Part 4: The Laodician War, Seleucus I, Antiochus Hierax, and Seleucus III is in Saga #55.--RL

While campaigning against Attalus of Pergamum in 223BC, the life of Seleucus III was cut short, by suspected poisoning, through a conspiracy between Nicanor, an officer of his guard, and Apaturius, a chieftain of the mercenary Galatians in his army. With this disaster the extinction of the house of Seleucus was a very real possibility.

His army, leaderless and in enemy territory, was skillfully extracted by his general Epigenes. Seleucus III's cousin Achaeus assumed the regency while the king's younger brother Antiochus, a youth of 18, returned from his duties in Babylonia to assume the throne. Achaeus even lead a new campaign into Asia Minor against Pergamum.

When Antiochus arrived in Antioch to claim the diadem, he was very much a novice to the politics of the Syrian court, and fell under the sway of Hermais, a powerful minister. He appointed his uncle Achaeus with royal authority in Asia minor, and Molon, the satrap of Media, and his brother Alexander, the satrap of Persis, with similar powers in the east.

Hermais was especially jealous of Epigenes, who had commanded the royal army after the death of Seleucus III. In addition, there was wide support in the kingdom for Achaeus, and it was widely assumed that he would overthrow the young king. In this environment, Molon and Alexander each assumed the diadem and declared independence. Epigenes urged the king to go east in person to crush the rebels, but Hermais, afraid of losing his power over the king, convinced him to stay and in his stead send a force under Xenon and Theodotus.

As Egypt passed from Ptolemy III Epiphanes to the weak Ptolemy IV Philopater, Hermais instead urged the king to assault Coele Syria, using his fear of an alliance between Philopater and Achaeus, who had recovered most of Asia Minor from Attalus of Pergamum. Meanwhile, Antiochus III wed Laodice, the daughter of Mithridates II of Pontic Cappadocia. As Molon marched on Seleucia on the Tigris, pinning down Xenon, Hermais continued the preparations for an attack on Egypt.

Relief Force

A force under Xenoetas, a Greek adventurer, was dispatched to relieve Xenon. He summoned the loyal governors of Susiana and the Red Sea provinces, and crossed the Tigris below Molon's camp. Securing a beachhead due to the inability of Molon's forces to reach him through the swamps along the banks, he reordered his forces and advanced on Molon's camp. Molon, outflanked and afraid that his troops might desert to the loyal forces, abandoned his camp and withdrew toward Media.

Rather than mount an aggressive pursuit, Xenoetas allowed his forces to loot Molon's camp. Molon turned back and crushed his disorganized advanced forces, which fled across the Tigris. The remaining forces on the west bank also fled, and Molon occupied the royal camp. He was now able to seize Seleucia, and took possession of Babylon and the Red Sea province as well. Only Susiana held out, and was placed under siege. Molon then lead the bulk of his forces upstream to secure the provinces of Mesopotamia and Parapotamia.

Antiochus III had, in the meantime, advanced into Coele Syria against Ptolemy IV. Advancing from Apamea, the military center of the empire, he moved down the narrow and swampy valley between the Lebanon and Antilibanus mountains. The valley, the gateway to Coele Syria, was commanded by fortresses on either side, called Gerrha and Brochi, and these were steadfastly held for Ptolemy by Theodotus the Aetolian.

In vain Antiochus III was unable to break through. With the news of the annihilation of Xenoetas, it was clear that Antiochus must move east in person to deal with Molon. The ongoing quarrel between Epigenes and Hermais flared up again, and Hermais used his financial leverage by offering to pay the troops in exchange for the dismissal of Epigenes. Hermais then conspired to frame Epigenes for correspondence with Molon, and he was executed. No one could now challenge Hermais' hold over the young king.

Heading East

In the fall of 221 BC Antiochus III lead the royal army east into Mesopotamia, and wintered at Nisibis. In the spring he continued his advance, reaching Dura in Parapotamia, which Molon had under siege. After raising the siege, he continued on into the rich district of Apolloniatis. Molon, who placed great reliance on his Kurdish irregulars (many of whom served as slingers), resolved to halt the royal forces among the defiles of Apolloniatis and advanced to meet Antiochus.

