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<p>[QUOTE="Magnus Maximus, post: 4726220, member: 73473"]If Philip V of Macedon was called the "darling of Hellas", then it is only fair that Alexander I Balas be called the "darling of Egypt".</p><p><br /></p><p>In response to angering Rome, Egypt, Cappadocia, the Jews, and Pergamon; said countries supported the rebellion of an unknown youth to the Seleucid throne against Demetrius I. The youth, Alexander Balas, claimed to have been the son of Antiochus IV and Laodice IV. Ultimately it is unknown if his claim is true or not, but the evidence in Alexander's favor is that Demetrius's sister(Laodice VI) supported Alexander, along with Ptolemy VI marrying his daughter to Alexander.</p><p><br /></p><p>Regardless of his parentage, Alexander and a small force of mercenaries landed in Phoenicia in around 151. It was there that he made overtures to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem for their support against Demetrius. By 150 most of Cole-Syria had thrown in their lot with Alexander, and the usurper met Demetrius I in battle on the plains of Syria.</p><p>Alexander won a decisive victory over Demetrius, and the latter died in the battle.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 150 Ptolemy VI married his daughter, Cleopatra Thea, to Alexander in an elaborate ceremony in Ptolemais. As for day to day administration of the Seleucid empire, it was left to a man named Ammonius, while Alexander lived a life of debauchery in Antioch. Ammonius had most of the royal family in Antioch murdered and ran the empire poorly.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The reign of Alexander Balas was a complete disaster for the Seleucids. In the east the Parthians, who had last been checked by Antiochus IV, overran Media and the remaining Iranian possessions of the Seleucids. Alexander, who ruled three years unopposed, didn't lift a finger to stop them. In 147, the surviving son of Demetrius I, aptly named Demetrius II, began a rebellion against Alexander's reign but for the most part it was a localized event. In 146 however, a major rebellion in Cilicia began that would never be truly put down. In fact, the reign of Alexander I Balas is generally considered to be the beginning of the Cilician pirates, who would go on to terrorize half the mediterranean until being put down by Pompey the Great in 67 BCE.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 145, Demetrius II's revolt raised enough eyebrows in Egypt for Ptolemy VI to personally lead an army in support of Alexander Balas. Details are fuzzy of what happened next, but one source claims that Ammonius tried to have Ptolemy VI poisoned and when the Egyptian King demanded Alexander do something, he refused. Ptolemy VI then switched his focus from Demetrius to Alexander and both sides fought a pitched battle. The subsequent battle is poorly documented, but Alexander fled the field while Ptolemy VI was mortally wounded by having his horse fall on top of him. Alexander tried to find shelter with the Nabatean arabs, but they betrayed him and brought his head to the paralyzed and dying Ptolemy VI. With both Alexander and Ptolemy VI dead, Demetrius II fumbled his way onto the Seleucid throne.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Alexander I Balas struck a large amount of tetradrachms, probably to pay his mercenary army, however many of them have ragged flans or are irregulary struck. I was fortunate to find an Antiochene issue that has the fine style of the Tyrian issues.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1157518[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b>SELEUKID EMPIRE. Alexander I Balas. </b>152-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.42 g) Antioch on the Orontes mint. Undated issue, struck circa 150 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; monogram in exergue. SC 1781.1b; HGC 9, 875a. Toned, a little off center on obverse. Good VF.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Seleucid Empire circa 150 BCE</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1157529[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>A statue of Alexander I Balas</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1157530[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Sources:</p><p><a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/alexander-i-balas/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/alexander-i-balas/" rel="nofollow">https://www.livius.org/articles/person/alexander-i-balas/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Balas" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Balas" rel="nofollow">https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Balas</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Magnus Maximus, post: 4726220, member: 73473"]If Philip V of Macedon was called the "darling of Hellas", then it is only fair that Alexander I Balas be called the "darling of Egypt". In response to angering Rome, Egypt, Cappadocia, the Jews, and Pergamon; said countries supported the rebellion of an unknown youth to the Seleucid throne against Demetrius I. The youth, Alexander Balas, claimed to have been the son of Antiochus IV and Laodice IV. Ultimately it is unknown if his claim is true or not, but the evidence in Alexander's favor is that Demetrius's sister(Laodice VI) supported Alexander, along with Ptolemy VI marrying his daughter to Alexander. Regardless of his parentage, Alexander and a small force of mercenaries landed in Phoenicia in around 151. It was there that he made overtures to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem for their support against Demetrius. By 150 most of Cole-Syria had thrown in their lot with Alexander, and the usurper met Demetrius I in battle on the plains of Syria. Alexander won a decisive victory over Demetrius, and the latter died in the battle. In 150 Ptolemy VI married his daughter, Cleopatra Thea, to Alexander in an elaborate ceremony in Ptolemais. As for day to day administration of the Seleucid empire, it was left to a man named Ammonius, while Alexander lived a life of debauchery in Antioch. Ammonius had most of the royal family in Antioch murdered and ran the empire poorly. The reign of Alexander Balas was a complete disaster for the Seleucids. In the east the Parthians, who had last been checked by Antiochus IV, overran Media and the remaining Iranian possessions of the Seleucids. Alexander, who ruled three years unopposed, didn't lift a finger to stop them. In 147, the surviving son of Demetrius I, aptly named Demetrius II, began a rebellion against Alexander's reign but for the most part it was a localized event. In 146 however, a major rebellion in Cilicia began that would never be truly put down. In fact, the reign of Alexander I Balas is generally considered to be the beginning of the Cilician pirates, who would go on to terrorize half the mediterranean until being put down by Pompey the Great in 67 BCE. In 145, Demetrius II's revolt raised enough eyebrows in Egypt for Ptolemy VI to personally lead an army in support of Alexander Balas. Details are fuzzy of what happened next, but one source claims that Ammonius tried to have Ptolemy VI poisoned and when the Egyptian King demanded Alexander do something, he refused. Ptolemy VI then switched his focus from Demetrius to Alexander and both sides fought a pitched battle. The subsequent battle is poorly documented, but Alexander fled the field while Ptolemy VI was mortally wounded by having his horse fall on top of him. Alexander tried to find shelter with the Nabatean arabs, but they betrayed him and brought his head to the paralyzed and dying Ptolemy VI. With both Alexander and Ptolemy VI dead, Demetrius II fumbled his way onto the Seleucid throne. Alexander I Balas struck a large amount of tetradrachms, probably to pay his mercenary army, however many of them have ragged flans or are irregulary struck. I was fortunate to find an Antiochene issue that has the fine style of the Tyrian issues. [ATTACH=full]1157518[/ATTACH] [B]SELEUKID EMPIRE. Alexander I Balas. [/B]152-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.42 g) Antioch on the Orontes mint. Undated issue, struck circa 150 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; monogram in exergue. SC 1781.1b; HGC 9, 875a. Toned, a little off center on obverse. Good VF. The Seleucid Empire circa 150 BCE [ATTACH=full]1157529[/ATTACH] A statue of Alexander I Balas [ATTACH=full]1157530[/ATTACH] Sources: [URL]https://www.livius.org/articles/person/alexander-i-balas/[/URL] [URL]https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Balas[/URL][/QUOTE]
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