Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucid king
Coin of Seleucus I Nicator. The Seleucid Empire /sə'lusɪd/ ( 312 - 63 BC) was a Hellenistic empire i
Reign	305 BCE - 281 BCE
Consort	Apama

Seleucus I (surnamed for later generations Nicator, Greek: Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ, i. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly e. Seleucus Victor) (ca. 358 BCE–281 BCE), was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great. The Ancient Macedonians (Μακεδόνες Makedónes were an ancient tribe which inhabited the alluvial plain around the rivers Haliacmon and lower Axius, north Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death. The Diadochi (plural of Latin Diadochus, from Greek Διάδοχοι, Diadokhoi, "successors" were the rival successors Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucid Empire /sə'lusɪd/ ( 312 - 63 BC) was a Hellenistic empire i His kingdom would be one of the last hold outs of Alexander's former empire to Roman rule. They were only outlived by the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt by roughly 34 years. The Ptolemaic Kingdom in and around Egypt began following Alexander the Great 's conquest in 332 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics.

Early career & ascent to power

Seleucus I (Roman copy from a Greek original found in Herculaneum). Herculaneum (in modern Italian Ercolano) is an ancient Roman town located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano.

Seleucus I as warrior (Roman copy from Greek original, Louvre. The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre located in Paris is the world's most visited art museum a historic monument and a national museum of France

Seleucus was the son of Antiochus from Orestis^[1], one of Philip's generals, and of Laodice. Antiochus (flourished 4th century BC name in Greek: о Αντίοχος) was a Greek Macedonian man that lived during the time of Greek Macedonian King Orestis ( Greek: Ὀρεστίς mountainous orestias was a region of Upper Macedonia, corresponding roughly to the modern Kastoria Prefecture, West Philip was the name of several Macedonian monarchs Philip I of Macedon (ruled 640–602 BC Laodice (in Greek Λαοδικη) was wife of Antiochus, a general of distinction in the service of Philip II of Macedon, and mother of In 333 BC, as a young man of about twenty-three, he accompanied Alexander into Asia and won distinction in the Indian campaign of 326 BC. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' In 324 BCE Seleucus took as wife Apama, with whom he had four children: two daughters, Apama and Laodice, and two sons, Antiochus & Achaeus. Antiochus I Soter (unknown - 261 BC was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. Achaeus may refer to Achaeus son of Xuthus, mythical founder of Achaean race A king of Lydia who was hanged by his subjects for extortion

When the Macedonian empire was divided in 323 BC (the "Partition of Babylon"), Seleucus was given the office of chiliarch, which attached him closely to the regent Perdiccas. The Partition of Babylon designates the attribution of the territories by Alexander the Great between his generals soon after his death in 323 BCE. Chiliarch (χιλίαρχος meaning "commander of a thousand" in the Greek army of the Hellenistic period was a commander of a 1000 men platoon Perdiccas ( Greek: Περδίκας, Perdikas; died 321 BC or 320 BC was one of Alexander the Great 's generals Subsequently, Seleucus had a hand in the murder of Perdiccas during the latter's unsuccessful invasion of Egypt in 321 BC.

At the second partition, at Triparadisus (321 BC), Seleucus was given the government of the Babylonian satrapy. The Partition of Triparadisus was a power-sharing agreement passed at Triparadisus in 321 BCE between the generals ( Diadochi) of Alexander the Great Babylon was a City-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq See also the related deity Satrapes. Satrap (Persian ساتراپ was the name given to the governors of the Provinces of ancient In 316 BC, when Antigonus had made himself master of the eastern provinces, Seleucus felt himself threatened and fled to Egypt. Antigonus I Monophthalmus ("the One-eyed" (382 BC - 301 BC son of Philip from Elimeia, was a Macedonian nobleman general and Satrap This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. In the war which followed between Antigonus and the other Macedonian chiefs, Seleucus actively cooperated with Ptolemy and commanded Egyptian squadrons in the Aegean Sea. For the astronomer see Ptolemy; for others named "Ptolemy" or "Ptolemaeus" see Ptolemy (disambiguation. Etymology In ancient times there were various explanations for the name Aegean.

