Demetrius I Soter
Demetrius I Soter was King of Syria, from 187 BCE to 150 BCE.
Overview
Demetrius was the son of Seleucus IV Philopator. In 175 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 shortly afterward his father was assassinated, Antiochus IV avenged his brother's death and claimed the throne instead of his nephew. Thirteen years later in 162 BCE, Demetrius escaped from Rome and led a rebellion against his cousin Antiochus V, the son and successor of Antiochus IV, and his tutor Lysia. He captured and executed both of them. His military success and territorial ambitions worried the Roman Senate who in 153 BCE supported the claim of Alexander Balas, a supposed son of Antiochus IV. Demetrius died while fighting against the rival.