[Sidenote: [323-312 B.C.]]
In the final tripartite division of Alexander’s empire, the largest part,
geographically speaking, fell to Seleucus, known as Nicator, or the
Conqueror, who gave his name to the kingdom which was destined for many
generations to play a more or less important part in Asiatic history.
Seleucus had his capital first at Babylon and re-established the power
of Grecian or Macedonian arms over a large part of the Asiatic territory
of Alexander’s empire. Subsequently the seat of the kingdom was shifted
to the newly founded city of Antioch on the coast of Asia Minor, which
became one of the most important capitals in the world, at times almost
rivalling Alexandria. The territory and power of the Seleucidæ were
early curtailed owing to the advance of outlying nations, notably the
Parthians, and gradually disintegrated rather by slow stages than by
the sudden shock of a single conquest. Chiefly because of the shifting
of progress far to the west, it was not destined to play any really
important part in the building of world history. In name, at least, the
kingdom continued in independent existence long after Greece proper had
been overthrown; but the Parthians and Sassanians in turn had largely
shorn it of its glory, and it was these powers, rather than the Seleucidæ
proper, that came into rivalry and conflict with the Roman might when
that new mistress of the world extended her influence to the eastward. We
must think therefore of the kingdom of the Seleucidæ rather as a link in
time and place between great powers, than as a thing of really intrinsic
importance. A brief summary of its history is, therefore, all that need
detain us. Here again for the sake of clearness--if clearness be possible
in this chaotic period--some repetition is unavoidable.[a]
The kingdom of Syria was not confined to that country alone, but also
comprehended those vast and fertile provinces of upper Asia, which
formed the Persian empire; being, in its full extent, bounded by the
Mediterranean on one side, and the river Indus on the other. These
wide-spreading dominions are commonly called the kingdom of Syria,
because Seleucus, the first of the Syro-Macedonian kings, having built
the city of Antioch in that province, chose it, as did likewise his
successors, for the usual place of his residence. Here his descendants,
from him styled Seleucidæ, reigned, according to Eusebius, for the space
of 251 years, that is, from the 117th Olympiad, when Seleucus recovered
Babylon, to the third year of the 180th, when Antiochus Asiaticus, the
last of the race of Seleucus, was driven out by Pompey, and Syria reduced
to a Roman province. Before we proceed to the history of the Seleucidæ,
we shall exhibit a series of the kings of that race, with the years of
their respective reigns.
A TABLE OF THE KINGS OF SYRIA, FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THAT MONARCHY TO
ITS BEING REDUCED BY THE ROMANS, WITH THE YEARS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE
REIGNS.
YEARS
Seleucus Nicator 32
Antiochus Soter 19
Antiochus Theos 15
Seleucus Callinicus 20
Seleucus Ceraunus 3
Antiochus the Great 36
Seleucus Philopator 11
Antiochus Epiphanes 11
Antiochus Eupator 12
Demetrius Soter 12
Alexander Balas 5
Demetrius Nicator 6
Antiochus Theos 3
Tryphon 4
Antiochus Sidetes 11
Alexander Zebina 13
Antiochus Grypus 19
Antiochus Cyzicenus 21
Seleucus Epiphanes 7 months
Antiochus Eusebes 1
Demetrius Eucærus 2
Philip 3
Antiochus Epiphanes 4
Antiochus Dionysus 7
Tigranes 14
Antiochus Asiaticus 4
Seleucus, the founder of the Syro-Macedonian empire, was the son of
Antiochus, one of the chief captains of Philip, the father of Alexander.
He served under Alexander from his tender years, attended him in his
expedition into Asia, and was by him honoured with the chief command of
the elephants, a commission of great trust and reputation. After the
death of that conqueror, Perdiccas, whom the officers had unanimously
appointed regent of the empire, placed Seleucus at the head of the
cavalry of the allies; in which command he acquitted himself with such
reputation that Antipater, who succeeded Perdiccas in his regency, raised
him to the government of Babylon and its territory.