The victory won by Ptolemy at the battle of Gaza in 312 BC opened the way for Seleucus to return to the east. The Battle of Gaza was a battle of the Third war of the Diadochi between Ptolemy (satrap of Egypt) and Demetrius (son of Antigonus His return to Babylon was afterwards officially regarded as the beginning of the Seleucid Empire and that year as the first of the Seleucid era. The Seleucid era was a system of numbering Years in use by the Seleucid Empire and other countries among the ancient Hellenistic civilizations The era Master of Babylonia, Seleucus at once proceeded to wrest the neighbouring provinces of Persia, Susiana and Media from the nominees of Antigonus. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Elam is the name of an ancient civilization located in what is now southwest Iran. The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran. A raid into Babylonia conducted in 311 BC by Demetrius, son of Antigonus, did not seriously check Seleucus' progress. Over the course of nine years (311-302 BC), while Antigonus was occupied in the west, Seleucus brought the whole eastern part of Alexander's empire as far as the Jaxartes and Indus Rivers under his authority. Syr Darya (Сырдария Сирдарё Sirdaryoسيردريا also transliterated Syrdarya or Sirdaryo) is a River in Central Asia The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd

In 305 BC, after the extinction of the old royal line of Macedonia, Seleucus, like the other four principal Macedonian chiefs, assumed the title and style of basileus (king). "Basilissa" redirects here For the saint of this name see Julian and Basilissa. He established Seleucia on the Tigris as his capital. For the Syrian seaport of the same name that figures in the travels of Saint Paul see Seleucia Pieria.

Establishing the Seleucid state

India

In the year 305 BC Seleucus I Nicator went to India and apparently occupied territory as far as the Indus, and eventually waged war with the Maurya Emperor Chandragupta Maurya:

"Always lying in wait for the neighboring nations, strong in arms and persuasive in council, he [Seleucus] acquired Mesopotamia, Armenia, 'Seleucid' Cappadocia, Persis, Parthia, Bactria, Arabia, Tapouria, Sogdia, Arachosia, Hyrcania, and other adjacent peoples that had been subdued by Alexander, as far as the river Indus, so that the boundaries of his empire were the most extensive in Asia after that of Alexander. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military Chandragupta Maurya (चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य sometimes known simply as Chandragupta (born c The whole region from Phrygia to the Indus was subject to Seleucus. He crossed the Indus and waged war with Sandrocottus, king of the Indians, who dwelt on the banks of that stream, until they came to an understanding with each other and contracted a marriage relationship. Chandragupta may refer to Chandragupta Maurya, Indian king Mauryan Empire 322–293 BCE Chandragupta I, Indian king Gupta Empire 320-335 " Appian, History of Rome, The Syrian Wars 55 ^[2]

As most historians note, Seleucus appears to have fared poorly as he did not achieve his aims. The two leaders ultimately reached an agreement, and through a treaty sealed in 305 BC, Seleucus ceded a considerable amount of territory to Chandragupta in exchange for 500 war elephants, which were to play a key role in the battles that were to come. Chandragupta may refer to Chandragupta Maurya, Indian king Mauryan Empire 322–293 BCE Chandragupta I, Indian king Gupta Empire 320-335 According to Strabo, these were territories bordering the Indus:

"The Indians occupy [in part] some of the countries situated along the Indus, which formerly belonged to the Persians: Alexander deprived the Ariani of them, and established there settlements of his own. But Seleucus Nicator gave them to Sandrocottus in consequence of a marriage contract, and received in return five hundred elephants. Seleucus I (surnamed for later generations Nicator, Greek: Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ, i Chandragupta Maurya (चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य sometimes known simply as Chandragupta (born c " Strabo 15. 2. 1(9) ^[3]

Modern scholarship often considers that Seleucus actually gave more territory, in what is now southern Afghanistan, and parts of Persia west of the Indus. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd This would tend to be corraborated archaeologically, as concrete indications of Mauryan influence, such as the inscriptions of the Edicts of Ashoka, are known as far as Kandhahar, in today's southern Afghanistan. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan For the 2001 film see Kandahar (film; for the Kandahar meteorite of 1959 see Meteorite falls; for the places in Azerbaijan see Cəndəhar and

Some authors claim this is an exaggeration, which comes from a statement made by Pliny the Elder, referring not specifically to the lands received by Chandragupta, but rather to the various opinions of geographers regarding the definition of the word "India" ^[4]:

