Seleucid Kings

On this page, you will find a complete list of rulers of the Seleucid Empire, the largest of the kingdoms that succeeded the short-lived empire of Alexander the Great. Until quite recently, the chronology of the kings was essentially based on classical sources, but the publication of the Astronomical Diaries, other cuneiform sources, and studies of the number of coin dies, have generated a lot of new information.

History

Kings

The dynasty can be divided into five sections. The main branch, indicated in yellow in the table below, started with Seleucus I Nicator (r.311-281), and remained essentially unchallenged until the revolt of Alexander Balas in 152. He and his sons, indicated in red, were rivals until 123. Their presence was a serious obstacle for the kings of the main line who had to cope with Parthian agression in the east; much territory was lost.

Cleopatra Thea and Antiochus VIII Grypus briefly reunited the remains of the Seleucid Empire, but the dynasty fell apart in two rival branches, a northern one (green in the table below) and a southern one (blue). Some other rulers are indicated in white. The chronology of these later Seleucid kings has recently be reevaluated by Oliver Hoover.

The almost perennial civil wars made the Seleucid Empire, which had once been the largest in the world, helpless against local revolts. In 74/73, the remains were taken over by Armenia, which lost them for years later; after a couple of years of independence, the last Seleucid ruler was overthrown by the Romans in 64 BCE.

Literature

F. Assar, "The Inception and Terminal Dates of the Reigns of Seleucus II, Seleucus III and Antiochus III" = Nabu 45 (2007).
Bert van der Spek, "New Evidence from the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries Concerning Seleucid and Arsacid History" in: Archiv für Orientforschung 44/45 (1997-1998) 167-175.
O. Hoover, "Revised Chronology for the Late Seleucids at Antioch (121/0-64 BC)" in: Historia 65/3 (2007) 280-301