Demetrius III Eucaerus

Successor of: Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator

Relatives:

• Father: Antiochus VIII Grypus
• Mother: Cleopatra V Selene

• After 114/113, the Seleucid dynasty was divided into two branches, a northern one and a southern one.
• The leaders of the south were Antiochus IX Cyzicenus
• The leaders of the northern branch were Antiochus VIII Grypus
• 97/96: The Egyptian king-in-exile Ptolemy IX Soter Lathyros makes Demetrius III Eucaerus and his (presumed twin) brother Philip I Philadelphus rulers in Damascus; they are successful in their war against Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator.
• Summer 96: death of Antiochus VIII Grypus; he is succeeded by Seleucus VI
• Early 95: Seleucus defeats and kills Antiochus IX Cyzicenus, who is succeeded by his son Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator.
• In the deep south, Demetrius and Philip seem to have expanded their power: from now on, coins are minted for Philip, who seems to ahve resided in Beroea (modern Aleppo)
• Summer 94: Antiochus X defeats Seleucus VI. Leadership of the northern branch is transferred to Seleucus' brother Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus
• 93: Antiochus XI in Antioch; his reign, however, comes to an end, and Antiochus X takes over power in both Antioch and the north; Demetrius III and Philip I remain in the south
• Demetrius intervenes in the Hasmonaean kingdom, against king Alexander Jannaeus.
• c.89: Parthianinvasion; end of the reign of Antiochus X, who is defeated by the Parthian leader Mithridates Sinaces and his ally Aziz the Arab
• Demetrius breaks off his war against Alexander Jannaeus and captures Antioch
  
• Demetrius and his twin brother Philip start to quarrel; Demetrius besieges Aleppo; Philip invites the Parthians to help him
• 88/87: Demetrius is captured by the Parthians and dies in captivity.

Sources:

• Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 13.370, 376ff, 384ff

Literature

• O. Hoover, 'Revised Chronology for the Late Seleucids at Antioch (121/0-64 BC)' in: Historia 65/3 (2007) 280-301