"The greater part of the geographers, in fact, do not look upon India as bounded by the river Indus, but add to it the four Satrapies of the Gedrosi (Gedrosia), the Arachotæ (Arachosia), the Arii (Aria), and the Paropauisidæ (Paropamisadae), the river Cophes (Kabul river) thus forming the extreme boundary of India. Gedrosia (dʒɨˈdroʊʒə Γεδρωσία is the ancient name of an area that corresponds to today's Balochistan Arachosia (ˌærəˈkoʊʒə, Arakhōsia) or Arachotae (əˈrækəˌtiː, Arakhōtai) is the latinized form of Greek name of an Achaemenid This article is about the musical term "aria" For other meanings or uses of the word see Aria (disambiguation. Paropamisadae (ˌpærəˌpæmɨˈseɪdiː Παροπαμισάδαι) or Paropamisus (ˌpærəˈpeɪmɨs Παροπαμισσός) was the ancient } Kābul ( Persian and Pashto: کابل, IPA:) is the Capital and largest city of Afghanistan, with All these territories, however, according to other writers, are reckoned as belonging to the country of the Arii. " Pliny, Natural History VI, 23 ^[5]

Also the passage of Arrian explaining that Megasthenes lived in Arachosia with the satrap Sibyrtius, from where he visited India to visit Chandragupta, goes against the notion that Arachosia was under Maurya rule:

"Megasthenes lived with Sibyrtius, satrap of Arachosia, and often speaks of his visiting Sandracottus, the king of the Indians. For others with this name see Arrianus (disambiguation. Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon' (ca Megasthenes (Μεγασθένης ca 350 BC - 290 BC was a Greek traveller and Geographer. Arachosia (ˌærəˈkoʊʒə, Arakhōsia) or Arachotae (əˈrækəˌtiː, Arakhōtai) is the latinized form of Greek name of an Achaemenid Sibyrtius ( Greek: lived 4th century BC) was a Greekofficer from Crete in the service of Alexander the Great, who was appointed by Chandragupta Maurya (चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य sometimes known simply as Chandragupta (born c " Arrian, Anabasis Alexandri v,6

Nevertheless, it is usually considered today that Arachosia and the other three regions did become dominions of the Mauryan Empire. For others with this name see Arrianus (disambiguation. Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon' (ca Anabasis Alexandri, the Campaigns of Alexander by Arrian is the most important source on Alexander the Great.

To cement the treaty, there was either some sort of marriage alliance (Epigamia) involving Seleucus' daughter or the diplomatic recognition of intermarriage between Indians and Greeks. In ancient Greece Epigamia (Greek language Επιγαμια designated the legal right to contract a marriage

In addition to this matrimonial recognition or alliance, Seleucus dispatched an ambassador, Megasthenes, to the Mauryan court at Pataliputra (Modern Patna in Bihar state). Megasthenes (Μεγασθένης ca 350 BC - 290 BC was a Greek traveller and Geographer. Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. The two rulers seem to have been on very good terms, as Classical sources have recorded that following their treaty, Chandragupta sent various presents such as aphrodisiacs to Seleucus. ^[6]

Seleucus obtained knowledge of most of northern India, as explained by Pliny the Elder through his numerous embassies to the Mauryan Empire:

The Hellenistic world view after Seleucus: ancient world map of Eratosthenes (276-194 BC), incorporating information from the campaigns of Alexander and his successors. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author Early world maps cover depictions of the World from Classical times to the Age of Discovery and the emergence of modern Geography ( 6th century BC Eratosthenes of Cyrene ( Greek; 276 BC - 194 BC was a Greek Mathematician, Poet, athlete, Geographer and ^[7]

"The other parts of the country [beyond the Hydaspes, the farthest extent of Alexander's conquests] were discovered and surveyed by Seleucus Nicator: namely

- from thence (the Hydaspes) to the Hesudrus 168 miles

- to the river Ioames as much: and some copies add 5 miles more therto

- from thence to Ganges 112 miles

- to Rhodapha 119, and some say, that between them two it is no less than 325 miles. "Hydaspes" redirects here For the historic battle see Battle of the Hydaspes. "Hydaspes" redirects here For the historic battle see Battle of the Hydaspes. The Sutlej River (alternatively spelled as Satluj River (ਸਤਲੁਜ शतद्रु or सुतुद्री, ستلج and सतलुज is the longest For the goddess of the river who is sometimes called Yamuna see Yami The Yamuna (Sanskrit यमुना The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent

- From it to Calinipaxa, a great town 167 miles-and-a-half, others say 265. Calinipaxa is a city in northern India described in ancient sources and thought to be the modern Kanouge ( Kannauj) on the Ganges.