SELEUCUS
In this post he was tempted, by the example of the other captains
of Alexander, who aspired to the supreme power in their respective
allotments, to betray his trust, and entertain thoughts of setting up
for himself; whence, when Eumenes, on his march into Susiana, pressed
him to join the governors of the upper provinces against Antigonus, who
had openly revolted, he not only refused to lend them any assistance,
but even attempted to destroy both Eumenes and his army, by cutting the
sluices of the Euphrates, and laying the whole plain where they were
encamped under water. Eumenes, however, though thus surprised, reached an
eminence with his troops, before the waters rose to any height, and the
next day, by diverting their course, found means to escape the danger,
without the loss of a single man. Seleucus made a truce with Eumenes,
granting him a free passage through his province. But when Antigonus
demanded an account of the revenues of his government, the answer he gave
him so exasperated Antigonus that he thought it advisable to abandon his
province, and put himself under the protection of Ptolemy, governor of
Egypt.
[Sidenote: [312-300 B.C.]]
Seleucus meeting with a friendly reception from Ptolemy, in Egypt,
represented so effectually to that prince, as also to Lysimachus and
Cassander, the formidable power and ambitious views of Antigonus, that
he engaged them all three in a league against him. This war put an end
both to the life and reign of Antigonus. After the victory which Ptolemy
gained over Demetrius at Gaza, Seleucus, having obtained of the conqueror
a thousand foot and two hundred horse, took his route towards Babylon, in
order to attempt the recovery of that city. This undertaking was looked
upon as a desperate enterprise, even by his friends, but was attended
with all the success he wished for.
Seleucus being now master of the city and castle, judged it necessary
to raise what forces he could, not doubting that Antigonus would soon
send an army to drive him from these acquisitions. Accordingly, while he
was busy in recruiting his army and disciplining his new-raised troops,
news was brought him that Nicanor, governor of Media under Antigonus,
was advancing against him, at the head of ten thousand foot, and seven
thousand horse. Upon this intelligence Seleucus marched out to meet him
with three thousand foot and four hundred horse only, and passing the
Tigris, concealed his men, as the enemy drew near, in the fens hard by
the river, with a design to attack Nicanor unexpectedly; who not having
had any intelligence of Seleucus’ march, encamped in a disadvantageous
post, where he was the following night surprised, and his army, after
great slaughter, put to the rout. Such of the soldiers as survived the
slaughter declared for Seleucus--a circumstance which enabled him to
pursue his conquests, and reduce in a short time all Media and Susiana,
with many of the adjacent provinces. Having, by this victory, established
his interest and power in Babylon, he daily improved them by the clemency
of his government, and by his justice, equity, and humanity, to such a
degree that, from so low a beginning, he became, in a few years, the
greatest and most powerful of all Alexander’s successors.
And now Seleucus, seeing himself in quiet possession of Babylon and its
territory, advanced at the head of a considerable army into Media, where
he engaged and slew with his own hand Nicanor, or, as others call him,
Nicator, whom Antigonus had sent against him. Having reduced all Media,
he pursued his march into Persia, Bactria, Hyrcania, etc., subjecting to
his new empire these and all the other provinces on this side the Indus,
which had been formerly conquered by Alexander. In the meantime Antigonus
and Demetrius having assumed the title of king, Seleucus imitated their
example, styling himself king of Babylon and Media.
Having therefore no enemy to fear on this side the Indus, he resolved
to cross that river, and, by a sudden irruption, make himself master
of those vast provinces which were known by the name of India. These
Alexander had formerly subdued; but after his death, while his successors
were engaged in mutual wars with each other, one Sandrocottus, or,
as others call him, Androcottus, an Indian of mean extraction, under
the specious pretence of delivering his country from the tyranny of
foreigners, had raised a powerful army, and having driven out the
Macedonians, seized the Indian provinces for himself. To recover these
provinces Seleucus crossed the Indus: but finding that Sandrocottus
had made himself absolute master of all India and drawn into the field
an army of six hundred thousand men, with a prodigious number of
elephants, he did not judge it advisable to provoke so great a power;
and therefore entering into a treaty with him, he agreed to renounce all
his pretensions to that country, provided Sandrocottus furnished him
with five hundred elephants--which proposal the Indian prince willingly
agreeing to, a peace was concluded between them.
Seleucus marching into the upper Syria, made himself master of that rich
province, and built on the river Orontes the city of Antioch, which soon
became, and continued to be for many ages, the metropolis of the East;
for the Syrian kings, and afterwards the Roman governors, who presided
over the affairs of the eastern provinces, chose it for their place of
residence; and afterward in the Christian times, it was the see of the
chief patriarch of Asia. Besides Antioch, Seleucus built in the same
country several other cities of less importance.
[Sidenote: [283-273 B.C.]]
A few months after the decease of Demetrius, died also Ptolemy Soter,
king of Egypt, so that two only of Alexander’s captains survived,--viz.,
Lysimachus and Seleucus. As they were each upwards of seventy, it was
expected that they should have closed the scene of life in the union
which had subsisted so long between them, for they had ever been closely
united, and, to the utmost of their power, supported each other; but
it happened quite otherwise; a war, which proved fatal to both, soon
breaking out between them.
Seleucus was easily persuaded to engage in this war, being already
sufficiently inclined to it on other accounts; but before he embarked
in so great an undertaking, he not only resigned to his son Antiochus a
considerable part of his empire, but also, by an unparalleled example,
his favourite queen Stratonice. Seleucus having, without much difficulty,
prevailed upon Stratonice to accept of a young prince for her husband
instead of an old king, the nuptials were solemnised with the utmost pomp
and magnificence; after which Antiochus and Stratonice were crowned king
and queen of upper Asia, Seleucus willingly resigning to them all those
provinces.
Seleucus advanced into Asia Minor, where he easily reduced all the
places belonging to Lysimachus. The city of Sardis was soon obliged
to capitulate. Lysimachus met the enemy at Corupedion in Phrygia. The
engagement was very bloody, and the victory long doubtful; but at last
Lysimachus, who had fought the whole time at the head of his troops
with incredible bravery, being run through with a spear by Malacon of
Heraclea, and killed on the spot, his soldiers betook themselves to
flight, and left Seleucus master of the field and all their baggage. Thus
died Lysimachus, after having seen the death of fifteen of his children;
and as he was, to use the expression of Memnon, the last stone of his
house to be pulled down, Seleucus, without opposition, made himself
master of all his dominions.
What gave him most pleasure on this occasion was that he now was the only
survivor of all the captains of Alexander; and that, by the event of this
battle, he was become, as he styled himself, the Conqueror of Conquerors.
This last victory, which he looked upon as the effect of a peculiar
providence in his favour, gave him the best title to the name of Nicator,
or conqueror, by which historians commonly distinguish him from other
kings of the same name, who afterwards reigned in Syria.
His triumph on this occasion did not last long; for, seven months after,
as he was marching into Macedon, to take possession of that kingdom,
with a design to pass the remainder of his life in his native country,
he was treacherously slain by Ptolemy Ceraunus, on whom he had conferred
innumerable favours. Such was the end of Seleucus, the greatest general
in the opinion of Arrian, and the most powerful prince, after Alexander,
in the age he lived in. He died in the forty-third year after the death
of Alexander, in the thirty-second of the Grecian or Seleucian era, and
seventy-third or, as Justin will have it, seventy-eighth of his age.
ANTIOCHUS SOTER
On the death of Seleucus, Antiochus, surnamed Soter, his son by Apama,
the daughter of Artabazus the Persian, took possession of the empire of
Asia, and held it for the space of nineteen years.
[Sidenote: [277-261 B.C.]]
Sosthenes, who had reigned some years in Macedon, being dead, Antiochus
Soter, and Antigonus Gonatas, the son of Demetrius, laid claim to
that kingdom, their fathers having held it, one after the other; but
Antigonus, who had already reigned ten years in Greece, being nearest,
first took possession of those dominions; but neither daring to attack
the other, the two kings came to an agreement; and Antigonus having
married Phila, the daughter of Stratonice by Seleucus, Antiochus
renounced his pretensions to the crown of Macedon. In consequence of this
renunciation, Antigonus not only quietly enjoyed the kingdom of Macedon,
but transmitted it to his posterity, who reigned there for several
generations.
