The Seleucid Empire (312-63 BCE) was the vast political entity established by Seleucus I Nicator ("Victor" or "Unconquered", l. c. 358-281 BCE, r. 305-281 BCE), one of the generals of Alexander the Great who claimed a part of his empire after Alexander's death in 323 BCE.
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Definition
Timeline
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321 BCE - 315 BCESeleucos rules the satrapy of Babylon.
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312 BCEEvagros is killed in battle by Seleucos I. Persis comes under Seleucid rule.
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312 BCESeleucos conquers Babylon and founds the Seleucid dynasty.
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c. 312 BCE - 63 BCEDuration of the Seleucid Empire.
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305 BCEEmperor Chandragupta signs a treaty with Seleucos I, establishing borders and giving the Punjab to Chandragupta in return for 500 war elephants.
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305 BCE - 281 BCESeleucus I Nicator rules newly founded Seleucid Empire.
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301 BCEBattle of Ipsos. Death of Antigonos, rise to power of Lysimachus and Seleucus.
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301 BCE - 299 BCEAntioch founded by Seleucos I Nicator.
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281 BCE - 261 BCEReign of Antiochus I Soter of the Seleucid Empire.
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280 BCELydia becomes a part of the Seleucid Empire.
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275 BCESeleucids successfully defeat the Galatian Celts in the 'Elephant Battle'.
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274 BCE - 271 BCEThe first Syrian war, marking the beginning of the contest between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids for Phoenicia and Coele-Syria.
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262 BCEEumenes rebels and wins against the Seleucid Antiochus I. Beginning of the Pergamon Empire.
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261 BCE - 246 BCEReign of Antiochus II Theos of the Seleucid Empire.
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261 BCEAntiochus I Soter of the Seleucid Empire killed in battle against the Galatians at Ephesus in Asia Minor.
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250 BCEFormer satrap Diodotos rebels against Seleucid king Antiochos I, creating the Greco-Bactrian kingdom.
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246 BCEGalatians defeat Seleucus II in a battle near Ancyra.
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223 BCE - 187 BCEReign of Antiochus III the Great who reunites the Seleucid Empire.
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210 BCE - 204 BCEAntiochos III campaigns to reunite Seleucid Empire.
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203 BCEThe Seleucid king, Antiochus III Megas signs a treaty with Philip V of Macedon to divide Egypt and its overseas possessions between them.
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c. 195 BCEAfter the battle at Panion, the Seleucids finally take the rule of Phoenicia from the Ptolemies. Tyre and the other Phoenician cities will remain in the Seleucid power until the Roman conquest of Syria.
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195 BCEFacing the threat of being handed to the Romans after the Second Punic War, Hannibal flees to the Seleucid court of Antiochus III and becomes his advisor.
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190 BCEBattle of Magnesia ad Sipylum, disastrous defeat for Antiochos III against Romans.
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c. 188 BCEThe treaty of Apamea Kibotos. Peace and alliance is established between the Seleucid Empire and Rome joined by its allies, such as Pergamon and Rhodes. The Seleucids have to evacuate all the land and the cities from Asia Minor and to pay a huge war indemnity.
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175 BCE - 163 BCEReign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire.
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141 BCEPersis passes from Seleucid to Parthian domination.
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140 BCE - 138 BCECilician Pirates grow in power under the reign of Diodotus Tryphon of the Seleucid Empire.
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83 BCETigranes II invades and destroys the Seleucid Empire.
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65 BCE - 63 BCEReign of Philip II Philoromaeus, last monarch of the Seleucid Empire. .
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63 BCEThe Roman general Pompey defeats the Seleucid Antiochus XIII and incorporates Syria as a province of the Roman empire.
