Seleucus IV Philopator
Seleucus IV Philopator | |
---|---|
Antiochus | |
Born | c. 218 BC |
Died | 3 September 175 BC (aged 42–43) |
Spouse | Laodice IV |
Issue | Antiochus Demetrius I Soter Laodice V |
Dynasty | Seleucid |
Father | Antiochus III the Great |
Mother | Laodice III |
Seleucus IV Philopator
Biography
Birth and family
He was the second son and successor of Antiochus III the Great and Laodice III. He was made heir to his father after the death of his elder brother Antiochus the young king, in 193 BC.[4] Seleucus IV wed his sister Laodice IV, by whom he had three children: two sons Demetrius I Soter, Antiochus and a daughter Laodice V.
Seleucid conflict with Rome
During the prelude to the
Reign
In 187 BC, Antiochus died[11] after looting the Temple of Bel in Elymaïs[12] and Seleucus took over as Basileus. He renewed an alliance with the Achaean League,[12] and almost joined in Pharnaces I's invasion of Galatia, before reconsidering and turning back.[10][12] He also substituted his son Demetrius instead of his brother Antiochus IV as a hostage in Rome.[13]
Death
On September 3, 175 BC (137 SE), Seleucus was assassinated by Heliodorus, one of his leading bureaucrats. The ancient sources do not record a motive for this act; possibly it was simple lust for power, or possibly the sources misattributed the death to the one who gained the most from it.[14] Heliodorus took over as regent, ruling on behalf of Seleucus IV's young child Antiochus. Heliodorus's reign as regent was brief, however; months later, he was replaced by Antiochus IV with support from Pergamon.[13][10]
In the Judeo-Christian tradition
The book
Other ancient accounts
In general, many (non-religious) ancient sources portray Seleucus IV as something of a weak ruler. Lester L. Grabbe cautions that this hostility may be unwarranted from historians who expected skilled kings to go to war. Seleucis IV appears to have run a fairly quiet period of rebuilding, but he managed relations with Rome astutely given the inferior position the Seleucid Empire found itself in after its defeat in the Roman–Seleucid War. A decade of peace would give the Seleucid Empire time to recover its strength.[17]
See also
References
- ^ "Philopator — definition, examples, related words and more at Wordnik".
- ^ "Seleucus IV Philopator". Livius.org.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, Vol. 20 (1973), p. 190
- ^ Grainger 2015, p. 2–3.
- ^ Livius, Titus. Ab Urbe Condita. Vol. 35.
- ^ "Appian, The Syrian Wars 1 - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Appian, The Syrian Wars 6 - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ a b Livius, Titus. Ab Urbe Condita. Vol. 37.
- ^ "Appian, The Syrian Wars 7 - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ OCLC 779530090.
- ^ OCLC 779530090.
- ^ a b c Siculus, Diodorus. Bibliotheca Historica. Vol. 29.10.15.
- ^ a b "Appian, The Syrian Wars 9 - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ISBN 90-04-09441-5.
- ISBN 0-7618-3044-8.
- ^ Daniel 11:20: New International Version
- ISBN 978-0-567-03396-3.
External links
- Seleucus IV Philopator entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith