Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire (312-63 BCE), the Greek-ruled kingdom founded by Seleucus I across Mesopotamia, Syria and Iran, and its wars and cities.
Category: States
- 312 BCESeleucus returns to Babylon
In 312 BCE Seleucus, one of Alexander's generals, returns to Babylon with Ptolemy's help. The year counts as the first of the Seleucid era and the start of the Seleucid Empire, which will stretch from Anatolia to the east.
- 306 BCEThe Successors proclaim themselves kings
In 306 BCE Antigonus and his son Demetrius take the royal crown, and Ptolemy, Seleucus, Lysimachus and later Cassander follow. Alexander's empire is formally split into rival kingdoms. Ptolemy is crowned king and pharaoh about 305-304.
- c. 303 BCESeleucus and Chandragupta make a treaty
About 303 BCE Seleucus makes a treaty with Chandragupta Maurya, ceding eastern territory for 500 war elephants. Their use at Ipsus is decisive. Whether Seleucus lost a war first, and how much he ceded, is disputed.
- 301 BCEBattle of Ipsus
In 301 BCE Seleucus, Lysimachus and Cassander's forces defeat Antigonus, who is killed. Elephants are decisive. Demetrius escapes. Antigonus's empire is divided among the victors.
- 300 BCESeleucus founds Antioch
In 300 BCE Seleucus I founds Antioch, one of many cities he establishes, along with Seleucia on the Tigris. Antioch becomes a main city of the Seleucid kingdom.
- 281 BCESeleucus is assassinated
In 281 BCE Seleucus defeats Lysimachus at Corupedium, and then is murdered in September by Ptolemy Keraunos near Lysimachia.
- c. 255 BCEThe Greco-Bactrian kingdom
About 255 BCE (some say 246) the satrap Diodotus I breaks from the Seleucids and founds a Greek kingdom in Bactria. It lasts until about 120 BCE and later reaches into India.
- c. 247 BCEArsaces founds the Parthian dynasty
About 247 BCE Arsaces I, chief of the Parni, founds the Arsacid dynasty in Parthia, as Seleucid control of the east weakens. The date is debated; some put it as late as 238.
- June 22, 217 BCEBattle of Raphia
On 22 June 217 BCE Ptolemy IV defeats Antiochus III at Raphia. About 20,000 native Egyptians trained as phalangites are key to the victory. African and Indian elephants fight each other here. Egyptian influence in Ptolemaic rule grows.
- 200 BCEBattle of Panium
In 200 BCE Antiochus III defeats the Ptolemaic army under Scopas near Paneas, and Coele-Syria passes to the Seleucids. A peace treaty follows in 195. The Ptolemaic state then cuts back its Macedonian phalanx.
- 190 BCEBattle of Magnesia defeats Antiochus III
Rome and Pergamon crush the Seleucid king Antiochus III at Magnesia ad Sipylum in December 190 BCE. Pergamene cavalry is decisive; Antiochus loses his hold on Asia Minor.
- 188 BCETreaty of Apamea
In 188 BCE Antiochus III gives up Asia Minor west of the Taurus, pays 15,000 talents, limits his fleet and drops his elephants. Pergamon and Rhodes gain most of the land; Rome gains hegemony without annexing it.
- 167 BCEThe Maccabean revolt begins
In 167 BCE, as Antiochus IV's decrees ban Jewish practices, the priest Mattathias kills a Jew sacrificing to an idol and a Seleucid officer, and the revolt begins. His son Judas Maccabeus leads it after 166.
- 164 BCEThe Temple is rededicated: Hanukkah
In 164 BCE the Maccabees take Jerusalem, and cleanse and rededicate the Temple on 25 Kislev, the origin of Hanukkah. The Seleucid ban on Jewish practice is revoked. Judas dies at Elasa in 160.
- 141 BCEJudea becomes independent
In 141 BCE Simon Thassi expels the Seleucid garrison from the Acra citadel in Jerusalem. The year before, Demetrius II had exempted Judea from tribute. This marks the start of the Hasmonean state.
- 134 BCEJohn Hyrcanus succeeds Simon
Simon Thassi is assassinated in 135 or 134 BCE and his son John Hyrcanus succeeds him. Antiochus VII besieges Jerusalem for about a year; a truce costs Hyrcanus a payment, the city walls and troops against the Parthians. After Antiochus dies he stops paying tribute.
- 64 BCESyria becomes a Roman province
Pompey annexes the Seleucid-held cities of Syria in 64 BCE, creating the Roman province of Syria. Judea becomes a client state of Rome.