Submitted by Petr Vesely on
Founded 20-Feb-2010
Last update 20-Feb-2010
As soon as Seleucus assumed the diadem after his father’s death, his mother shot him dead with an arrow, either fearing lest he should avenge his father or moved by an insane hatred for everybody.
Genealogy
| Ruler: | Seleukos V, Seleukid King, born in 140s BC,1 reigned very briefly in 126/5 BC, died 126/5 BC (killed by his mother Kleopatra Thea shortly after he became king)2 | |
| Father: | Demetrios II Theos Philadelphos Nikator, Seleukid King, born c. 161 BC, 1st reign 145 - 138 BC (captured by the Parthians), 2nd reign 129 - 126/5 BC, died 126/5 BC (murdered at Tyre) | |
| Mother: | Kleopatra Thea Eueteria (usually referred simply as Kleopatra Thea), Queen of the Seleukid Empire, born in or before 164 BC (daughter of Ptolemy VI Philometor, King of Egypt, and Kleopatra II, Queen of Egypt); first married to Alexander I in 150 BC (marriage dissolved by her father), second married to Demetrios II in c. 148/7 BC (as his first wife, marriage dissolved by the capture of Demetrios II by Mithridates I in 138 BC), and third married to Antiochos VII in 138/7 BC; possibly returned to the marriage with Demetrios II in 129 BC; sole reign 126/5 BC, reign in coregency with her son Antiochos VIII 126/5 - 121/0 BC, died 121/0 BC (killed by her son Antiochos VIII) | |
| Siblings: | (1) | Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Philometor Kallinikos, nicknamed Grypos, Seleukid King, born c. 142 BC, reigned 126/5 - 97/6 BC, died 97/6 BC (killed by one of his generals, Herakleon) |
| (2) | presumably a sister, possibly called Laodike3 | |
| Wife: | – | |
| Children: | – | |
1 Kleopatra Thea was married to Demetrios II in c. 148/7 BC, Demetrios II started his eastern campaing in 140/139 BC and he was taken captive by the Parthian king Mithridates I in 138 BC. As Seleukos V was able to proclaim himself king, he was probably at least 15 years old at this time and he must have been older than his brother Antiochos VIII.
2 Appian, Roman History, 11.69: As soon as Seleucus (Seleukos V) assumed the diadem after his father’s (Demetrios II’s) death, his mother (Kleopatra Thea) shot him dead with an arrow, either fearing lest he should avenge his father or moved by an insane hatred for everybody.
Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, 39.1: One of his sons, Seleucus (Seleukos V), for having assumed the diadem without his mother’s (Kleopatra Thea’s) consent, was put to death by her; the other (Antiochos VIII), who, from the size of his nose was named Grypus, was made king by his mother, so far at least that the regal name should belong to him, while all the power of sovereignty was to remain with herself.
Eusebius, Chronicle, pp. 257-258: Demetrius (Demetrios II) was succeeded by his son Seleucus (Seleukos V), who died soon afterwards as a result of his mother’s (Kleopatra Thea’s) accusations.
Livy, Periochae, 60.11: A description is given of the situation in Syria, in which Cleopatra (Kleopatra Thea) first killed her husband Demetrius (Demetrios II) and then her son Seleucus (Seleukos V), because she hated him. After she had killed his father, he had accepted the diadem without her permission.
3 According to Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, 38.10, she was taken to the East by Antiochos VII on his Parthian expedition and, after his defeat, she was married to Phraates II, King of Parthia. See Bennett, Egyptian Royal Genealogy: Cleopatra Thea, for a detailed discussion.
Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, 38.10: Phraates (Phraates II) had funeral rites performed for him (Antiochos VII) as a king, and married the daughter of Demetrius (of Demetrios II), whom Antiochus had brought with him, and of whom he had become enamoured.
References:
- Appian:Roman History, Book XI - The Syrian Wars. Translated by Horace White. Macmillan and Co., New York, 1899. (The Perseus Digital Library, http://www.perseus.org/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=App.+Syr.+1.1; Livius.org, http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/appian_syriaca_00.html)
- Bennett, Christopher J.:Egyptian Royal Genealogy. Website, http://www.tyndalehouse.com/Egypt/
- Eusebius of Caesarea:Chronicle (Latin Schoene ed.). Translated into English by Andrew Smith. (Attalus, http://www.attalus.org/translate/eusebius.html)
- Justin (Marcus Junianus Justinus):Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus. Translated by Rev. John Selby Watson, M.A. George Bell and Sons, London, 1897. (See Forum Romanum website, http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/justin/english/index.html - 1853 Edition)
- Livy (Titus Livius):Periochae. Translated into English by Jona Lendering. (Livius.org, http://www.livius.org/li-ln/livy/periochae/periochae00.html)