Antiochus now marched against the Gauls, who having, by the favour of
Nicomedes, got settlements in Asia, harassed, with frequent incursions,
the neighbouring princes. Antiochus defeated them with great slaughter,
and delivered those provinces from their oppressions; and hence he
acquired the title of Soter, or “saviour.”
[Illustration: RUINS OF ANTIOCH]
Not long after this successful expedition against the Gauls, Antiochus,
hearing of the death of Philetærus, prince of Pergamus, seized that
opportunity to invade his territories, with a view to add them to his
own dominions; but Eumenes, nephew and successor of the deceased prince,
having raised a considerable army, encountered him near Sardis, overthrew
him in battle, and thereby not only secured himself in the possession of
what he had already enjoyed, but enlarged his dominions with several new
acquisitions. After his defeat, Antiochus returning to Antioch there put
to death one of his own sons for raising disturbances in his absence, and
at the same time proclaimed the other, called also Antiochus, king of
Syria. He died soon after, leaving his son in the sole possession of his
dominions. The young prince was his son by Stratonice.
Antiochus, on his accession to the throne, assumed the surname of
Theos,--that is, god; and by this he is distinguished from the other
kings of Syria who bore the name of Antiochus.
In the third year of the reign of Antiochus Soter, a bloody war had
broken out between him and Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt. While
Antiochus was thus engaged in a war with the king of Egypt, great
commotions and revolts happened in the eastern provinces of his empire,
which, as he was not at leisure to suppress them immediately, increased
to such a degree that he could never afterwards re-establish quiet; by
which means Antiochus lost all the provinces of his empire lying beyond
the Euphrates.
[Sidenote: [261-223 B.C.]]
These troubles and commotions in the East made Antiochus Theos weary of
his war with Ptolemy; a treaty of peace was therefore concluded on the
following terms: that Antiochus should divorce his former wife Laodice,
who was his own sister by the father, marry Berenice, the daughter of
Ptolemy, and settle the crown upon the male issue of that marriage. Two
years after this marriage Ptolemy Philadelphus died--an event which
Antiochus Theos, his son-in-law, no sooner understood than he removed
Berenice from his bed, and recalled Laodice, with her children Seleucus
Callinicus, and Antiochus Hierax; but Laodice being well acquainted
with his fickle temper, and fearing lest he might again abandon her and
receive Berenice, resolved to improve the present opportunity and secure
the succession to her son, for by the late treaty with Ptolemy, her
children were disinherited and the crown settled on the son of Berenice.
To effect this design, she caused Antiochus to be poisoned; when she
saw him expiring, she ordered him to be privately conveyed away, and
one Artemon, who greatly resembled him, as well in features as in the
tone of his voice, to be placed in his bed. Artemon acted his part with
great dexterity, and personating Antiochus, tenderly recommended his
dear Laodice and her children to the lords that visited him. In the name
of Antiochus, whom the people believed still alive, orders were issued,
enjoining all his subjects to obey his beloved son Seleucus Callinicus,
and acknowledge him for their lawful sovereign. The crown being by this
infamous contrivance secured to Callinicus, the death of the king was
publicly declared, and Callinicus without any opposition ascended the
throne. Antiochus Hierax, the other son of Laodice, had at this time
the government of the provinces of Asia Minor, where he commanded a
considerable body of troops.[c]
Hardly had Seleucus to some extent recovered from the severe defeats
inflicted upon him by Ptolemy the “benefactor” during the three years’
war of vengeance, when his younger brother Antiochus, surnamed “the hawk”
(Hierax) on account of his rapacity, raised the standard of revolt in
conjunction with Mithridates of Pontus, and (Seleucus having been routed
by Galatian mercenaries in a terrible battle at Ancyra) made himself
master of a large part of Asia Minor, but was forced to pay tribute for
it to the hordes of Celtic robbers, who overran the provinces after their
victory, ravaging and pillaging with impunity. Not until Seleucus had
effected a reconciliation with his brother and made a peace by which he
resigned to the latter his dominions in Asia Minor, was he able gradually
to reunite the lost or rebellious provinces and to restore tranquillity
and order in his kingdom. Both brothers were brave and energetic; but
the sanguinary quarrels of their house, and the crimes which were handed
down from generation to generation to beget fresh acts of revenge, had
imbruted their minds. Alike in vigour, restlessness, and violence, they
persecuted each other to the death. Antiochus died a fugitive in a
Thracian city under the blows of Celtic assassins, and his royal brother
fell in the following year in an unsuccessful fight with Attalus I, the
conqueror of the Galatians and ruler of the kingdom of Pergamus.
