King of Babylonia. Known as Soter (“Savior”), Demetrius ascends to power after deposing and slaying his nephew Antiochus V and defeating Timarchus, a pretender to the throne. During his reign, he is confronted by a resurgence of the Maccabean Revolt, as well as, a more generalized uprising, led by a son of Antiochus IV, which would end in his defeat. Demetrius I is mentioned in the Babylonian King List of the Hellenistic Period as «Idi».
Archives: Tooltips
Alexander I
King of Babylonia. Known as Balas (derived from bēl “lord”), Alexander I was a bastard son of Antiochus IV who rose against his uncle in 152. After the success of the rebellion and his ascension to the throne Alexander I took on epithet Epiphanes (“manifestation of god”) in order to strengthen his legitimacy by the connection with his father’s memory. Alexandre I’s hold on power would be challenged by a son of Demetrius I. His own infant son, Antiochus VI Dionysus, succeeded him nominally for about four years while the civil war was waged. During his and his successor’s reign, both Roman and Parthian power are growing at the edges of the Seleucid Kingdom.
Demetrius II
King of Babylonia (145-141). Known as Nicator (“victor”) and son of Demetrius I, Demetrius II rose in revolt against Alexandre I in 147 B.C.E. with support of Ptolemaic Egypt. Successful, Demetrius ascends to the throne in 145. However, the debilitated condition of the Seleucid kingdom allows little resistance to Parthian expansion. After the loss of Seleucia-on-the-Tigris, Uruk (141) and Susa (139) Demetrius is himself taken captive by Parthian forces in 138. Demetrius II is the last Seleucid king to be mentioned in the Babylonian King List of the Hellenistic Period.
Sîn-šumu-lēšir
King over Assyria and Babylonia (626). He was chief eunuch of Aššur-etel-ilāni and took the throne in his own name after his predecessor’s death. Only after the death of Kandalānu he can be considered “king of Babylonia”. He may be mentioned in the Nabopolassar Epic.
Sîn-šarru-iškun
King of Assyria (627-612) and Babylon. Son of Assurbanipal, he reached the throne when the grip of Assyria over Babylon was dwindling. Still, there are about sixty economic texts dated in his name and spanning the course of seven years from Nippur, Uruk and Babylon.
Aššūr-etel-ilāni
King of Assyria and Babylon (627). Son of Assurbanipal, he succeeded him on the throne of Assyria under the regency of an Assyrian chief eunuch. He presumably held suzerainty over Babylon. However, he is only attested in legal and economic texts from Nippur.
Kandalānu
King of Babylonia under Assyrian suzerainty (647-627). Some scholars suggested that Kandalānu might have been an alternative name for Assurbanipal, but the suggestion has been discredited. The name meaning “shaped like a kandalu (household or agricultural tool or vessel)” might suggest that he was a member of the lower social class or at least not a member of the Babylonian urban elite.
Esarhaddon
King of Assyria and Babylon (680-669). The Akkadian form of his name is Aššur-aḫa-iddina. In accordance with his own inscriptions, Esarhaddon assumed the throne of Assyria after the parricide of his father Sennacherib at the hand of his brothers. Unlike his father, Esarhaddon assumed the throne of Babylon personally and ruled over Babylonia through appointed governors. Also unlike Sennacherib, Esarhaddon’s policies were more lenient towards Babylon and included the rehabilitation of the city. Another feature of his policy was the establishment of a loyal vassal network through the so-called adê-treaties found in Kalhu. Esarhaddon sought to ensure a smooth succession by appointing and making recognized his son Assurbanipal as “king of Assyria” his son Šamaš-šumu-ukīn as “king of Babylon”.
Mušēzib-Marduk
King of Babylonia (692-689). Referred to in Assyrian sources with the nickname “Šuzubu the Chaldean” (Beaulieu 2018:205). He rose against Sennacherib’s power with the support of Elam.
Nergal-ušēzib
King of Babylonia (693). Referred to in Assyrian sources with the nickname “Šuzubu the Babylonian” (Beaulieu 2018: 205). He rose against Sennacherib’s power with the support of Elam.