Molon (usurper)

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Molon ( ancient Greek Μόλων ; † 220 BC) was a usurper and king of Babylonia from 222 to 220 BC. Chr.

Molon was initially the satrap of the media ; he rose under the Seleucid king Antiochus III. 223 BC BC to the general governor of the upper satrapies to administer the empire during the absence of Antiochus, who undertook a campaign against Egypt. After Antiochus withdrew, 222 BC revolted. BC Molon and his brother Alexander, who was the satrap of Persis , in the hope that Achaios would take part in the apostasy, also out of contempt for the young ruler and above all out of hatred of the Chancellor Hermeias , as Polybius writes. Molon was proclaimed king and hurriedly mint coins.

On the advice of Hermeias towards Antiochus dispatched the two generals Xenon and Theodotus Hemiolios to draw the neighboring province governor on his side against Molon, who had now succeeded. Molon pushed back the generals of Antiochus, occupied the Apolloniatis and moved into Ctesiphon 222/221 BC. His winter camp, across from Seleukeia on the Tigris . 221 BC Molon destroyed the army of Xenoitas, whom Hermeias had endowed with extraordinary authority, and conquered the area from the Euphrates to Iran.

Thereupon Antiochus, who had come from Egypt in a hurry, appeared in the late autumn of the same year and struck 220 BC. Chr. Molon, who faced the battle faced with the danger of being cut off from his base media. When the left wing defected to Antiochus and the courage of his army broke, Molon committed suicide. His brother Neolaos escaped to Persis, where he killed his mother, the children of Molon and himself; Alexander also put an end to his life.

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  • Polybios, Historien , 5,40,7-5, 55,1.

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personal data
SURNAME Molon
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Seleucid politician and usurper (222 BC – 220 BC)
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 220 BC Chr.