The title King of Syria appeared in the second century BC in referring to the Seleucid kings who ruled the entirety of the region of Syria. It was also used to refer to Aramean kings in the Greek translations of the Old Testament, mainly indicating the kings of Aram-Damascus. Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the region came under the rule of France, the United Kingdom and Prince Faisal of Hejaz, who was proclaimed King of Syria on 8 March 1920. Faisal's reign lasted a few months before he was overthrown by France and the title fell out of use.
The term Syria was first applied by Herodotus in the 5th century BC to indicate a region generally extending between Anatolia and Egypt. [1] [2] With the advent of the Hellenistic period, Greeks and their Seleucid dynasty used the term "Syria" to designate the region between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates. [3] The usage of the name in referring to the region during the Iron Age (ended 586 BC) is a modern practice. [1] [4]
According to Polybius, King Antigonus I Monophthalmus established the Syrian kingdom which included Coele-Syria. [5] The Seleucid king Antiochus III the Great defeated the Ptolemaic Kingdom in the Battle of Panium (200 BC); he annexed the Syrian lands controlled by Egypt (Coele-Syria) and united them with his Syrian lands, thus gaining control of the entirety of Syria. [6] Starting from the 2nd century BC, ancient writers, such as Polybius and Posidonius, began referring to the Seleucid ruler as the king of Syria. [7] [8] The evidence for this title's usage by the kings is provided by the inscription of Antigonus son of Menophilus, who described himself as the "admiral of Alexander, king of Syria" (Alexander refers either to Alexander I Balas or Alexander II Zabinas). [8]
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antiochus III the Great (c. 241–187 BC) | 200–187 BC | Laodice III (200–187 BC) Euboea (191–187 BC) |
| |
Seleucus IV Philopator (c. 218–175 BC) | 187–175 BC | Laodice IV (187–175 BC) | ||
Antiochus (c. 180–170 BC) | 175–170 BC | Unmarried |
| |
Antiochus IV Epiphanes (c. 215–164 BC) | 175–164 BC | Laodice IV (c. 175–c. 164 BC) | ||
Antiochus V Eupator (172–161 BC) | 164–162 BC | Unmarried | ||
Demetrius I Soter (187–150 BC) | 162–150 BC | |||
Antiochus | 150 BC | |||
Alexander I Balas ( –145 BC) | 150–145 BC | Cleopatra Thea (150–145 BC) | ||
Demetrius II Nicator ( –125 BC) | 145–138 BC (first reign) | Cleopatra Thea (145–138 BC) |
| |
Antiochus VI Dionysus (148 BC–142/141 BC) | 144–142/141 BC | Unmarried |
Diodotus Tryphon, who opposed Demetrius II by raising Antiochus VI to the throne, killed his protege and declared himself king ruling until 138 when the Seleucids unified Syria again. [27]
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Diodotus Tryphon ( –138 BC) | 142/141–138 BC |
|
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antiochus VII Sidetes ( –129 BC) | 138–129 BC | Cleopatra Thea (138–129 BC) | ||
Demetrius II Nicator ( –125 BC) | 129–125 BC (second reign) | Cleopatra Thea (129–125 BC) |
| |
Antiochus VIII Grypus ( –96 BC) | 128 BC (first reign) | |||
Alexander II Zabinas ( –123 BC) | 128–123 BC |
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cleopatra Thea (c. 165–121 BC) | 125–121 BC |
|
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seleucus V Philometor ( –125 BC) | 125 BC | |||
Antiochus VIII Grypus ( –96 BC) | 125–96 BC (second reign) | Tryphaena (124–111 BC) Cleopatra Selene (103–96 BC) | ||
Antiochus IX Cyzicenus ( –95 BC) | 114–95 BC | Cleopatra IV (114–112 BC) Cleopatra Selene (96–95 BC) | ||
Antiochus VIII died in 96 BC and Antiochus IX followed him in 95 BC; [49] the country became embroiled in a civil war in which Antiochus VIII's five sons and the descendants of Antiochus IX fought between themselves. [50] The chronology of all those monarchs is problematic and is specially vague regarding Seleucus VI's successors. [51] | ||||
