Seleucus VI Epiphanes, ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom, was the oldest son of Antiochus VIII Grypus. In 96 BC, Seleucus defeated his half-uncle Antiochus IX Cyzicenus in revenge for his father's death. However, the score was evened the next year (95 BC) by Antiochus X Eusebes, the son of Antiochus Cyzicenus, and Seleucus was forced to flee from Syria to Mopsuestia in Cilicia, where he set up his court, allegedly in luxurious style.

But the inhabitants of the province, who were already troubled by pirates, could not afford his extravagancies. Seleucus' efforts to set up a new army was a heavy burden as well. A rebellion broke out and Seleucus was besieged in the hippodrome, which then seems to have been burnt down along with the king and his men.

Four of Seleucus' brothers, including Antiochus XI Ephiphanes Philadelphus, Philip I Philadelphus, and Demetrius III Eucaerus, continued the devastating civil war against the other branch of the family and each other.