The House of Seleukos: The History of the Arche Seleukeia

[V.T. Marvin]

Very nice opening! Looking forward to more! Best luck and lots of endurance and time available!!!

[Maion Maroneios]

Nice pics, I hope for a promising AAR! By the way, how did ou manage to get those textures?

[||Lz3||]

Nice pics, I hope for a promising AAR! By the way, how did ou manage to get those textures?

if they're RS's ones... clic on the first link on my signature and look for "RS textures"

[socal_infidel]

CHAPTER IV
Antiochos I Soter
281 to 263



§5. The First Syrian War (276 – 271 BCE)

…

By now it became apparent to Antiochos, that any invasion of Egypt would have to wait. His son-in-low Magas Cyrenaica had failed in his invasion of Egypt from the west. An internal revolt of Lybian nomads had forced him to return to Cyrenaica to deal with it. Any aid from Antigonus would not be forthcoming, as the Makedonian ruler found himself occupied with wars against both Pyrrhus and Sparta and Athens.

The Seleukid king was facing his own problems, internal pressures to end the war, an increasing number of raids by the Dahae and Parni nomads into his Eastern provinces, as well as serious economic problems. In 271, shortly after the death of his mother, Apame, a treaty was signed ending the war between the two great Hellenic powers.

The end of the war saw the Ptolemies capture a string of Southern Anatolian possession, ranging from Halicarnassus to Cilicia. In Syria, they gained all of Phoenicia and the Marsyas valley, but not Damascus, which the Seleukids retained.

Extent of Seleukid holdings at the conclusion of the First Syrian War, 271 BCE

§6. Problems in Asia Minor

While the First Syrian War may have ended, the problems faced by Antiochos did not. In the east, the Dahae and Parni nomads had poured into Astauene, and were threatening Antiochos’ Hyrkanian and Parthian possessions. But it was Asia Minor that occupied Antiochos interest. Old foes of Antiochos were once again upsetting the precarious balance of power in Anatolia.

a. Galatian Campaign

Though he had won victory over the Gauls in a campaign that gave him the name “Soter,” Antiochos had hardly defeated the Gauls in a meaningful way. Since then, they had consolidated their power and had settled more or less in the heartland of Anatolia. Moreover, the old whispers, that it was Antiochos’ elephants and gold that won him “victory” over these barbarians, still lingered. But a recent series of raids by the Gauls into Phrygia and Mysia gave Antiochos a chance to effect a permanent resolution to the Gallic situation, as well as enhance his status and prestige in Asia Minor.

It had come to Antiochos’ attention that Eumenes, adopted son of Philetaerus and co-regent of Pergamon, was using the city’s vast wealth to raise an army to campaign against the Gauls. Clearly, this was an obvious bid by Pergamon to gain power in this region. Such a threat could not be left undealt with.

In 267 BCE, Antiochos and his son Theodoros set out from Antiocheia with an army consisting of 17,500 phalangitai, around 3,000 peltastai, and around 3,000 horsemen, including 2,000 of the elite hetaroi (or Companion Cavalry). Their plan was to defeat the Gauls and then turn west and crush the growing power and influence of Pergamon.

A minor skirmish between the Gauls and Antiochos’ forces appears to have taken place on the banks of the Zamanti River in 267. The accounts state that the peltastai encountered a small party of Gauls whilst replenishing their water supplies. A small pitched battle ensued and the Gauls were thoroughly defeated.

An artist's depiction of Gallic warriors.

By winter, Antiochos had reached Galatia and encamped 25 miles northwest from Ancyra. The Gauls having heard of this, marched an army to confront Antiochos. On the plains west of the hill where Ancyra was situated the Battle of Galatia occurred. Antiochos and his men faced 20,000 barbarian warriors, many of whom fought in the nude. Accounts of the ensuing battle are not detailed, though they do note Theodoros’s personal bravery and valour. Over 10,000 Gauls were killed. The rest fled and dispersed, with a small number taking refuge in Ancyra. The city itself was taken the following spring (265 BCE) and the Gallic threat ended.

An artist's depiction of Theodoros leading the Hetaroi at the Battle of Galatia.

Over 27,000 Gauls were sold into slavery as a result of Antiochos’ successful campaign. To commemorate his victory, Antiochus commissioned a sculpture be made. The work, known as The Dying Gaul, was previously thought to have been commissioned by Attalos of Pergamon, but recent evidence points to an earlier date.

The Dying Gaul depicts a wounded warrior who lies upon the earth awaiting death. It is remarkable for its realism. The figure is naked save for a neck torc. He is shown fighting against death, refusing to accept his fate. It was found in the gardens which had belonged to Sallust, a Roman historian. The statue is a Roman copy of a Greek original made to commemorate Antiochos I Soter's victory at the Battle of Galatia.

§7. Antiochos’ Later Years

Rather than turning immediately to Pergamon, Antiochos’ attention was diverted by Galatia. Although the main barbarian army had been defeated and Ancyra taken, there were several small uprisings and incursions over the next two years. In 263, with his health hindered by a particularly harsh winter, Antiochos passed away.

As a young man of twenty-five, he had commanded the wing attacked by Demetrios Poliocertes at the Battle of Ipsus. Even as King he took his share of danger like the Macedonia and Iranian chiefs from whom he sprang. He had endeavoured his entire life to restoring his father’s possessions. While not entirely successful, he turned over to his son Theodoros (Antiochos II), an empire that was in good position to establish its preeminence in the Hellenic world

The King and His Heir: Antiochos I Soter and Theodoros (Antiochos II) at the Battle of Galatia

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Excellent start.

[paullus]

very nicely done!

[DeathEmperor]

Excellent beginning so far socal_infidel! When I first started reading I was instantly reminded of The House of Seleucus: Volumes I as well as volume II by Edward R. Bevan. I enjoy both books immensely and I'm sure I'll enjoy your story of the true heirs of Alexander just as much.