Demetrius II Nicator ~ Basileus of the Seleucid Empire

M, (165 BCE - 125 BCE)
Father-Biological*Demetrius I Soter the Preserver ~ Basileus of the Seleucid Empire b. 186 BCE, d. 150 BCE
Mother-Biological*Laodice V
Family Lines
Roy Line

Boudreau Line
Last Edited=14 Mar 2024
Coin of Demetrius II Nicator
     Demetrius II Nicator ~ Basileus of the Seleucid Empire was born in 165 BCE.1 He was the son of Demetrius I Soter the Preserver ~ Basileus of the Seleucid Empire and Laodice V. About 151 BCE - Demetrios fled to Crete after the death of his father, his mother and his older brother, when Alexander Balas usurped the Seleucid throne.2 About 147 BCE - Demetrius returned to Syria with a force of Cretan mercenaries led by a man called Lasthenes, while Alexander Balas was occupied with a revolt in Cilicia. In 145 BC Ptolemy VI Philometor, king of Egypt, ostensibly in support of Alexander Balas, but he switched his support to Demetrius. Ptolemy sealed the alliance by divorcing his daughter Cleopatra Thea from Alexander and remarrying her to Demetrius. Shortly after, Antioch surrendered to the Egyptian forces and offered the kingship to Ptolemy VI. However, he insisted Demetrius would become king, believing that Rome would not tolerate the unification of Egypt and Syria. Ptolemy pledged to serve as "a tutor in goodness and a guide" to Demetrius II. He probably intended for Demetrius to serve as a puppet ruler.1,2

Demetrius II Nicator ~ Basileus of the Seleucid Empire married Cleopatra Thea, daughter of Pharaoh Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II, circa 145 BCE.1 In July/August 138 BCE, he lost the throne and was a captured by the Parthians and held in Hyrcania in Parthia. His brother Antiochus VII ruled the Seleucid Empire in the interim between his two reigns.2 Demetrius was crowned the Basileus of the Seleucid Empire in 145 BCE.1,2

Demetrius II Nicator ~ Basileus of the Seleucid Empire married Rhodogunde ~ Princess of Parthia, daughter of Mithradates I of Parthia. They had children, but these remained with their mother after Demetrius returned from captivity.1 In 130 BCE, Antiochus Sidetes felt secure enough to march against Parthia, and scored massive initial successes. Now Phraates II made what he thought was a powerful move: he released Demetrius, hoping that the two brothers would start a civil war. However, Sidetes was defeated soon after his brother's release and never met him. Phraates II sent people to pursue Demetrius, but he managed to safely return home to Syria and regained his throne and his queen as well.2 Demetrius was crowned the Basileus of the Seleucid Empire for the second time in 129 BCE.2 Demetrius was assassinated in 125 BCE at Tyre, Seleucid Empire, on the orders of his wife Cleopatra Thea.1,2

See also.


Child of Demetrius II Nicator ~ Basileus of the Seleucid Empire and Cleopatra Thea

Citations

  1. Stuart, Roderick W. Royalty for Commoners, The Complete Known Lineage of John of Gaunt, Son of Edward III, King of England, and Queen Philippa, Fourth Edition. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002.
  2. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Online https://en.wikipedia.org