The Séleucides are a hellenistic dynasty resulting from Séleucos, one of the Diadoque S of Alexandre Large the, which constitutes an empire syro-Iranian trained of the major part of the Eastern territories conquered by Alexandre, energy of the Syria to the Indus. The political heart of the empire is located in ancient Syria, even if Séleucides reign until second century BC on the Babylonia and the Mésopotamie in the continuity of Persians Achéménide S. the dynasty séleucide reigned of 305 with 64 av. J. - C.

History of the dynasty séleucide

Initially satrap of Babylonia with died of Alexandre, Séleucos extends thereafter its domination on the provinces of Syria and Eastern average Asia (Perse, Médie, Susiane, Sogdiane, etc). He proclaims king in 305. Séleucos founds Séleucie of the Tiger, its first capital, in Mésopotamie; then it transfers a time its capital to Séleucie de Piérie on the Mediterranean. The capital settles definitively with Antioche in ancient Syria at the end of its reign. Séleucides are only great hellenistic dynasties to have an Iranian ascent. Séleucos indeed married Apama, the girl of noble Persian, to which Antiochos I {{er}} is born its heir. The historians a long time underestimated the importance of Babylonia within the empire by consulting the Greek sources more that the documents written in Araméen. The chancellery, according to the Persian royal tradition, indeed compiles documents in wedge-shaped writing and not only in Greek. Séleucides make following the Achéménide S in the Babylonian chronicles until in the years 150.

Séleucides dispute the Cœlé-Syria with the Lagide S at the time from the six Guerres of Syria. Towards 250, the satrapie of Bactriane makes secession to form the Royaume gréco-bactrien. In same time, the Parthie becomes it also independent. Partly reconstituted under Antiochos III, the empire is torn by the internal conflicts. With the Peace of Apamée in 188, concluded at the conclusion of the defeat of Magnesia of Sipyle against the Roman , Séleucides lose their possessions of Asia Mineure with the profit of Pergame. The western border of the empire is limited to the Taurus. Séleucides lose, starting from second half of the second century BC, the satrapies Eastern with the profit of the Parthes which seize all the Iranian plate. The dynasty dies out in 64 av. J. - C. with Antiochos XIII Asiaticus, détrôné by Pompée which reduces the Syria, last remainder of the kingdom séleucide since 140, in Roman Province.

The empire séleucide, fusion of the East and the Greek world, seems with the departure faithful to the project of Alexandre Large the. The empire knows a multiplicity of ethnicities, languages (Iranian Greek, Persian, araméen, dialects), religions (Greek polytheism, indigenous Zoroastrisme, Judaïsme, worships). In this context, more still than for other hellenistic monarchies, the king, who receives a divine worship, is supposed to be guaranteeing unicity of the empire. The army appears being like the best support of the dynasty séleucide. Séleucides supported the hellenisation of the East by developing town planning, as shows it the tétrapolis of Syria and the many foundations of cities and city-garrisons.

The vastness and the multiplity of the empire séleucide founded its brittleness. The majority of the sovereigns, carried by inextricable matrimonial quarrels, proved to be poor in the control of the businesses, except notable for Antiochos III.

The kings séleucides

1. Séleucos I {{er}} Nicator (“the old Winner” in Greek), reign of 305 with 280 av. J. - C.

2. Antiochos I {{er}} Sôter (“the Saver”), of 281 with 261 av. J. - C., wire of the precedent.
3. Antiochos II Théos (“the divine one”), wire of the precedent, 261 with 247 av. J. - C., wire of the precedent.
4. Séleucos II Callinicos (“the Large winner”), of 246 with 225 av. J. - C., wire of the precedent.
5. Antiochos Hiérax (“the Sparrowhawk”), of 241 with 226 av. J. - C., brother of the precedent.
6. Séleucos III Sôter (“the Saver”), of 225 with 223 av. J. - C., wire of the precedent.
7. Antiochos III Mégas (“the Large one”), of 223 with 187 av. J. - C., brother of the precedent, it gains a decisive victory over the Lagides with Panion.
8. Achaios II cousin of the preceding usurper, 221 av. J. - C. with 213 av. J. - C. king of Minor Asia.
9. Séleucos IV Philopator (“which loves his/her father”), of 187 with 175 av. J. - C., wire of Antiochos III.
10. Antiochos IV Épiphane , (“divine Demonstration”), of 175 with 163 av. J. - C., brother of the precedent, it homogenizes its empire under the banner of the Greek culture what causes the revolt of the Macchabées in Judaea.
11. Antiochos V Eupator (“born from a good father”), of 163 with 162 av. J. - C., wire of the precedent.
12. Démétrios I {{er}} '' Sôter '' (“the Saver”), of 162 with 150 av. J. - C.
13. Alexandre Ier Balled, usurper, of 152 with 145 av. J. - C.
14. Antiochos VI Dionysos , 145 with 142 av. J. - C., wire of Alexandre Ier Balas
15. Démétrios II Nicator , 145 with 125 av. J. -. C., wire of Démétrios Ier Sôter
16. Antiochos VII Evergète Sidétès , of 138 with 127 av. J. - C..
17. Séleucos V Nicator, of 124 av . J. - C. with 125 av . J. - C in conflict with Alexandre II Zabinas.
18. Alexandre II Zabinas, usurper, of 126 with 122 av. J. - C.
19. Antiochos VIII Philométor , of 125 with 96 av. J. - C., wire of Démétrios II Nicator .
20. Antiochos IX of Cyzique , 96 with 95 av. J. - C., brother of the precedent.
21. Séleucos VI Épiphane (“divine Demonstration”), wire of Antiochos VIII Philométor , of 96 with 93 av. J. - C.
22. Antiochos X Eusèbe (“Piles”), of 94 with 92 av. J. - C.
23. Antiochos XI Philadelphe (“which loves his/her brother”), of 93 with 90 av. J. - C., wire of Antiochos VIII Philométor .
24. Philippe Ier Philadelphe of 93 av . J. - C. with 83 av . J. - C.
25. Démétrios III, of 95 with 88 av. J. - C.
26. Antiochos XII Dionysos , in 83 av. J. - C., wire of Antiochos VIII Philométor .
27. Antiochos XIII Asiaticus (“the Asian one”), of 69 with 64 av. J. - C., wire of Antiochos X Eusèbe.
28. Philippe II Philoromaios (" the friend of the romains") of 65 with 64 av. J. - C., wire of Philippe Ier Philadelphe .

The overlappings of reigns are explained by the usurpations and conflicts of being able.