List of Seleucid rulers

This list of Seleucid rulers contains the rulers of the ancient Seleucid Empire and their family relationships.

Seleucid rulers

Name nickname (life data)	Reign	relationship	Remarks
Seleucus I Nicator (* around 358 BC; † 281 BC)	305-281 BC Chr.		Supported several of the Diadochi in the period after the death of Alexander the Great before he secured his own domain and founded the Seleucid Empire.
Antiochus I Soter (* 324 BC; † 261 BC)	281-261 BC Chr.	Son of Seleucus I.	Was from 294 BC Co-regent of his father and ruled the countries beyond the Euphrates .
Antiochus II. Theos (* 286 BC; † 246 BC)	261-246 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus I.	Secured Asia Minor , tried unsuccessfully to establish itself in Thrace and lost Bactria and Parthia . Was poisoned by his first wife, Laodike .
Seleucus II Callinikos (* 265 BC; † 226 BC)	246-226 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus II.	Was proclaimed king by his mother Laodike, lost Syria, Mesopotamia and Asia Minor.
Seleucus III Keraunos or Soter (* 243 BC; † 223 BC)	226-223 BC Chr.	Son of Seleucus II.	Was proclaimed king after the death of his father. v. Murdered by his own soldiers during a campaign in Asia Minor.
Antiochus III. the great (* 242 BC; † 187 BC)	223-187 BC Chr.	Son of Seleucus II.	Consolidated its power and regained many lost territories. Was the first Seleucid to come into conflict with the Roman Empire and lost control of western Asia Minor in the Roman-Syrian War .
Molon († 220 BC)	222-220 BC Chr.		Previously was satrap of Media . Tried the weak position of Antiochus III. to exploit and declared himself king of Babylonia , but could not hold out.
Achaios († 213 BC)	220-213 BC Chr.	Nephew Seleucus II, cousin Antiochus III.	Was it 220 BC Chr. Proclaimed king by his soldiers in Asia Minor, but had to give up plans to march on the capital because the soldiers threatened to refuse him allegiance in this case. Was by Antiochus III. At first let it go because he turned to other fronts. Was founded in 213 BC. Murdered after conquering his capital Sardis .
Seleucus IV Philopater († 175 BC)	187-175 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus III.	Has been since 189 BC BC co-regent of his father. During his entire reign he suffered from severe financial difficulties and therefore had the temple treasures stolen from Jerusalem .
Antiochus IV. Epiphanes (* 215 BC; † 164 BC)	175-164 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus III, brother of Seleucus IV.	Lived fourteen years as a political hostage in Rome, then in Athens where he stood in opposition to his brother. Took the throne after his death. A union of his empire with Ptolemaic Egypt was prevented by Rome. As the last Seleucid ruler led a campaign into inner Asia, which failed. Died on the march back.
Antiochus V Eupator (* 173 BC; † 162 BC)	164-162 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus IV.	Ruled by a Regency Council due to his young age. Was murdered in Rome after Demetrios returned from hostage custody.
Demetrios I Soter († 150 BC)	162-150 BC Chr.	Son of Seleucus IV.	Lived from 178 BC BC to 162 BC As a hostage in Rome before he returned to the Seleucid Empire and had his predecessor murdered. Attempts to recapture lost territories were only moderately successful. After several failed attempts, he was 150 BC. Chr. Overthrown and murdered.
Alexander I. Balas (* before 153 BC; † 145 BC)	150-145 BC Chr.		Issued as the alleged son of Antiochus IV and received support from Rome for his claim to the throne. Could be between 152 BC. BC and 150 BC To gain dominion. Was due to extensive debauchery in 145 BC. Chr. Overthrown and murdered.
Demetrios II. Theos Nicator Philadelphos (* before 160 BC; † 125 BC)	145-139 BC Chr.	Son of Demetrios I.	Had to fight several internal uprisings after his seizure of power. Captured by the Parthians .
