Son of Seleucus I & co-regent of
eastern provinces (Armenia, Mesopotamia & Persia) from 292-281
BCE. No sooner had he inherited control of the western provinces
(281
BCE), than Gallic invasions of Asia Minor forced him to form an
alliance with his rival Antigonus II of Macedonia. His decisive defeat of
the marauding nomads in 275
BCE and his policy of settling them in central
Galatia led the Ionian city states of western Asia Minor to celebrate him
as a divine savior (Greek: soter). He founded several new
Hellenic cities in Asia Minor & encouraged immigration of native
Greeks to counteract Celtic culture. Likewise he founded Greek
cities in Persia & Mesopotamia, & encouraged a renaissance of
Babylonian culture as a bastion against Parthian expansionism. In his
preoccupation with pacifying the eastern provinces, however, he lost
control of the west coast of Asia Minor & Phoenicia to Ptolemy II of
Egypt (273
BCE). This encouraged Pergamum to challenge his control of
northwestern Asia Minor. He died soon after suffering a disastrous defeat
at the hands of Pergamum's forces (262
BCE).
References:
Josephus,
War 7.43.
Appian,
History
of Rome: Syrian Wars 10.59-60,
11.65.
Pausanias, Description
of Greece
1.7.3.
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