Category:Demetrius I Soter (subject)
Demetrius I Soter was King of Syria, from 161 BCE to 150 BCE.
Overview
Demetrius was the son of Seleucus IV Philopator. In 178 BCE, when he was twelve years old, he was sent by his father to Rome as a hostage in exchange for his uncle Antiochus IV Epiphanes. When Seleucus IV was assassinated in 175 BCE, Antiochus IV avenged his brother's death and claimed the throne instead of his nephew, who was left in Rome.
In 164 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes died and was succeeded by his son Antiochus V Eupator. As the new king was still a child, the general Lysia acted as regent.
Two years later in 162 BCE, a confrontation opposed Lysia to the Romans, who accused him to violate the terms of the Peace of Apamea. The Roman ambassador Gnaeus Octavius was killed by a mob in Antioch. Members of the Roman Senate helped Demetrius escape from Rome with the mission of leading a rebellion against his cousin and Lysia. Demetrius captured and executed both of them and was recognized as the new king.
Demetrius proved to be a very effective ruler. His military success and territorial ambitions soon worried the Romans, who in 153 BCE supported the claim of Alexander Balas, presumed son of Antiochus IV. Demetrius died in 150 BCE, while fighting against the rival, who became the new king.
At the beginning of the war against Alexander Balas, Demetrius I's son sent his sons Demetrius II Nicator and Antiochus VII Sidetes to Cnidus for safety. They both survived. Demetrius II Nicator would regain the throne, from 145 to 138 (after Alexander Balas) and again, from 129 to 125 (after his brother Antiochus VII Sidetes).
Demetrius I and the Jews
As King of Syria, Demetrius I ruled over Judea. He confirmed his support to Alcimus, the new High Priest appointed by Antiochus V Eupator. Demetrius sent his general Bacchides to conduct a series of military operation against the Maccabean rebels. In 160 BCE a Selecuid army, led by general Nicanor was defeated by Judas Maccabeus, who, however, was killed in action soon afterward in a new battle at Elasa with general Bacchides. It was a devastating loss; Jonathan Maccabeus succeeded his brother as leader of the rebellion, but for some time the revolt seemed to lose its momentum.
In 159 Alcimus suddenly died. Bacchides returned to Judea and concluded a peace treaty with Jonathan Maccabeus. The high priesthood remained vacant for some years.
When in 153 BCE the revolt of Alexander Balas began, Jonathan Maccabeus supported the claimer (and the Romans) against Demetrius I, and received the high priesthood as a reward.
Demetrius I in Second Temple sources
Josephus, Jewish Antiquities
Ant XII 389-402,415,420;
Ant XII 23,35-48,58-61.
1 Maccabees
1 Macc 7:1-8; 8:29-32; 9:1-18;10:1-54.
See also
- Justin, Epitome 39.1-2.
- Appian, History of Rome: Syrian Wars 46-47.
- Livy, History: Periochae 46.
Demetrius I in Scholarship
Demetrius I in Fiction
Related categories
External links
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