Antiochus VI. Dionysus (* around 148 BC; † around 142 BC)	144-142 BC Chr.	Son of Alexander I and Cleopatra Thea	Was appointed by Diodotus Tryphon to be the anti-king to Demetrios II, died around 142 BC. However.
Diodoto's Tryphon († 138 BC)	142-138 BC Chr.		Took over after the death of Antiochus VI appointed by him. even the throne, but was constantly pushed back by Demetrios II and Antiochus VII, before he himself in 138 BC. Took life.
Antiochus VII. Euergetes or Sidetes († 129 BC)	138-129 BC Chr.	Son of Demetrios I, brother of Demetrios II.	Defeated the usurper Diodotos Tryphon and the rebellious Jews , was killed during a great campaign against the Parthians.
Demetrios II. Theos Nicator Philadelphos (* before 160 BC; † 125 BC)	129-125 BC Chr.	Son of Demetrios I.	Was released during his brother's campaign and began his second term after his death. Ruled only parts of the empire and was overthrown by Alexander II after meddling in an intra-Egyptian war.
Alexander II. Zabinas († 123 BC)	129-123 BC Chr.		Alleged son of Alexander I, was built up by Ptolemy VIII as an anti-king to Demetrios II and overthrown by Antiochus VIII.
Seleucus V Philometer († 125 BC)	126-125 BC Chr.	Son of Demetrios II.	Ruled after the assassination of Demetrios II together with his mother Cleopatra Thea. However murdered by this.
Cleopatra Thea Euergetis (* before 165 BC; † 121 BC)	125-121 BC Chr.	Daughter of Ptolemy VI.	Initially ruled together with Seleucus V, after his assassination as guardian for Antiochus VIII.
Antiochus VIII. Epiphanes Philometor Kallinikos (* approx. 141 BC; † 96 BC)	121-96 BC Chr.	Son of Demetrios II.	Initially ruled with his mother Cleopatra Thea, but had her murdered after she tried to kill him. From 116 B.C. BC War against his half-brother Antiochus IX.
Antiochus IX. Eusebes Kyzikenos († 96 BC)	116-96 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus VII.	From 116 B.C. War against his half-brother Antiochus VIII. For the throne. Probably 96 BC. BC agreed with him on a common rule, but was murdered by a son Antiochus VIII, Seleukos VI.
Seleucus VI. Epiphanes Nikator (* approx. BC; † 95 BC)	96-95 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus VIII.	Took the throne after the death of his father and defeated his uncle and co-regent Antiochus IX, but became 95 BC. After defeat against Antiochus X. murdered in Mopsuestia .
Antiochus XI. Eusebes or Philadelphos (* around 115 or 113 BC; † 92 BC)	95-92 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus VIII.	Fought civil war against his four brothers
Demetrios III. Eukairos , Theos , Philopator or Soter (* around 115 BC; † 88 BC)	95-88 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus VIII.	Fought civil war against his four brothers
Antiochus XII. Dionysus Epiphanes Philopator Kallinikos (* around 115 BC † 84 BC)	87-84 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus VIII.	Fought civil war against his four brothers
Antiochus X. Eusebes Philopator († 83 BC)	95-83 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus IX.	Fought civil war against his four cousins
Philip I Philadelphos (* around 115 or 113 BC; † 83 BC)	95-83 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus VIII.	Fought civil war against his four brothers
Tigranes the Great (* around 140 BC † 55 BC)	83-69 BC Chr.	Son of Tigranes I.	Was king of Greater Armenia and was able to rule his territory from 83 BC. Extend over the Seleucid Empire. Had to fight during a war with Rome in 69 BC. However withdraw from this again.
Antiochus XIII. Philadelphos Asiaticos (* 85 BC † 64 BC)	69-64 BC Chr.	Son of Antiochus X.	Client king of Rome
Philip II Philorhomaios or Barypos (* approx. 95 BC † approx. 56 BC)	69-63 BC Chr.	Son of Philip I.	After the death of his father he held territories in Cilicia against Tigranes, was later a client king of Rome and the last king of the Seleucids