached its height under emperor Antiochus III.{{Cite web |title=Seleucid dynasty {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/summary/Seleucid-Empire |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} 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" ({{langx|el|Ὑπασπισταί}}, Hypaspistai), later known as the "Silvershields" ({{lang|grc|Ἀργυράσπιδες}}, Argyraspides).{{Sfn|Esposito|2019|loc=Chapter 8: The Seleucid Army}} After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, the Partition of Triparadisus assigned Seleucus as satrap of Babylon in 321 BC.{{Sfn|Kosmin|2014|p=16}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Seleucid empire {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Seleucid-Empire |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} Seleucus' later conquests included Persia and Media. He agreed to a peace treaty with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya (reigned 324-297 BC).{{Sfn|Kosmin|2014|p=24}} 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.{{Sfn|Kosmin|2014|p=80}} 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

class="wikitable" align="center" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" \|+Seleucid Rulers !align="center" width="110px"\|Portrait !!width="220px"\|King !! align="center" width="120px"\|Reign (BC) !! width="180px"\|Consort(s) !! width="220px"\|Comments
110x110px	Seleucus I Nicator	Satrap 320–315, 312–305 BC King 305–281 BC	Apama
110px	Antiochus I Soter	co-ruler from 291, ruled 281–261 BC	Stratonice of Syria	Co-ruler with his father for 10 years.
110px	Antiochus II Theos	261–246 BC	{{blist \| Laodice I \| Berenice}}	Berenice was a daughter of Ptolemy II of Egypt. Laodice I had her and her son murdered.
110px	Seleucus II Callinicus	246–225 BC	Laodice II	Brother of Antiochus Hierax
110px	Seleucus III Ceraunus (or Soter)	225–223 BC		Seleucus III was assassinated by members of his army.
110px	Antiochus III the Great	223–187 BC	{{blist \| Laodice III \| Euboea of Chalcis}}	Antiochus III was a brother of Seleucus III.
110px	Seleucus IV Philopator	187–175 BC	Laodice IV	This was a brother-sister marriage.
110px	Antiochus (son of Seleucus IV)	175–170 BC		Antiochus IV as co-ruler.
110px	Antiochus IV Epiphanes	175–164 BC	Laodice IV	This was a brother-sister marriage.
110px	Antiochus V Eupator	164–162 BC		Son of Antiochus IV and Laodice IV
110px	Demetrius I Soter	162–150 BC	{{blist \| Apama ? \| Laodice V?}}	Son of Seleucus IV Philopator and Laodice IV.
100px	Alexander I Balas	150–145 BC	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Antiochus IV and Laodice IV.
100px	Demetrius II Nicator	first reign, 145–138 BC	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Demetrius I.
100px	Antiochus VI Dionysus (or Epiphanes)	145/144–142/141 BC?		Son of Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea.
100px	Diodotus Tryphon	142/141–138 BC		General who was a regent for Antiochus VI Dionysus. Took the throne after murdering his charge.
100px	Antiochus VII Sidetes (or Euergetes)	138–129 BC	Cleopatra Thea	Son of Demetrius I.
100px	Demetrius II Nicator	second reign, 129–125 BC	Cleopatra Thea	Demetrius was murdered at the instigation of his wife Cleopatra Thea.
100px	Alexander II Zabinas	128–123 BC		Counter-king who claimed to be an adoptive son of Antiochus VII Sidetes.
100px	Cleopatra Thea	125–121 BC		Daughter 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 Philometor	126/125 BC		Murdered by his mother Cleopatra Thea.
100px	Antiochus VIII Grypus	125–96 BC	{{blist \| Tryphaena of Egypt \| Cleopatra Selene I of Egypt}}
100px	Antiochus IX Cyzicenus	116/113–95 BC	{{blist \| Cleopatra IV of Egypt \| Cleopatra Selene I of Egypt}}
100px	Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator	96–94 BC
110px	Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator	95–92 BC or 95-88 BC	Cleopatra Selene I
100px	Demetrius III Eucaerus (or Philopator)	96–87 BC
100px	Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus	94–93 BC
100px	Philip I Philadelphus	94–75 BC or 94-83 BC
110px	Antiochus XII Dionysus	87–82 BC
	Cleopatra Selene or Seleucus VII	82–69 BC
100px	Antiochus XIII Asiaticus	82–64 BC
	Philip II Philoromaeus	65–64 BC or 69-64 BC (Died Possibly c.56 BC)

