RULERS &
PERIOD OF REIGN (BC)

COMMENTS/NOTES

Seleucus I Nicator

312-281

(co-reign with Antiochus I Soter)

291-281

Babylon conquered in 312;

Antioch founded in 301;

Father/Son co-regency for 10 years

Antiochus I Soter

281-261

Son of Seleucus I Nicator;

Father of Antiochus II Theos;

(275) Defeats Gauls in Battle of Elephants

Antiochus II Theos

261-246

Son of Antiochus I Soter;

Father of Seleucus II Callinicus;

Consort/daughter of Egypt's Ptolemy II

Seleucus II Callinicus

246-225

Son of Antiochus II Theos;

Father of Seleucus III Ceraunus;

Father of Antiochus III the Great

Seleucus III Ceraunus

225-223

Son of Seleucus II Callinicus;

Brother of Antiochus III the Great;

Assassinated by members of his own army

Antiochus III the Great

223-187

(co-regent with son Antiochus)

210-193

Son of Seleucus II Callinicus;

Brother of Seleucus III Ceraunus;

Father to Antiochus (221-193);

Father to Seleucus IV Philopator;

(198) Ousts Egypt's Ptolemy V of Egypt from Judea and Samaria

Seleucus IV Philopator

187-175

Son of Antiochus III the Great;

Brother of Antiochus IV Epiphanes;

Father of Antiochus;

Father of Demetrius I Soter;

Ref: Daniel 11:20 & 2 Maccabees 3:2-3

Antiochus

175-170

Son of Seleucus IV Philopator;

Brother of Demetrius I Soter;

Nephew of Antiochus IV Epiphanes;

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

175-164

Son of Antiochus III the Great;

Brother of Seleucus IV Philopator;

Father of Antiochus V Eupator;

Father of Alexander I Balas (?);

Uncle of Antiochus;

Uncle of Demetrius I Soter;

(168) Loots Second Temple;

40,000 Jews murdered;

40,000 more sold into slavery

(2 Maccabees 5:11-27);

(167) Orders an altar erected to Zeus in Second Temple, defiles the Altar, outlaws Judaism (2 Maccabees 6:1-11);

(167-160) Persecution of Jews in Samaria and Judea leads to the Maccabean Revolt;

(164) Jews recapture/rededicate the Second Temple (Hanukkah origin) (2 Maccabees 10:1-9)

(164) Repents and seeks God before dying (2 Maccabees 9:1-29)

Antiochus V Eupator

164-161

Son of Antiochus IV Epiphanes;

(161) Roman Senate recognizes Jewish autonomy (1 Maccabees 8:17-20);

Demetrius I Soter

161-150

Ref: 1 Maccabees 7:1

Son of Seleucus IV Philopator;

Father of Demetrius II Nicator;

Father of Antiochus VII Sidetes;

Nephew of Antiochus IV Epiphanes;

Killed by Alexander I Balas (1 Maccabees 10:48-50)

Alexander I Balas

150-145

Unconfirmed son of Antiochus IV Epiphanes;

Killed Demetrius I Soter (1 Maccabees 10:48-50);

Husband of Cleopatra Thea (1 Maccabees 10:51-58);

Defeated at Battle of Antioch by Demetrius II Nicator;

Decapitated by Zabdiel the Arabian (1 Maccabees 11:14-19)

Demetrius II Nicator

145-138

1st reign; (1 Maccabees 11:14-19)

Son of Demetrius I Soter;

Brother of Antiochus VII Sidetes;

Husband of Cleopatra Thea;

Father of Seleucus V Philometor;

Father of Antiochus VIII Grypus

Antiochus VI Dionysus (Epiphanes)

145-140

Son of Alexander Balas I & Cleopatra Thea

Becomes rival King (1 Maccabees 11:54)

Assassinated by Diodotus Tryphon (1 Maccabees 13:31-33)

Diodotus Tryphon

140-138

General and Regent under Antiochus VI Dionysus;

assumed throne after assassinating him (1 Maccabees 13:31-33)

Antiochus VII Sidetes (Euergetes)

138-129

Son of Demetrius I Soter;

Brother of Demetrius II Nicator

Half-Brother of Seleucus V Philometor;

Half-Brother of Antiochus VIII Grypus

(134) Besieges Jerusalem; The Jews under John Hyrcanus become Seleucid vassals but retain religious autonomy.