[Sidenote: [223-196 B.C.]]
The son and successor of Seleucus, who bore the same name as his father
with the surname of “the thunderbolt” (Ceraunus), entered on the heritage
of the kingdom and the war with Attalus, but after a reign of three years
met his death in battle at the hands of Nicanor and the Galatian captain
Apaturius. The Syrian army then bestowed the crown upon his younger
brother, Antiochus III. He, being occupied with the eastern provinces,
delegated the conduct of the war in Asia Minor to his maternal uncle
Achæus. They both fought with good fortune and success. While the king
led an expedition into Media and Persia, defeated the rebellious satraps
Molon and Alexander in the field and constrained them to commit suicide,
and compelled the Bactrians, Parthians, and Indians to acknowledge the
suzerainty of the Syrian king, Achæus drove his adversary Attalus back
over the frontiers of his own principality, pressed hard upon him in
his own capital, and, by a policy of mingled conciliation and coercion,
prevailed upon the Greek cities of the western coast to submit to
annexation. But, rendered presumptuous by success, he next attempted to
set up an independent kingdom in Asia Minor, and thus again prevented
the complete restoration of the Seleucid dominion. Antiochus, involved
in a fresh war with Egypt, from which country he was scheming to wrest
the intermediate Syrian territory of the Lebanon, was obliged to let his
uncle have a free hand for a while. But he had hardly concluded peace
with Ptolemy after the disastrous battle of Raphia in the ancient country
of the Philistines, and abandoned his claim to the Syrian coast, before
he took the field against the traitorous Achæus. The latter, deserted by
most of his troops, took refuge in the fortified city of Sardis, where
he was closely besieged by Antiochus, and, having been treacherously
betrayed into his hands, was put to a painful death.
Antiochus, whom the flattery of contemporary historians styles “the
great,” then conceived the design of restoring the empire of the
Seleucids to its pristine expansion. For this purpose he undertook an
adventurous campaign of several years’ duration in eastern Iran and
India, constrained the revolting princes and states to do homage to him,
and extorted a recognition (more apparent than real) of Syrian supremacy.
Just as Antiochus returned to Asia Minor the fourth Ptolemy, the
voluptuous Philopator, died, and his son Ptolemy Epiphanes, a minor,
succeeded to the kingdom. The consequent disorders, factions, and
weakness of Egypt inspired the enterprising king of Syria with the
hope that he might after all acquire the coast land of the Lebanon.
Reinforced by a treaty of partition with Philip of Macedonia, who
himself coveted the Egyptian possessions in Asia Minor, Thrace, and the
islands, Antiochus invaded Judea with an army, overthrew the Ætolian
leader, Scopas, commander of the Egyptian forces, at Paneas near the
sources of the Jordan, and subjugated the coast, including the fortified
town of Gaza. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judea gladly welcomed
the rule of Syria, which was at first mild and conciliatory, though it
soon became even more oppressive than that of Egypt. The guardians of
the Egyptian king hastened to prevent an attack upon Egypt itself by
concluding a treaty of peace in which they renounced all claim to the
conquered territory and betrothed their ward to Cleopatra, daughter of
Antiochus. Meanwhile Philip had been waging successful war in Asia Minor,
the Hellespont, and the islands, though all his conquests were rendered
nugatory by the disastrous fight with the Romans at Cynoscephalæ.
[Sidenote: [196-170 B.C.]]
