Seleucids

Seleucids, dynasty which eventually obtained Syria and much of Asia as its share in the empire of Alexander the Great (see DIADOCHOI). The founder of the dynasty was Seleucus I (c.358–281 BC), an officer of Alexander, who, after the latter's death, received the governorship of Babylonia (321). After a shaky beginning, by the end of the fourth century he had extended his rule eastwards over all Alexander's provinces as far as India. In 281 Seleucus acquired northern and central Asia Minor by defeating and killing Lysimachus (another of Alexander's generals) at the battle of Corupedium. Now entertaining the hope of winning Macedonia, the possession of which was still undecided, he invaded Europe, but was assassinated by Ptolemy Ceraunus, a son of Ptolemy I of Egypt. His most remarkable successor was Antiochus III (the Great, 223–187). His expansionist policy in the West (he invaded Europe in 196 to recover Thrace), led him into conflict with Rome, and after losing three battles against the Romans he was forced to evacuate all Asia Minor west of Mount Taurus. Thereafter, despite its Mediterranean seaboard, the Seleucid empire ceased to be a Mediterranean power. It broke up through dynastic wars into a multitude of free cities and small kingdoms and territory was lost to the Parthians in the east. Finally, in 64 BC Syria was annexed to Rome by Pompey. The importance of the Seleucids lies in their Hellenization of Asia, particularly in founding scores of cities, more or less Greek in character; Seleucus I founded Antioch on the Orontēs as his Syrian capital and Seleucia on the Tigris as the capital of his empire.