Family tree

{{Chart top|width=100%|collapsed=yes|Detailed Seleucid dynasty Family tree}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | Lao |~| Ant | | Pto |Lao=Laodice of Macedonia|Ant=Antiochus
from Orestia, Macedonia|Pto=Ptolemy
somatophylax}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | Apa |~| Se1 |~| Str | | Did |Apa=1.Apama
daughter of Spitamenes
satrap of Sogdiana|Se1=Seleucus I Nikator
emperor of Seleucid Empire
305–281 BC|Str=2.Stratonice
daughter of Demetrius I
king of Macedonia|Did=Didymeia}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | Str |~| An1 | | Ach | | Phi |Str=Stratonice of Syria
daughter of Demetrius I
king of Macedonia|An1=(1) Antiochus I Soter
emperor of Seleucid Empire
281–261 BC|Ach=(1) Achaeus the Elder
landowner in Asia Minor|Phi=(2) Phila
∞ Antigonus II Gonatas
king of Macedonia}}

{{tree chart| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|(| | | |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart| Apa | | Str | | Ber |~| An2 |~| La1 | | La2 | | Ale | | And | | Ant |Apa=Apama II
∞ Magas
king of Cyrene|Str=Stratonice
∞ Demetrius II
king of Macedon|An2=Antiochus II Theos
emperor of Seleucid Empire
261–246 BC|La1=1.Laodice I|Ber=2.Berenice
daughter of Ptolemy II
king of Egypt|Ant=Antiochis
∞ Attalus
Attalid dynasty|Ale=Alexander
landowner in Asia Minor|And=Andromachus
landowner in Asia Minor|La2=Laodice II
∞ Seleucus II Callinicus}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |!| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | La2 |~| Se2 | | Ant | | Str | | Lao | | Ach |~| Lad |Str=(1) Stratonice
∞ Ariarathes III of Cappadocia|Lao=(1) Laodice
∞ Mithridates II of Pontus|Ant=(1) Antiochus Hierax
ruler of Asia Minor|Se2=(1) Seleucus II Callinicus
emperor of Seleucid Empire
246–225 BC|La2=Laodice II
daughter of Achaeus
landowner in Asia Minor|Ach=Achaeus
commander of Asia Minor|Lad=Laodice
daughter of
Mithridates II of Pontus}}

{{tree chart| | | | | Ant | | Se3 | | An3 |~| La3 |Se3=Seleucus III Ceraunus
emperor of Seleucid Empire
225–223 BC|An3=Antiochus III the Great
emperor of Seleucid Empire
222–187 BC|La3=Laodice III
daughter of Mithridates II of Pontus|Ant=Antiochis
∞ Xerxes
king of Sophene & Commagene}}

{{tree chart| Cl1 | | Ant |~| La4 |~| Se4 | | An4 | | Ans ||Ant=Antiochus
co-emperor
210–193 BC|La4=Laodice IV
∞ 3.Antiochus IV Epiphanes|Se4=Seleucus IV Philopator
emperor of Seleucid Empire
187–175 BC|Cl1=Cleopatra I Syra
∞ Ptolemy V of Egypt|Ans=Antiochis
∞ Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia|An4=Antiochus IV Epiphanes
emperor of Seleucid Empire
175–164 BC}}

{{tree chart| |,|-|-|'|,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|(| | | |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.}}

