Antiochus II Theos

Antiochus II Theos (286-246 BC reigned 261 - 246 BC), whose mother was the Macedonian princess Stratonice, daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes succeeded his father Antiochus I Soter as head of the Seleucid dynasty on 261 BC.

He inherited a state of war with Egypt, which went on along the coasts of Asia Minor (the "Second Syrian War"). Antiochus also made some attempt to get a footing in Thrace. During the war he was given the title "Theos" which means "God" in Greek.

In Bactria, his satrap Diodotus seceded in 255 BC to form the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, which further expanded in India in 180 BC to form the Greco-Indian kingdom (180 - 1 BC).

In Parthia, Antiochus II lost his territories to the nomad leader Arsaces around 250 BC.

About 250 BC peace was concluded between Antiochus and Ptolemy II, Antiochus repudiating his wife Laodice and marrying Ptolemy's daughter Berenice, but by 246 BC Antiochus had left Berenice and her infant son in Antioch to live again with Laodice in Asia Minor.

Laodice poisoned him and proclaimed her son Seleucus II Callinicus (reigned 246-225 BC) king.

This entry is based on one from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.

Preceded by: Antiochus I

Seleucid Ruler

Succeeded by: Seleucus II In Bactria: Diodotus (Greco-Bactrian kingdom) In Parthia: Arsaces (Parthian kingdom