Seleucus IV Philopator, ruler of the Hellenistic
Seleucid Empire, reigned from 187 BC to 175 BC over
a realm consisting of Syria (now including Cilicia
and Palestine), Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Nearer
Iran (Media and Persia).
He was compelled by financial necessities,
created in part by the heavy war-indemnity exacted
by Rome, to pursue an ambitious policy and was
assassinated by his minister Heliodorus.
The true heir Demetrius, son of Seleucus, now
being retained in Rome as a hostage, the kingdom was
seized by the younger brother of Seleucus, Antiochus
IV Epiphanes, even though an infant son, also named
Antiochus, was formal head of state for a few years
until Epiphanes had him murdered.
Preceded by
Antiochus III the Great
Succeeded by
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
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