CHAPTER LXV. THE KINGDOM OF THE SELEUCIDÆ
[323-312 B.C.]
In the final tripartite division of Alexander’s empire, the largest part, geographically speaking, fell to Seleucus, known as Nicator, or the Conqueror, who gave his name to the kingdom which was destined for many generations to play a more or less important part in Asiatic history. Seleucus had his capital first at Babylon and re-established the power of Grecian or Macedonian arms over a large part of the Asiatic territory of Alexander’s empire. Subsequently the seat of the kingdom was shifted to the newly founded city of Antioch on the coast of Asia Minor, which became one of the most important capitals in the world, at times almost rivalling Alexandria. The territory and power of the Seleucidæ were early curtailed owing to the advance of outlying nations, notably the Parthians, and gradually disintegrated rather by slow stages than by the sudden shock of a single conquest. Chiefly because of the shifting of progress far to the west, it was not destined to play any really important part in the building of world history. In name, at least, the kingdom continued in independent existence long after Greece proper had been overthrown; but the Parthians and Sassanians in turn had largely shorn it of its glory, and it was these powers, rather than the Seleucidæ proper, that came into rivalry and conflict with the Roman might when that new mistress of the world extended her influence to the eastward. We must think therefore of the kingdom of the Seleucidæ rather as a link in time and place between great powers, than as a thing of really intrinsic importance. A brief summary of its history is, therefore, all that need detain us. Here again for the sake of clearness—if clearness be possible in this chaotic period—some repetition is unavoidable.[a]
The kingdom of Syria was not confined to that country alone, but also comprehended those vast and fertile provinces of upper Asia, which formed the Persian empire; being, in its full extent, bounded by the Mediterranean on one side, and the river Indus on the other. These wide-spreading dominions are commonly called the kingdom of Syria, because Seleucus, the first of the Syro-Macedonian kings, having built the city of Antioch in that province, chose it, as did likewise his successors, for the usual place of his residence. Here his descendants, from him styled Seleucidæ, reigned, according to Eusebius, for the space of 251 years, that is, from the 117th Olympiad, when Seleucus recovered Babylon, to the third year of the 180th, when Antiochus Asiaticus, the last of the race of Seleucus, was driven out by Pompey, and Syria reduced to a Roman province. Before we proceed to the history of the Seleucidæ, we shall exhibit a series of the kings of that race, with the years of their respective reigns.
A Table of the Kings of Syria, from the Foundation of that Monarchy to its being reduced by the Romans, with the Years of their Respective Reigns.
| Years | ||
|---|---|---|
| Seleucus Nicator | 32 | |
| Antiochus Soter | 19 | |
| Antiochus Theos | 15 | |
| Seleucus Callinicus | 20 | |
| Seleucus Ceraunus | 3 | |
| Antiochus the Great | 36 | |
| Seleucus Philopator | 11 | |
| Antiochus Epiphanes | 11 | |
| Antiochus Eupator | 12 | |
| Demetrius Soter | 12 | |
| Alexander Balas | 5 | |
| Demetrius Nicator | 6 | |
| Antiochus Theos | 3 | |
| Tryphon | 4 | |
| Antiochus Sidetes | 11 | |
| Alexander Zebina | 13 | |
| Antiochus Grypus | 19 | |
| Antiochus Cyzicenus | 21 | |
| Seleucus Epiphanes | 7 months | |
| Antiochus Eusebes | 1 | |
| Demetrius Eucærus | 2 | |
| Philip | 3 | |
| Antiochus Epiphanes | 4 | |
| Antiochus Dionysus | 7 | |
| Tigranes | 14 | |
| Antiochus Asiaticus | 4 |
Seleucus, the founder of the Syro-Macedonian empire, was the son of Antiochus, one of the chief captains of Philip, the father of Alexander. He served under Alexander from his tender years, attended him in his expedition into Asia, and was by him honoured with the chief command of the elephants, a commission of great trust and reputation. After the death of that conqueror, Perdiccas, whom the officers had unanimously appointed regent of the empire, placed Seleucus at the head of the cavalry of the allies; in which command he acquitted himself with such reputation that Antipater, who succeeded Perdiccas in his regency, raised him to the government of Babylon and its territory.