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Antiochus III the Great
Antiochus III the Great. Bust at the Louvre, Paris (France). Photo Marco Prins.
Antiochus III the Great
(Bust at the Louvre)
 Antiochus III Megas ('the Great'): name of a Seleucid king, ruled from 222 to187.

Successor of: Seleucus III Keraunos (or Soter)

Relatives:

Coin of the Seleucid king Antiochus III the Great. British Museum, London (Britain). Photo Marco Prins.
Antiochus III the Great
(British Museum, London)

Main deeds:

  • April-June 222: Comes to power after the assassination of his elder brother, Seleucus III Keraunos, who has unsuccessfully tried to recover territories that had been lost to king Attalus I Soter of Pergamon
  • Antiochus' general Achaeus has more success, but proclaims himself king
  • 222: Wedding; Antiochus marries Laodice III
  • 222-220: Antiochus suppresses the revolt of Molon in Media and Persis
  • 219: outbreak of the Fourth Syrian War against king Ptolemy IV Philopator; Antiochus reconquers Seleucia (the port of Antioch, which had been conquered by Ptolemy III in the Third Syrian War) and proceeds to the south, capturing Tyre
  • 217, 13 June: Ptolemy's army defeats the Seleucid army at Raphia with an army that consists partly of Egyptian soldiers
  • October 217: peace is concluded; the Seleucid Empire keeps Seleucia
  • 216: Alliance with Attalus against Achaeus.
  • 216-213: Antiochus defeats Achaeus and captures Sardes
  • 212-205: Antiochus reconquers the independent kingdoms in Parthia and Bactria and Gandara; he is called Megas, 'the great'
  • 205: Ptolemy IV Philopator falls ill; Antiochus and Philip V of Macedonia agree to attack Egypt
  • 204: Birth of Cleopatra I Syra
  • 204, September: Ptolemy IV succeeded by Ptolemy V Epiphanes
  • 202, May: Outbreak of the Fifth Syrian War; renewed attempt to conquer southern Syria
  • 200: Battle of Paneion: Ptolemy V loses his Asian territories; Antiochus' daughter Cleopatra Syra marries to the Egyptian king
  • Rome declares war against Macedonia (which leaves the war against the Ptolemies) and orders Antiochus to keep their hands off Egypt, which is vital for Rome's food supply
  • 199-197: Antiochus cancels his invasion of Egypt, and instead attacks Ptolemaic possessions in Cilicia
  • 196: Antiochus appointed as successor; he marries his sister Laodice IV
  • 196: Conquest of Thrace, which is governed by Antiochus' son Seleucus
  • 194: The Pergamene king Eumenes II Soter refuses an alliance; Ariarathes IV Eusebes of Cappadocia marries to Antiochis
  • 193: Death of his crown prince Antiochus
  • 192-188: Syrian War against Rome and its allies Pergamon and Rhodos; the Carthaginian general in Seleucid service, Hannibal Barca, and Antiochus are defeated
  • 191: Marries Euboea of Chalcis
  • 189: Seleucus made co-ruler; he probably marries his sister Laodice IV, widow of Antiochus
  • Peace of Apamea: cedes all territory north of the Taurus to the Roman ally Pergamon and agrees to pay an indemnity to Rome; his youngest son Antiochus is sent to Italy as hostage
  • 187 Antiochus visits Babylon
  • 3 July 187: in an attempt to obtain money, Antiochus attacks a temple in Susa, but is killed
Succeeded by: Seleucus IV Philopator

Sources:
This brief article has been written to offer background information
to the real articles on Livius.Org. One day, this webpage will be
improved. A list of completed articles can be found here.
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