- And to the confluent of the rivers Iomanes and Ganges, where both meet together, 225 miles, and many put thereto 13 miles more

- from thence to the town Palibotta 425 miles

- and so to the mouth of Ganges where he falleth into the sea 638 miles. Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited "

Pliny the Elder, Natural history, Book 6, Chap 21 ^[8]

Seleucus apparently minted coins during his stay in India, as several coins in his name are in the Indian standard and have been excavated in India. These coins describe him as "Basileus" ("King"), which implies a date later than 306 BCE. Some of them also mention Seleucus in association with his son Antiochus as king, which would also imply a date as late as 293 BCE. No Seleucid coins were struck in India thereafter and confirm the reversal of territory west of the Indus to Chandragupta. ^[9]

Asia Minor

In 301 BC he joined Lysimachus in Asia Minor, and at Ipsus Antigonus fell before their combined power. Lysimachus ( Greek: Λυσίμαχος Lysimachos; 360 BCE - 281 BCE was a Macedonian officer and diadochus (i The Battle of Ipsus was fought between some of the Diadochi (the successors of Alexander the Great) in 301 BC near the village of that name in A new partition of the empire followed, by which Seleucus added to his kingdom Syria, and perhaps some regions of Asia Minor.

In 300 BCE, after the death of Apama, Seleucus married Stratonice, daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes. Stratonice (in Greek Στρατoνικη) of Syria was the daughter of king Demetrius Poliorcetes and Phila, the daughter of Antipater Demetrius I (337-283 BC Greek: Δημήτριος) called Poliorcetes (Greek Πολιορκητής) ("The Besieger" son of Seleucus had a daughter by Stratonice, who was called Phila. ^[10] In in 294 BC Stratonice married her stepson Antiochus. Antiochus I Soter (unknown - 261 BC was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. Seleucus reportedly instigated the marriage after discovering that his son was in danger of dying of lovesickness. ^[11]

The possession of Syria gave him an opening to the Mediterranean, and he immediately founded the new city of Antioch on the Orontes as his chief seat of government. Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also Seleucia on the Tigris continued to be the capital for the eastern satrapies. About 293 BC, he installed his son Antiochus there as viceroy, the vast extent of the empire seeming to require a double government. Antiochus I Soter (unknown - 261 BC was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire.

It is said of Seleucus that "few princes have ever lived with so great a passion for the building of cities. He is reputed to have built in all nine Seleucias, sixteen Antiochs, and six Laodiceas"^[12].

Silver coin of Seleucus. Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ (king Seleucus).

The capture of Demetrius in 285 BC added to Seleucus's prestige. The unpopularity of Lysimachus after the murder of Agathocles gave Seleucus an opportunity for removing his last rival. Agathocles ( Greek: Aγαθoκλής died 284 BC was the son of Lysimachus by an Odrysian woman who Polyaenus calls Macris His intervention in the west was solicited by Ptolemy Keraunos, who, on the accession to the Egyptian throne of his brother Ptolemy II (285 BC), had at first taken refuge with Lysimachus and then with Seleucus. Ptolemy Keraunos ( Greek Πτολεμαίος Κεραυνός - 279 BC was the King of Macedon from 281 BC to 279 BC Ptolemy II Philadelphus ( Greek:, Ptolemaĩos Philádelphos, 309 BC&ndash246 BC was the king of Ptolemaic Egypt from 283 BC to 246 BC War between Seleucus and Lysimachus broke out, and at the decisive battle of Corupedium in Lydia, Lysimachus fell (281 BC). The Battle of Corupedium (also called Corupedion is the name of the last battle of the Diadochi, the rival successors to Alexander the Great. Defining Lydia Aside from a legend related by Herodotus, who states that the name Lydia came from king Lydus at the time of the fall of Troy Seleucus now held the whole of Alexander's conquests excepting Egypt in his hands, and moved to take possession of Macedonia and Thrace. He intended to leave Asia to Antiochus and content himself for the remainder of his days with the Macedonian kingdom in its old limits. He had, however, hardly crossed into the Chersonese when he was assassinated by Ptolemy Keraunos near Lysimachia (281 BC). Ptolemy Keraunos ( Greek Πτολεμαίος Κεραυνός - 279 BC was the King of Macedon from 281 BC to 279 BC Lysimachia ( Λυσιμάχια or Λυσιμάχεια) was an important hellenistic Greek town on the north-western extremity of the Thracian Chersonese

External links

• A genealogical tree of Seleucus
• Seleucus I Nicator entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith

Notes

References and further reading

• Grainger, John D. "An Empire Builder—Seleukos Nikator", History Today, Vol.  43, No.  5. (1993), pp.  25–30.
• Grainger, John D. Seleukos Nikator: Constructing a Hellenistic Kingdom. New York: Routledge, 1990 (hardcover, ISBN 0-415-04701-3).

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone