---
title: Bactria
author: Jan van der Crabben
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Bactria
_Authored by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/)_
Bactria was a province of the [Persian empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Persian_Empire/) located in modern Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
After the defeat of [Darius](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/darius/) III of [Persia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persia/), Bactria continued to offer resistance against [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/), led by Bessus, who had proclaimed himself successor to Darius. [Alexander](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Alexander/) conquered it with great difficulty between 329-327 BCE, largely with the help of local auxiliary forces. During his stay there, Alexander married a Bactrian woman, [Roxanne](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roxanne/), to aid his effort of controlling the region.
After Alexander's [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/), Bactria was part of the [Seleucid Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/). The many difficulties against which the [Seleucid](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/) kings had to fight and the attacks of [Ptolemy II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemy_II_Philadelphus/) of [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/) gave Diodotus, [satrap](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persian_Governor/) of Bactria, the opportunity to declare independence (about 255 BCE) and [conquer](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) [Sogdiana](https://www.worldhistory.org/sogdiana/), founding the [Indo-Greek Kingdom](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/).
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## About the Author
Jan is the Founder & Chairman of World History Encyclopedia and is the organisation's Director of Design & Technology. He holds an MA War Studies from King's College, and he has worked in the field of history-related digital media since 2006.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/janvdc)
## Timeline
- **Jan 329 BCE - May 327 BCE**: [Alexander](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Alexander/) conquers [Bactria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/) and [Sogdiana](https://www.worldhistory.org/sogdiana/).
- **c. Mar 327 BCE**: [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) marries the Bactrian girl [Roxanne](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roxanne/).
- **293 BCE**: [Antiochos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/antiochos/) is appointed vice-king of the Upper-Satrapies by his father [Seleucus I Nicator](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucos_I/).
- **c. 280 BCE**: Incursion of northern nomads ([Sakas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/)) on [Seleucid](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/) territories.
- **250 BCE**: Former [satrap](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persian_Governor/) [Diodotos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/diodotos/) rebels against [Seleucid](https://www.worldhistory.org/Seleucid_Empire/) king [Antiochos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/antiochos/) I, creating the [Greco-Bactrian kingdom](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greco-Bactria/).
- **c. 230 BCE**: [Diodotos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/diodotos/) II is overthrown by Euthydemos. Beginning of the [Euthydemid](https://www.worldhistory.org/euthydemid/) dynasty.
- **208 BCE - 206 BCE**: Siege of Bactra by [Antiochos](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/antiochos/) III.
- **c. 200 BCE - c. 100 BCE**: [Scythians](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/) tribes migrate into [Bactria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/), [Sogdiana](https://www.worldhistory.org/sogdiana/) and Arachosia.
- **c. 180 BCE - 80 BCE**: Period of [Indo-Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-Greek/) rule in the [Gandhara](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gandhara_Civilization/) region.
- **145 BCE**: Murder of [Eucratides](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Eucratides/) by his son. Weakening of the [Greco-Bactrian kingdom](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greco-Bactria/).
- **c. 145 BCE**: [Eucratidia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Eucratidia/) is taken by the [Sakas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Scythians/).
- **c. 139 BCE**: [Eucratidia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Eucratidia/) is looted to the ground by the Yuezhei.
- **c. 130 BCE**: The Yuezhei take control of [Bactria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bactria/).
## External Links
- [List of Rulers of the Ancient Greek World | Lists of Rulers | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gkru/hd_gkru.htm)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Crabben, J. v. d. (2011, April 28). Bactria. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Crabben, Jan van der. "Bactria." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 28, 2011. .
### MLA
Crabben, Jan van der. "Bactria." *World History Encyclopedia*, 28 Apr 2011, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/ "User Page: Jan van der Crabben"), published on 28 April 2011. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.