Antiochus IX Cyzicenus

Antiochus IX Eusebes
Antiochus IX Eusebes Cyzicenus
King of the Seleucid Empire (King of Syria)
Reign 116 BCE–96 BC (with his brother Antiochus VIII Grypus)
Predecessor Antiochus VIII Grypus
Successor Seleucus VI Epiphanes
Born Unknown
Died 96 BC
Spouse
Issue Antiochus X Eusebes
Dynasty Seleucid
Father Antiochus VII Sidetes
Mother Cleopatra Thea

Antiochus IX Eusebes ("Pious") Cyzicenus ("from Cyzicus"), ruler of the Greek Seleucid kingdom, was the son of Antiochus VII Sidetes and Cleopatra Thea.[1]

Biography

Coin of Antiochus IX's mother Cleopatra Thea and half-brother Antiochus VIII
Coin of Antiochus IX

The son of Antiochus VII Sidetes and Cleopatra Thea,[1] upon the death of his father in Parthia and his uncle Demetrius II Nicator's return to power (129 BC), his mother sent him to Cyzicus on the Bosporus, thus giving him his nickname.

After the death of his mother c. 118 BC,[1] Antiochus IX Cyzicenus challenged his half-brother, Antiochus VIII Grypus, for power over Syria.[1]

He returned to Syria in 116 BC to claim the Seleucid throne from his half-brother/cousin Antiochus VIII Grypus, with whom he eventually divided Syria, that same year.[1]

Antiochus IX Cyzicenus was first married to Cleopatra IV, who was then killed in 112 BC by her sister and rival Tryphaena, wife of King Grypus.[2][3][4] After the death of Grypus and Antiochus' capture of the capital, Antiochus married Cleopatra Selene of Syria, the sister of his former wife, Cleopatra IV.

He was killed in battle by the son of Grypus, Seleucus VI Epiphanes, in 96 BC.

Legacy

Antiochus IX probably created the Iturean tetrarchy as an ally against Antiochus VIII.[5] Beginning his reign in 95 BC, Antiochus X Eusebes' first achievement was to defeat his double half-cousin/second cousin Seleucus VI Epiphanes, thus avenging the recent death of his father, Antiochus IX Cyzicenus. The epithets he took tell much of his story: Eusebes (being a title of his father) and also Philopator (father-loving) both honoured his father. After that, he ruled Antioch and its surroundings, fighting endlessly against the four brothers of Seleucus VI, the Nabataeans and the Parthian Empire.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Antiochus IX Cyzicenus entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
  2. ↑ Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004
  3. ↑ Cleopatra Thea by Chris Bennett
  4. ↑ Justin 39, 3, 3-11.
  5. ↑ Wright 2005, p. 80.

Sources

  • Wright, Nicholas L. (2005). "Seleucid Royal Cult, Indigenous Religious Traditions and Radiate Crowns: The Numismatic Evidence". Mediterranean Archaeology. Sydney University Press. 18: 81. ISSN 1030-8482.
Antiochus IX Cyzicenus
Born: Unknown Died: 96 BC
Preceded by
Antiochus VIII Grypus		 Seleucid King (King of Syria)
114–96 BC
with Antiochus VIII Grypus (125–96 BC)		 Succeeded by
Seleucus VI Epiphanes
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