Instead of manfully supporting his ally against the mighty adversary from
the west, Antiochus endeavoured to turn the withdrawal of the Macedonian
army to his own profit. He laid claim to all the territory west of the
Taurus and on both shores of the Hellespont which his ancestor Seleucus
had acquired by his victory over Lysimachus; and, not content with
mastering the Greek cities on the Asiatic coast and the independent
kings of Pergamus, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Armenia, he crossed
the Hellespont, occupied the city of Lysimachia which had been rebuilt,
together with other places on the Thracian peninsula, and threatened
Lampsacus, Byzantium, and Heraclea. Apprehensive for their independence,
the princes and cities he menaced followed the example set by the rich
and powerful commercial city of Rhodes, and placed themselves under the
protection of the Romans. The latter, by repeated embassies, required
“the great” king to desist from hostilities against their allies, and to
liberate all the Greek cities in Asia and Europe. Antiochus haughtily
declined Roman intermeddling with his affairs, saying that as he did not
trouble himself about the concerns of Italy and the western world, so
he forbade the Romans to curtail his prerogatives in Asia and Thrace,
stigmatising their demands as contrary to justice and honour. [He also
gave the Carthaginian Hannibal his protection and support against Rome.]
Further negotiations by embassies and epistles delayed the outbreak of
war for some years, but could not divert the fatal blow from the Syrian
empire. The battle of Magnesia broke the might of the Seleucid kingdom
for evermore; Syria made no second appeal to arms. Antiochus “the great”
was slain at Elymais, south of the Caspian Sea, by the inhabitants of the
city, while he was engaged in plundering the temple of Baal to fill his
empty coffers with its treasures.[b]
SELEUCUS PHILOPATOR
He was succeeded by Seleucus, surnamed Philopator, or, as Josephus[d]
styles him, Soter, which indeed was the surname of his son Demetrius.
This prince reigned eleven years and some months; but made a very poor
figure, by reason of the low state to which the Syrian empire had been
reduced by the Romans, and the exorbitant sum of a thousand talents he
was obliged to pay annually, by virtue of the treaty of peace between
the king his father and that republic. It was under this prince that the
famous accident happened concerning Heliodorus, which is mentioned in the
second book of Maccabees, and described in the History of Israel. Later
Heliodorus poisoned Seleucus and put the crown on his own head.
Antiochus, brother of Seleucus, being arrived at Athens on his return
from Rome, received there the news of his brother’s death, and was at the
same time told that Heliodorus had seized the crown and was supported by
a strong party; but that another was forming in favour of Ptolemy, who
claimed the kingdom of Syria, in right of his mother, the deceased king’s
sister. Hereupon Antiochus had recourse to Eumenes, king of Pergamus, and
to Attalus, the king’s brother, who conducted him into Syria, at the head
of a powerful army, drove out the usurper, and seated him on the throne.
On his being settled on the throne he assumed the name of Epiphanes, that
is, “the illustrious,” which title was never worse applied. His odd and
extravagant conduct made his subjects look upon him as a madman; whence,
instead of Epiphanes, or “the illustrious,” they used to style him
Epimanes, that is, “the madman.”
[Sidenote: [170-125 B.C.]]
Antiochus having, ever since the return of Apollonius from the Egyptian
court, been making the necessary preparations for the war with Ptolemy,
was met by the forces of Ptolemy, between Mount Casius and Pelusium.
Hereupon an engagement ensued, in which the Egyptians were routed at the
first onset. Antiochus, having spent the whole winter in making fresh
preparations for a second expedition into Egypt, gained a second victory
over the forces of Ptolemy, took Pelusium, and led his army into the
very heart of the kingdom. In this last overthrow it was in his power to
have cut off all the Egyptians to a man; but, instead of pursuing his
advantage, he took care to put a stop to the slaughter, riding about
the field in person, forbidding his men to put any more to death. This
clemency gained him the hearts of the Egyptians so completely, that when
he advanced into the country all the inhabitants voluntarily submitted to
him; by which means he made himself master of Memphis, and all the rest
of Egypt, except Alexandria, which still held out against him. In his
second invasion Ptolemy fell into the hands of the conqueror; but whether
he was taken prisoner, or surrendered himself voluntarily, is uncertain.