At this time the dilemma facing Molon became clear. Upon the advance of Antiochus III, the loyalty of the settlers and military colonists in this area to the house of Seleucus became clear, and many of his forces began to desert to the royal army. He resolved to risk all on a night attack on Antiochus III's camp, but was shaken when he encountered yet another party of men deserting to the enemy and retired back to his own camp.

The two armies met in a decisive battle the following day. Molon drove back the royal right, commanded by Hermais and Zeuxis, but Molon's brother Neolus on his own right had to face Antiochus III in person. Upon the advance of the royal right, lead by the king in person, Neolus' troops began to desert en masse, and his army disintegrated. Molon committed suicide, and his body was crucified along the main road in Media, emulating the practice of the Achaemenid house when dealing with traitors.

With the confidence of completing his first successful campaign, the young king began to come into his own and leave the shadow of Hermais. In addition, word arrived from Syria that his queen had delivered a son, placing the dynasty on firmer foundation. He ameliorated the punishment of the eastern capital of Seleucia from a 1,000 talent fine to only 150 talents, and displayed forbearance towards the remainder of Molon's legacy.

Eastern Momentum

Rather than return west in triumph immediately, the king resolved to use the momentum his great victory afforded by further solidifying his hold on the east. Accordingly, he advanced the royal army into Media Atropatene, where the native Persian dynasty of Artabazanes ruled. Faced with a mighty army fresh from victory, Artabazanes bowed to Antiochus' terms.

By this time the king could see ever growing influence of Hermais as the threat that it was, and he was murdered by a group of the king's friends near his camp. So hated was he throughout the kingdom, that on news of his demise his wife and children were stoned to death in Apamea.

Events now called the young king back to Syria, where he returned by the end of 220BC. In his absence, Achaeus had assumed the diadem and made to march on Syria. At the same time he contacted Ptolemy seeking his support. He suffered the same problems on his march which had plagued Molon, however, as his troops were moved to the brink of mutiny by the thought of a campaign against the king. He therefore confined his attentions to a successful suppression of the hillmen of Pisidia, and retired back to Sardis to await more favorable circumstances.

Antiochus III approached the perilous situation with vigor. Seleucia, the port of Antioch, had remained in Ptolemaic hands since the days of Seleucus III. Antiochus sent Theodotus "One and a half" with a force to storm the passes toward Coele Syria and personally lead a force to retake Seleucia. His admiral, Diognetus, led a supporting naval force in support.

Siege and Bribe

Antiochus first attempted to bribe the Ptolemaic governor, Leontius, and failed. He did win over several of his junior officers, who agreed that if the outer walls could be taken they would deliver the inner city. The generals Zeuxis and Hermogenes accordingly assaulted the gates to the landward side, while Ardys, supported by Diognetus, forced his way into the outer city. Simultaneously, Diognetus also attacked the docks with the remainder of his squadron. At this point, the junior officers were able to sway Leontius into offering terms, and the city was secured. This was a major blow to the Ptolemaic position and greatly lessened the threat to the heart of the realm.

It was at this point that yet another opportunity was presented to Antiochus III. Theodotus the Aetolian, who had repelled his previous assault on Coele-Syria, had become the object of court jealousies in Alexandria and had been recalled. Sensing a trap, he offered to deliver up Ptolemais (Acre) and Tyre to Antiochus in return for a change of allegiance. Accordingly Antiochus marched his forces south through the valley of Marsyas and again began operations against the forts Gerrha and Brochi.

Egypt reacted quickly to Theodotus' actions and a force under Nicolaus, another Aetolian, was dispatched and quickly placed Ptolemais under siege. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Antiochus left his heavy troops to continue the siege of Brochi and forced marched with his light troops down the rugged Phoenician coast road. Nicolaus sent a force under Lagorus, a Cretan, and Dorymes, yet another Aetolian, to block his path at Berytus (Beirut). In a quick action the king dislodged them and seized control of the pass, where he was soon joined by his heavy troops and the partisans of Theodotus.

