Antiochus II Theos
Antiochus II Theos | |
---|---|
Seleucid dynasty | |
Father | Antiochus I Soter |
Mother | Stratonice of Syria |
Religion | Greek polytheism |
Antiochus II Theos (Greek: Ἀντίοχος Θεός, Antiochos; 286 – July 246 BC) was a Greek king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire who reigned from 261 to 246 BC.[2] He succeeded his father Antiochus I Soter in the winter of 262–61 BC. He was the younger son of Antiochus I and princess Stratonice, the daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes.[3]
Antiochus II was a forceful personality who in his lifetime largely succeeded to hold the sprawling Seleucid realm intact. However his fateful decision to repudiate his first wife
Early life
Antiochus II was the younger son of Antiochus I Soter and his famous queen Stratonice. Antiochus was initially not expected to inherit the throne, but in 267 BC his father had his elder brother Seleucus executed on charges of rebellion.[4]
Reign
He inherited lasting tensions with
In the end the war did little to alter the general balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Laodice remained a very powerful and political influential figure and continued numerous intrigues to become queen again. By 246 BC, possibly at the news of Ptolemy II's death, Antiochus II had left Berenice and their infant son Antiochus in Antioch to live again with Laodice in Asia Minor.[3] Antiochus II soon suddenly died and Laodice was widely accused of having him poisoned. Antiochus was buried in the Belevi Mausoleum.[13]
A succession struggle erupted almost immediately. Berenice initially had the advantage by holding Antioch but her son Antiochus was but an infant. Meanwhile, Laodice proclaimed her eldest son Seleucus as king
Eastern affairs
Very little is known about any Antiochus II's activities in regards to the eastern
Possible relations with India
An uncertain Antiochus is mentioned[16] in the Edicts of Ashoka, as one of the recipients of the Indian Emperor Ashoka's Buddhist proselytism. A majority opinion however holds that the Greek king mentioned there is in fact be Antiochus II's father, Antiochus I Soter, who arguably had more proximity with the East.[17][16]
Notes
- ^ Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch (in Sanskrit). 1925. p. 3.
- ^ "Antiochus II Theos". Livius.
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 604.
- ^ Smith, Andrew. "Johannes Malalas - translation". www.attalus.org. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- Appianus, Syriaca, 65.
- ^ "Dr. Jordan Iliev. "The Campaign of Antiochus II Theos in Thrace" - History Studies. International Journal of History, 2013, 5/1, pp. 211-222" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2014.
- ^ a b Bromiley, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: A-D p.144
- ^ Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism p.126
- ^ a b Grainger, A Seleukid prosopography and gazetteer p.47
- ^ "Laodice I article at Livius.org". Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Aperghis,The Seleukid royal economy: the finances and financial administration of the Seleukid empire p.144
- ^ Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism p.p.114-5
- ^ "The Mausoleum of Antiochus II Theos". Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "E. R. Bevan: The House of Ptolemy • Chap. VI". penelope.uchicago.edu.
- ^ F. L. Holt 1999, Thundering Zeus, Berkeley.
- ^ Antiochus I, with stronger connections in the East.
- ^ Translation of Jarl Charpentier 1931:303-321.
External links
- Antiochus II entry in 'Seleucid Genealogy' Archived 15 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine