Battle of Antioch (145 BC)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Antioch in 145 BC
saw the defeat and overthrow of Seleucid
king Alexander Balas
by Ptolemy VI Philometor
of Egypt, but the Egyptian pharaoh died in the battle. This battle is also known as the Battle of the Oenoparus.
. After obtaining the throne, Alexander abandoned himself to a life of debauchery, losing the support of his subjects.
Demetrius Nicator, the son of Demetrius Soter, took advantage of this by returning to Syria from Crete. Demetrius had won support from Ptolemy VI who had abandoned his son-in-law with Cleopatra Thea marrying Demetrius in 148. At a pitched battle near Antioch, the forces of Demetrius and Ptolemy were successful but Ptolemy suffered a fatal wound. Balas fled to Nabataea but was killed by a prince seeking favour from Demetrius and Ptolemy. Demetrius II became King of Syria.
145 BC
Year 145 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ameilianus and Mancinus...
saw the defeat and overthrow of Seleucid
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
king Alexander Balas
Alexander Balas
Alexander Balas , ruler of the Greek Seleucid kingdom 150-146 BC, was a native of Smyrna of humble origin, but gave himself out to be the son of Antiochus IV Epiphanes and Laodice IV and heir to the Seleucid throne...
by Ptolemy VI Philometor
Ptolemy VI Philometor
Ptolemy VI Philometor was a king of Egypt from the Ptolemaic period. He reigned from 180 to 145 BC....
of Egypt, but the Egyptian pharaoh died in the battle. This battle is also known as the Battle of the Oenoparus.
History
Alexander Balas became king of Syria and Pergamum containing the remnant of the Seleucid empire in 150 BC by defeating Demetrius Soter. Alexander Balas initially had the strong support of Ptolemy VI and was married to Ptolemy's daughter Cleopatra TheaCleopatra Thea
Cleopatra Thea surnamed Eueteria was the ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. She ruled Syria from 125 BC after the death of Demetrius II Nicator...
. After obtaining the throne, Alexander abandoned himself to a life of debauchery, losing the support of his subjects.
Demetrius Nicator, the son of Demetrius Soter, took advantage of this by returning to Syria from Crete. Demetrius had won support from Ptolemy VI who had abandoned his son-in-law with Cleopatra Thea marrying Demetrius in 148. At a pitched battle near Antioch, the forces of Demetrius and Ptolemy were successful but Ptolemy suffered a fatal wound. Balas fled to Nabataea but was killed by a prince seeking favour from Demetrius and Ptolemy. Demetrius II became King of Syria.