Both Ptolemais and Tyre were captured, and their naval arsenals yielded a bounty of 40 vessels for Diognetus' squadron. At this moment a direct descent upon Egypt itself might well have succeeded, but instead Antiochus concentrated on absorbing Coele-Syria, besieging its cities one by one. The Ptolemaic court, sensing the threat, went into feverish activity, hiring every mercenary they could find in Greece, and drilling and reorganizing their troops. A large naval squadron was assembled to provide support to the land forces.

Truce

As winter approached, Antiochus accepted a truce of four months, and moved his main army back to Syria, leaving only garrisons to hold his new conquests. In vain negotiators tried to hammer out the conflicting claims to Coele-Syria over the winter.

In the spring of 218BC Egypt struck first, with a force under Nicolaus striking at the passes between Lebanon and the sea, supported by a large fleet under the admiral Perigenes. Antiochus advanced against him accompanied by his own fleet under Diognetus, and a combined land-sea action ensued. The Ptolemaic forces initially had their way both on land and at sea, but Theodotus was able to turn the Ptolemaic right by seizing a higher ridge, and then assault their flank from above. The Ptolemaic land forces drew off in confusion, leaving their victorious naval forces to follow.

Antiochus marched south, bypassing Sidon (which was still in Ptolemaic hands). The fleet was left at Tyre, to check the Ptolemaic fleet in Sidon. He then struck inland, receiving the surrender of Philoteria and Scythopolis and reducing Atabyrium. He then took Tabor, establishing his supremacy throughout central Palestine. At this point the Ptolemaic forces began to desert. He followed his success by reducing the area of Transjordan, and established an alliance with the Arab tribes nearby. He concluded his campaign for the year by reducing the strong bastion of Philadelphus, and returned to winter in Ptolemais.

The stage was now set for the climatic confrontation between the house of Seleucus and that of Ptolemy. Over the winter, the frontier bastions of Gaza and Raphia were reduced, and the gates of Egypt were open. Ptolemy himself lead the Egyptian army forth in the spring of 217BC, marching across the desert toward Palestine. Antiochus met him in front of Raphia. The armies faced each other for several days, but the Antiochus trying to wear down the Ptolemaic host as there were little supplies available in the desert.

Battle of Giants

Finally, the armies drew up for battle. On his right, Antiochus lead his cavalry and light troops in person against Ptolemy. his Indian elephants pushed back Ptolemy's Africans onto his cavalry. Leading his household cavalry Antiochus broke the Ptolemy's wing, and pursued Ptolemy recklessly. On the other flank, the opposite result was achieved, with the squadrons of the Thessalian Echecrates and his Greek mercenaries, Galatians and Thracians routing the Seleucid horse and light armed Asiatics (Lydians, Arabs and Medes).

The battle thus fell to the phalanxes. The Ptolemaic host was strengthened in numbers by a large contingent of the native population trained in the phalanx style, and the numbers of the Egyptians told. The Seleucid center crumbled until only the argyraspids held. Finally they too were overwhelmed and fled. Antiochus III returned from his pursuit only to see his army and hopes in ruins.

Antiochus withdrew swiftly from Coele-Syria, and agreed to a year long truce with Ptolemy. Achaeus was now a much larger threat with his defeat, and he hastened back to Syria to regroup. Ptolemy contented himself with a leisurely reoccupation of Coele-Syria.

Guidelines for Recreating the Army of Antiochus III on the Tabletop

More Seleucid Army

Seleucid Army: Part 1
Seleucid Army: Part 2
Seleucid Army: Part 3
Seleucid Army: Part 4
Seleucid Army: Part 5
Seleucid Army: Part 6
Seleucid Army: Part 7
Seleucid Army: Part 8
Seleucid Army: Part 9
Seleucid Army: Part 10
Seleucid Army: Part 11

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