Demetrius III Eucaerus ( –88 BC) | 96–88 BC | |||
Seleucus VI Epiphanes ( –94/93 BC) | 96–94/93 BC | |||
Antiochus X Eusebes ( –92) | 95–92 BC | Cleopatra Selene (95–92 BC) | ||
Antiochus XI Epiphanes ( –93 BC) | 94–93 BC | |||
Philip I Philadelphus ( –83 BC) | 94–84/83 BC | |||
Antiochus XII Dionysus ( –84 BC) | 87–84/83 BC |
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cleopatra Selene (c. 135/130–69 BC) | 83–69 BC |
|
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antiochus XIII Asiaticus (c. 94–63 BC) | 83 or 83–74 BC (first reign) |
|
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tigranes the Great (140–55 BC) | 83/74–69 BC |
|
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antiochus XIII Asiaticus (c. 94–63 BC) | 69–67 BC (second reign) | |||
Philip II Philoromaeus ( –after 57 BC) | 67–65 BC |
| ||
Antiochus XIII Asiaticus (c. 94–63 BC) | 65–64 BC (third reign) |
|
Portrait | Monarch (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Parents, co-regents, and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ptolemy Philadelphus (36–after 30 BC) | 34–30 BC |
|
On 8 March 1920, prince Faysal of the House of Hashim, supported by the Syrian National Congress, declared himself king of the Arab Kingdom of Syria; the kingdom collapsed on 24 July of the same year. [76]
Portrait | Name (and lifespan) | Reign | Consort (and tenure) | Standard | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Faisal (20 May 1885 – 8 September 1933) | 8 March 1920 – 24 July 1920 | Huzaima bint Nasser (8 March 1920 – 24 July 1920) |
|
In the first translation of the Old Testament into Greek written during the third century BC (called the Septuagint), [79] Aram and Arameans were often translated as Syria and the Syrians; [80] [81] hence, the king was referred to as the king of Syria, [82] and this was carried on by many English translations. [80] Aram in the Hebrew Old Testament and Syria in the translation indicated the kingdom of Aram-Damascus most of the times. [80] Occasionally, other Aramean regions were also referred to as Syria. [80] In the view of W. Edward Glenny, the rendering of Aram by Syria might be explained by an anti-Syrian bias, since at the time of the translation, Syria belonged to the Seleucids, the Jews' main enemy; Aram-Damascus was the Jews' enemy during its Iron Age prime in the 9th century BC. [83]
Portrait | Name | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Rezon | 10th century BC | ||
Hezion | 10th century BC | ||
Ben-Hadad I |
| ||
Ben-Hadad II | |||
Hazael | c. 842–800 BC |
| |
Ben-Hadad III |
| ||
Rezin | 750s–733 BC |
|
Alexander I Theopator Euergetes, surnamed Balas, was the ruler of the Seleucid Empire from 150 BC to August 145 BC. Picked from obscurity and supported by the neighboring Roman-allied Kingdom of Pergamon, Alexander landed in Phoenicia in 152 BC and started a civil war against Seleucid King Demetrius I Soter. Backed by mercenaries and factions of the Seleucid Empire unhappy with the existing government, he defeated Demetrius and took the crown in 150 BC. He married the princess Cleopatra Thea to seal an alliance with the neighboring Ptolemaic kingdom. His reign saw the steady retreat of the Seleucid Empire's eastern border, with important eastern satrapies such as Media being lost to the nascent Parthian Empire. In 147 BC, Demetrius II Nicator, the young son of Demetrius I, began a campaign to overthrow Balas, and civil war resumed. Alexander's ally, Ptolemaic king Ptolemy VI Philometor, moved troops into Coele-Syria to support Alexander, but then switched sides and threw his support behind Demetrius II. At the Battle of the Oenoparus River in Syria, he was defeated by Ptolemy VI and he died shortly afterward.