{{tree chart| Nys | | Ani | | La5 |~| De1 | | An5 | | La6 | | Lao | | Ale |~| Cle |Nys=Nyssa
∞ Pharnaces I of Pontus
Mithridatic dynasty|Ani=Antiochus
emperor of Seleucid Empire
175–170 BC|La5=Laodice V
∞ Perseus
king of Macedonia|De1=Demetrius I Soter
emperor of Seleucid Empire
161–150 BC|An5=Antiochus V Eupator
emperor of Seleucid Empire
164–161 BC|La6=Laodice VI
∞ Mithridates V of Pontus
Mithridatic dynasty|Ale=Alexander Balas
emperor of Seleucid Empire
152/150–146 BC|Lao =Laodice
∞ Mithridates III of Pontus|Cle=Cleopatra Thea
daughter of Ptolemy VI of Egypt}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | |!| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | Rho |~| De2 |~| Cle |~| An7 | | | | | | An6 |An6=Antiochus VI Dionysus
emperor of Seleucid Empire
144–142/1 BC|De2=Demetrius II Nicator
emperor of Seleucid Empire
145–138 BC|Cle=1.Cleopatra Thea
daughter of
Ptolemy VI
of Egypt
queen of Syria
126–121 BC|Rho=2.Rhodogune of Parthia
daughter of
Mithridates I of Parthia|An7=Antiochus VII Sidetes
emperor of Seleucid Empire
138–129 BC}}

{{tree chart| | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|(| | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | Se5 | | Try |~| An8 |~| CSS |~| An9 |~| Cl4 | | Al2 | | Se5=(1) Seleucus V Philometor
co-king of Syria 126–125 BC|An8=(1) Antiochus VIII Grypus
co-king of Syria 125–122 BC
king of Syria 122–96 BC|Try=1.Tryphaena
daughter of
Ptolemy VIII of Egypt|CSS=2.Cleopatra Selene
daughter of
Ptolemy VIII of Egypt|Al2=Alexander II Zabinas
king of Syria
128–123 BC|An9=Antiochus IX Cyzicenus
king of Syria
116–96 BC|Cl4=Cleopatra IV of Egypt
daughter of
Ptolemy VIII of Egypt}}

{{tree chart| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |!|}}

{{tree chart| Se6 | | A11 | | La7 | | Ph1 | | De3 | | A12 | | A10 |~| CSS | Se6=(1) Seleucus VI Epiphanes
king of Syria
96–94 BC|A11=(1) Antiochus XI Epiphanes
king of Syria
94–93 BC|Ph1=(1) Philip I Philadelphus
king of Syria
94–83/75 BC|De3=(1) Demetrius III Eucaerus
king of Syria
96–87 BC|A12=(1) Antiochus XII Dionysus
king of Syria
87–82 BC|La7=(1) Laodice VII Thea
∞ Mithridates I Callinicus
king of Commagene|A10=Antiochus X Eusebes
king of Syria
95–92/88 BC|CSS=Cleopatra Selene
daughter of
Ptolemy VIII of Egypt}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|(| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | Ph2 | | | | | | A13 | | Se7 |~| Be4 |Ph2=Philip II Philoromaeus
king of Syria
65–64 BC|A13=Antiochus XIII Asiaticus
king of Syria
69–64 BC|Se7=Seleucus VII Philometor
king of Syria
83–69 BC|Be4=Berenice IV
daughter of
Ptolemy XII of Egypt}}