Demetrius II Nicator

129-126

2nd reign; Son of Demetrius I Soter;

Brother of Antiochus VII Sidetes;

Father of Seleucus V Philometor;

Father of Antiochus VIII Grypus;

Wife Cleopatra Thea instigated his death

Alexander II Zabinas

129-123

Counter-King claiming to be son of Antiochus VII Ref: (2 Maccabees 1:1-10)

Seleucus V Philometor

126-125

Son of Demetrius II Nicator;

Half-Brother of Antiochus VIII Grypus;

Half-Brother of Antiochus VII Sidetes;

Murdered by his mother, Cleopatra Thea

Cleopatra Thea

126-121

(co-reign with Antiochus VIII Grypus) 125-121

Daughter of Ptolemy VI of Egypt;

Wife of 3 Kings (Alexander Balas I, Demetrius II Nicator & Antiochus VII Sidetes);

Mother of 4 Kings (Antiochus VI Dionysus, Seleucus V Philometor, Antiochus VIII Grypus & Antiochus IX Cyzicenus)

Ref: (2 Maccabees 1:1-10)

Antiochus VIII Grypus

121-96

Son of Demetrius II Nicator;

Brother of Seleucus V Philometor;

Father of Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator;

Father of Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus;

Father of Philip I Philadelphus;

Father of Demetrius III Eucaerus;

Father of Antiochus XII Dionysus;

Half-Brother of Seleucus V Philometor;

Half-Brother of Antiochus VII Sidetes;

(121) Poisoned co-regent mother;

Murdered by his minister Heracleon

Antiochus IX Cyzicenus

114-96

Son of Cleopatra Thea;

Father of Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator;

Uncle of Philip I Philadelphus;

Uncle of Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator;

Killed by Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator

Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator

96-95

Son of Antiochus VIII Grypus;

Brother of Demetrius III Eucaerus;

Brother of Antiochus XII Dionysus;

Brother of Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus;

Brother of Philip I Philadelphus;

Nephew of Antiochus IX Cyzicenus;

Killed Antiochus IX Cyzicenus in 96

Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator

95-92

(or 95-88 (?) while fighting the Parthians);

Son of Antiochus IX Cyzicenus;

Father of Antiochus XIII Asiaticus;

Father of Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes (?);

Defeats Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator;

(92) Killed Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus

Demetrius III Eucaerus

95-87

Son of Antiochus VIII Grypus;

Brother of Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator;

Brother of Antiochus XII Dionysus;

Brother of Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus;

Brother of Philip I Philadelphus;

Nephew of Antiochus IX Cyzicenus;

Mentioned in the Book of Nahum;

Ref: Nahum 2:11b

(Nahum Comm/Dead Sea Scrolls/1952)

Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus

95-92

(co-regent with Philip I Philadelphus)

Son of Antiochus VIII Grypus;

Brother of Philip I Philadelphus;

Brother of Demetrius III Eucaerus;

Brother of Antiochus XII Dionysus;

Brother of Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator;

Killed by Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator

Philip I Philadelphus

95-92

(co-regent with Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus)

Sole reign

92-83

Son of Antiochus VIII Grypus;

Brother of Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus;

Brother of Demetrius III Eucaerus;

Brother of Antiochus XII Dionysus;

Brother of Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator;

Father of Philip II Philoromaeus;

Nephew of Antiochus IX Cyzicenus

Antiochus XII Dionysus

87-84

Son of Antiochus VIII Grypus;

Brother of Demetrius III Eucaerus;

Brother of Philip I Philadelphus;

Brother of Antiochus XI Epiphanes Philadelphus;

Brother of Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator

Tigranes the Great

83

King of Armenia invades,

severely crippling the Seleucid Empire

Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes

83-69

Son of Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator (?);

Brother of Antiochus XIII Asiaticus

Antiochus XIII Asiaticus

69-64

Son of Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator;

Brother of Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes;

2nd cousin of Philip II Philoromaeus;

Defeated by Roman General Pompey

Philip II Philoromaeus

65-63

Son of Philip I Philadelphus;

2nd cousin of Antiochus XIII Asiaticus;

Client king under Roman General Pompey

End of Seleucid Empire

63

Region becomes Roman Empire Province