General Notes

[2280151.ged]
Event: Ruled 162 - 150 BC, King of Syria 1 2
Note:
Demetrius I SOTER (Greek: "Saviour") (b. c. 187 BC--d. 150), king of
Syria from 162 to 150 BC. He was one of the line of rulers of the
Seleucid dynasty, founded in 312 by a Macedonian successor of Alexander
the Great.
The son of King Seleucus IV Philopator (reigned 187 to 175), Demetrius
was sent to Rome as a hostage during his father's reign. While he was
away, Syria came under the rule of his uncle, Antiochus IV Ephiphanes (d.
164), and then of his cousin, Antiochus V. Aided by the Greek statesman
and historian Polybius, Demetrius escaped from Rome in 162 and returned
to Syria to claim the throne. He defeated the rebel general Timarchus and
was recognized as king by the Roman Senate. In 160 he crushed a Jewish
rebellion in Palestine. Demetrius died while fighting the pretender
Alexander Balas, who was supported by Rome, Egypt, and Pergamum