{{Chart top|width=100%|collapsed=yes|Simplified Seleucid dynasty Family tree}}

{{tree chart/start| summary=Boxes and lines diagram with 40 boxes}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | | | | | AX1 |y| LX1 | | | | | | AX1=Antiochus| LX1=Laodice}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Se1 |y| Ap1 | | | | Se1=Seleucus I Nicator
Kg. 305–281| Ap1=Apama}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|(| | | | | | }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | Ac1 | | Str |y| An1 | | | | | | Ac1=Achaeus| Str=Stratonice| An1=Antiochus I Soter
Kg. 281–261}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | |!| | | | | |!| | | | | | | | }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | And | | | | An2 |y| La1 | | | | And=Andromachus| An2=Antiochus II Theos
Kg. 261–246| La1=Laodice I}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | Ac2 | | La2 |y| Se2 | | Hie | | | | Ac2=Achaeus
Kg. 220–213| La2=Laodice II| Se2=Seleucus II Callinicus
Kg. 246–226| Hie=Antiochus Hierax
Kg. 240–228}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | | }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | | | Se3 | | An3 |y| La3 | | | | Se3=Seleucus III Ceraunus
Kg. 226–223| An3=Antiochus III the Great
Kg. 223–187| La3=Laodice III}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|.| | | | | }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | Ant | | Se4 |y| La5 |y| An4 | | | | | Ant=Antiochus
(son of Antiochus)|Se4=Seleucus IV Philopator
Kg. 187–175| La5=Laodice IV| An4=Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Kg. 175–163}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|!|-|-|-|(| | | | | | | }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | |!| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|(| | | |!| | | | | | | }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | |!| Ani | | Ap2 |y| De1 | | An5 | | | | | | | Ani=Antiochus
(son of Seleucus)
Kg. 175–170| Ap2=Laodice V| De1=Demetrius I Soter
Kg. 161–150| An5=Antiochus V Eupator
Kg. 163–161}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | |!| | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | Al1 |y| Kl1 |y| De2 | | | | | | | | | | An7 | Al1=(possibly)
Alexander I Balas
Kg. 150–146| Kl1=Cleopatra Thea
Qu. 125–121| De2=Demetrius II Nicator
Kg. 145–125| An7=Antiochus VII Sidetes
Kg. 138–129}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | |!| | | |)|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | An6 | | Se5 | | An8 |y| Kl2 | | | | An9 | | Al2 | An6=Antiochus VI Dionysus
Kg. 144–142| Se5=Seleucus V Philometor
Kg. 126–125| An8=Antiochus VIII Grypus
Kg. 125–96| Kl2=Tryphaena| An9=Antiochus IX Cyzicenus
Kg. 116–96|Al2=(claimed)
Alexander II Zabinas}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | |!| }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | Se6 | | A11 | | Ph1 | | De3 | | A12 | | A10 | Se6=Seleucus VI Epiphanes
Kg. 96–95| A11=Antiochus XI Epiphanes
Kg. 95–92| Ph1=Philip I Philadelphus
Kg. 95–83| De3=Demetrius III Eucaerus
Kg. 95–88| A12=Antiochus XII Dionysus
Kg. 87–84| A10=Antiochus X Eusebes
Kg. 95–83}}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|(| }}

{{tree chart |border=1| | | | | | | | | | Ph2 | | | | | | S7F | | A13 | Ph2=Philip II Philoromaeus
Kg. 69–63|S7F=Seleucus VII Philometer
Kg. 83–69| A13=Antiochus XIII Asiaticus
Kg. 69–64}}

Footnotes

=References=

=Sources=

{{Cite book |last=Bevan |first=Edwyn Robert |title=The House of Seleucus |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2015 |isbn=9781108082754}}
{{Cite book |last=Eckstein |first=Arthur M. |title=Mediterranean Anarchy, Interstate War, and the Rise of Rome |publisher=University of California Press |year=2006 |isbn=0520246187}}
{{Cite book |last=Esposito |first=Gabriele |title=Armies of the Hellenistic States, 323 BC–AD 30, History, Organization & Equipment |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |year=2019 |isbn=9781526730305}}
{{cite book|author=Glanville Downey|title=History of Antioch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gTTWCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA735|date=8 December 2015|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-7773-7|pages=735–736}}
{{Cite book |last=Glubb |first=John Bagot |title=Syria, Lebanon, Jordan |publisher=Walker |year=1967}}
{{Cite book |last=Kosmin |first=Paul J. |title=The Land of the Elephant Kings, Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2014}}
{{cite book|author=Mehrdad Kia|title=The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B5BHDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA287|date=27 June 2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-391-2|pages=287–311}}

External links

[http://www.livius.org Livius], [https://www.livius.org/se-sg/seleucids/seleucids.html The Seleucid Empire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719234709/https://www.livius.org/se-sg/seleucids/seleucids.html |date=2013-07-19 }} by Jona Lendering

Category:312 BC

Category:310s BC establishments

Category:1st-century BC disestablishments

Category:Lists of monarchs in Asia

la:Seleucidae