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek power in West Asia during the Hellenistic period. It was founded in 312 BC by the Macedonian general Seleucus I Nicator, following the division of the Macedonian Empire founded by Alexander the Great, and ruled by the Seleucid dynasty until its annexation by the Roman Republic under Pompey in 63 BC.
This article concerns the period 179 BC – 170 BC.
Demetrius III Theos Philopator Soter Philometor Euergetes Callinicus was a Hellenistic Seleucid monarch who reigned as the King of Syria between 96 and 87 BC. He was a son of Antiochus VIII and, most likely, his Egyptian wife Tryphaena. Demetrius III's early life was spent in a period of civil war between his father and his uncle Antiochus IX, which ended with the assassination of Antiochus VIII in 96 BC. After the death of their father, Demetrius III took control of Damascus while his brother Seleucus VI prepared for war against Antiochus IX, who occupied the Syrian capital Antioch.
Antiochus I Soter was a Macedonian king of the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus succeeded his father Seleucus I Nicator in 281 BC and reigned during a period of instability which he mostly overcame until his death on 2 June 261 BC. He is the last known ruler to be attributed the ancient Mesopotamian title King of the Universe.
Antiochus III the Great was a Greek Hellenistic king and the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire, reigning from 223 to 187 BC. He ruled over the region of Syria and large parts of the rest of western Asia towards the end of the 3rd century BC. Rising to the throne at the age of eighteen in April/June 223 BC, his early campaigns against the Ptolemaic Kingdom were unsuccessful, but in the following years Antiochus gained several military victories and substantially expanded the empire's territory. His traditional designation, the Great, reflects an epithet he assumed. He also assumed the title Basileus Megas, the traditional title of the Persian kings. A militarily active ruler, Antiochus restored much of the territory of the Seleucid Empire, before suffering a serious setback, towards the end of his reign, in his war against Rome.
Alexander II Theos Epiphanes Nikephoros was a Hellenistic Seleucid monarch who reigned as the King of Syria between 128 BC and 123 BC. His true parentage is debated; depending on which ancient historian, he either claimed to be a son of Alexander I or an adopted son of Antiochus VII. Most ancient historians and the modern academic consensus maintain that Alexander II's claim to be a Seleucid was false. His surname "Zabinas" (Ζαβίνας) is a Semitic name that is usually translated as "the bought one". It is possible, however, that Alexander II was a natural son of Alexander I, as the surname can also mean "bought from the god". The iconography of Alexander II's coinage indicates he based his claims to the throne on his descent from Antiochus IV, the father of Alexander I.
Cleopatra I or Cleopatra Thea, surnamed Eueteria was a ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. She was queen consort of Syria from 150 to about 125 BC as the wife of three Syrian kings: Alexander Balas, Demetrius II Nicator, and Antiochus VII Sidetes. She ruled Syria from 125 BC after the death of Demetrius II Nicator, eventually in co-regency with her son Antiochus VIII Grypus until 121 or 120 BC.
Antiochus XII Dionysus Epiphanes Philopator Callinicus was a Hellenistic Seleucid monarch who reigned as King of Syria between 87 and 82 BC. The youngest son of Antiochus VIII and, most likely, his Egyptian wife Tryphaena, Antiochus XII lived during a period of civil war between his father and his uncle Antiochus IX, which ended with the assassination of Antiochus VIII in 96 BC. Antiochus XII's four brothers laid claim to the throne, eliminated Antiochus IX as a claimant, and waged war against his heir Antiochus X.
Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator was a Seleucid monarch who reigned as King of Syria during the Hellenistic period between 95 BC and 92 BC or 89/88 BC. He was the son of Antiochus IX and perhaps his Egyptian wife Cleopatra IV. Eusebes lived during a period of general disintegration in Seleucid Syria, characterized by civil wars, foreign interference by Ptolemaic Egypt and incursions by the Parthians. Antiochus IX was killed in 95 BC at the hands of Seleucus VI, the son of his half-brother and rival Antiochus VIII. Antiochus X then went to the city of Aradus where he declared himself king. He avenged his father by defeating Seleucus VI, who was eventually killed.