It was at this time that Antiochus took Jerusalem, and profaned the
temple.
The Alexandrians, seeing Ptolemy Philometor in the hands of Antiochus,
whom he suffered to govern his kingdom as he pleased, looked upon him as
lost to them, and therefore placed his younger brother on the throne,
giving him the name of Euergetes, which was afterwards changed into that
of Physcon, or “great-bellied,” his luxury and gluttony having made him
remarkably corpulent, and by this name he is most commonly mentioned in
history.
Antiochus, being informed of what was transacting in Egypt, took occasion
from this to return a third time into that country, upon the specious
pretence of restoring the deposed king; but in reality he made himself
master of the kingdom. Having therefore defeated the Alexandrians in a
sea-fight near Pelusium, he again entered that unhappy country at the
head of a powerful army, and advanced directly to Alexandria to besiege
it.
In this extremity Ptolemy Euergetes and Cleopatra his sister, who were
in the city, sent ambassadors to Rome representing their situation, and
imploring the assistance of that powerful republic. The Roman ambassadors
obliged Antiochus to quit Egypt. On his return, being highly provoked
to see himself thus obliged to quit a kingdom which he looked upon as
his own, Antiochus vented his rage upon the city of Jerusalem, which
had given him no offence. But the desolations he caused in Judea, and
the bloody war which he carried on against the Jews, with the generous
resistance made first by Mattathias, and afterwards by his son, the brave
Judas Maccabæus, are recorded in the history of that people.[c]
On the death of Antiochus, his favourite Philip was left as regent
during the minority of Antiochus Eupator. Philip was however put to
death by a rival, Lysias. Meanwhile Demetrius, the son of Seleucus
Philopator, who had been at Rome as hostage for many years, escaped
and seized the throne, taking the surname of Soter, “saviour.” The
Romans acknowledged him, but with so little enthusiasm that when an
alleged impostor, Alexander Balas, claiming to be the son of Antiochus,
appeared, the Romans favoured him, and he defeated Demetrius, who fell
in battle 150 B.C. He left a son, also named Demetrius, who, with the
aid of Ptolemy Philometor of Egypt, defeated Alexander Balas, and put
him to death. Demetrius, called Nicator, was overthrown by a general
named Tryphon acting for Antiochus, the son of Alexander Balas, who was
crowned as Antiochus Theos, only to be put to death later by Tryphon, who
claimed the crown. Tryphon was dispossessed by the brother of Demetrius
Nicator, who took the name of Antiochus Sidetes, a monarch of many good
qualities, and reigned nine years, winning praise even from the Jews who
had suffered so much from Syrian kings. He was killed in battle with
the Parthians, and Demetrius Nicator, who had remained in captivity all
these nine years, recovered the throne, but was slain by a new pretender,
Alexander Zebina, who was put to death by a son of Demetrius Nicator,
called Antiochus Grypus, who is said to have made his mother Cleopatra--a
past mistress of intrigue--drink a bowl of poison she had prepared for
him.
[Sidenote: [125-65 B.C.]]
After a reign of eight years he was opposed by his half-brother,
Antiochus Cyzicenus, who compelled him to share the kingdom. Grypus
being assassinated, Syria was again made one under a Seleucus Epiphanes,
who defeated Cyzicenus only to be expelled in seven months by Antiochus
Eusebes, who in turn, after a year, fell before Grypus’ fourth son,
Demetrius Eucærus. He was driven out by his own brother Philip, and
Philip by a younger brother, Antiochus Dionysius.
By this time the kaleidoscopic feuds of the Seleucidæ had weakened Syria
till it was ripe for a foreigner, and the Armenian king, Tigranes, made
prey of it. A last claimant, Antiochus Asiaticus, held out for a time;
then called in the Romans, who under Pompey absorbed Syria into the
empire, and put an end to the race of Seleucus, which had ruled from
about 312 B.C. to 65 B.C.[a]
[Illustration: GREEK BOTTLES
(In the Museum of Napoleon III)]
[Illustration]