Demetrius I Soter
Demetrius I Soter | |
---|---|
Basileus of the Seleucid Empire | |
Reign | November 162 – June 150 BC |
Predecessor | Antiochus V Eupator |
Successor | Alexander Balas |
Born | 185 BC |
Died | June 150 BC (aged 34 or 35) |
Spouse | Laodice V |
Issue | Demetrius II Nicator Antiochus VII Sidetes Antigonus |
Dynasty | Seleucid |
Father | Seleucus IV Philopator |
Mother | Laodice IV |
Demetrius I (
Biography
Early confinement and escape
Demetrius was born around 185 BC. He was sent to
This phase of Demetrius's life is unusually well-chronicled, as Polybius was an active participant and advisor to Demetrius, and his book The Histories survived out of antiquity rather than being a lost book.
Reign as King
The Romans were not enthusiastic about Demetrius's new rule. They offered their indirect support and encouragement to any who would seek to divide the Seleucid Empire, and hence weaken it. Notably, this included the satrap Timarchus; the Jewish Maccabees; Ptolemaeus of Commagene; and Artaxias I of Armenia.
In Judea, Demetrius instituted measure to suppress the
Demetrius acquired his surname of Soter, Savior, from the Babylonians, where he defeated the rebellious Median satrap Timarchus.[1] Timarchus, who had distinguished himself by defending Media against the emergent Parthians, seems to have treated Demetrius' accession as an excuse to declare himself an independent king and extend his realm into Babylonia. His forces were, however, not enough to stand against the new Seleucid king: Demetrius defeated and killed Timarchus in 160 BC, and dethroned Ariarathes, king of Cappadocia. The Seleucid empire was temporarily united again.
Demetrius may have married his sister Laodice V, by whom he had three sons: Demetrius II Nicator, Antiochus VII Sidetes, and Antigonus.
Downfall and death
Demetrius' downfall may be attributed to Heracleides, a surviving brother of the defeated rebel Timarchus, who championed the cause of
While the Jews were a minor part of Demetrius I's empire, their story was unusually well preserved. Jonathan Apphus, the brother of Judas and the new leader of the Maccabees, was able to negotiate a deal with Demetrius I that would allow him to remove some of the Seleucid forces from Judea to use against Balas. However, Jonathan promptly broke his temporary truce with Demetrius after Alexander Balas offered an even better deal to them. Balas allied with Jonathan: he appointed him as High Priest of Judea and strategos, and Jonathan agreed to send Jewish troops to support Balas's cause. Jonathan, who was born of a priestly family but not from Zadok, the high priestly stock, took the title in Tishri, 152 BC.[8] When Demetrius heard of it, he wrote a letter offering more privileges to Jonathan (1 Macc. 10:25-45). Jonathan did not accept the offer, whether from trust in Balas, distrust in Demetrius, belief that Balas was likely to win the civil war, or a combination of all three.[7]
Balas defeated and killed Demetrius I in 150 BC, becoming the sole king of Syria.[1][9]
Legacy
In 1919
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Demetrius s.v. Demetrius I". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 983. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ a b Appian, Roman History: Syrian Wars 8.46
- ^ 1 Maccabees 1:10 (312 - [A.S.] 137 = 175 [B.C.])
- ^ Appian, Syrian Wars 9.45
- ISBN 0521323525.
- ISBN 1565630491. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 1565630491. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ 1 Maccabees 10:21 (312 - [A.S.] 160 = 152 [B.C.])
- ^ 1 Maccabees 10:57 (312 - [A.S.] 162 = 150 [B.C.])
- ^ Δημήτριου Σωτήρος, snhell.gr
External links
- Media related to Demetrius I Soter at Wikimedia Commons