Philip I Epiphanes Philadelphus was a Hellenistic Seleucid monarch who reigned as the king of Syria from 94 to either 83 or 75 BC. The son of Antiochus VIII and his wife Tryphaena, he spent his early life in a period of civil war between his father and his uncle Antiochus IX. The conflict ended with the assassination of Antiochus VIII; Antiochus IX took power in the Syrian capital Antioch, but soon fell in battle with Antiochus VIII's eldest son Seleucus VI.
Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus was a Seleucid monarch who reigned as King of Syria between 94 and 93 BC, during the Hellenistic period. He was the son of Antiochus VIII and his wife Tryphaena. Antiochus XI's early life was a time of constant civil war between his father and his uncle Antiochus IX. The conflict ended with the assassination of Antiochus VIII, followed by the establishment of Antiochus IX in Antioch, the capital of Syria. Antiochus VIII's eldest son Seleucus VI, in control of western Cilicia, marched against his uncle and had him killed, taking Antioch for himself, only to be expelled from it and driven to his death in 94 BC by Antiochus IX's son Antiochus X.
Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator was a Hellenistic Seleucid monarch who ruled Syria between 96 and 94 BC. He was the son of Antiochus VIII and his Ptolemaic Egyptian wife Tryphaena. Seleucus VI lived during a period of civil war between his father and his uncle Antiochus IX, which ended in 96 BC when Antiochus VIII was assassinated. Antiochus IX then occupied the capital Antioch while Seleucus VI established his power-base in western Cilicia and himself prepared for war. In 95 BC, Antiochus IX marched against his nephew, but lost the battle and was killed. Seleucus VI became the master of the capital but had to share Syria with his brother Demetrius III, based in Damascus, and his cousin, Antiochus IX's son Antiochus X.
Antiochus XIII Philadelphus, known as Asiaticus, (Ἀσιατικός) was the penultimate ruler of the Seleucid kingdom.
Seleucus VII Philometor or Kybiosactes, was a possible ruler of the Seleucid kingdom based in Syria. But his existence is disputed.
Antiochus VIII Epiphanes/Callinicus/Philometor, nicknamed Grypus, was the ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire from 125 to 96 BC. He was the younger son of Demetrius II and Cleopatra Thea. He may have spent his early life in Athens and returned to Syria after the deaths of his father and brother Seleucus V. At first he was joint ruler with his mother. Fearing her influence, Antiochus VIII had Cleopatra Thea poisoned in 121 BC.
Antiochus IX Eusebes Cyzicenus was a ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom. He was the son of Antiochus VII Sidetes and Cleopatra Thea. He left the kingdom in 129 BC and went to the city of Cyzicus, but he returned in 116 BC to challenge his half-brother Antiochus VIII for power.
Cleopatra Selene was the Queen consort of Egypt from 115 to 102 BC, the Queen consort of Syria from 102 to 92 BC, and the monarch of Syria from 82 to 69 BC. The daughter of Ptolemy VIII Physcon and Cleopatra III of Egypt, Cleopatra Selene was favoured by her mother and became a pawn in Cleopatra III's political manoeuvres. In 115 BC, Cleopatra III forced her son Ptolemy IX to divorce his sister-wife Cleopatra IV, and chose Cleopatra Selene as the new queen consort of Egypt. Tension between the king and his mother grew and ended with his expulsion from Egypt, leaving Cleopatra Selene behind; she probably then married the new king, her other brother Ptolemy X.
The Seleucid Dynastic Wars were a series of wars of succession that were fought between competing branches of the Seleucid royal household for control of the Seleucid Empire. Beginning as a by-product of several succession crises that arose from the reigns of Seleucus IV Philopator and his brother Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the 170s and 160s, the wars typified the final years of the empire and were an important cause of its decline as a major power in the Near East and Hellenistic world. The last war ended with the collapse of the kingdom and its annexation by the Roman Republic in 63 BC.
Antiochus was a Hellenistic monarch of the Seleucid Empire reigning between 175 and 170 BC.