Name Battle Antioch Role 145 BC | Start date 145 BC | |
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Battle of antioch 145 bc
The Battle of Antioch or the Battle of the Oenoparus was an engagement that took place in 145 BC which saw the defeat and overthrow of Alexander Balas from the Seleucid throne by Ptolemy VI of Egypt.
Contents
Prelude
Alexander Balas became a rival king of the Seleucid Empire from the city of Ptolemais in 152 BC. He secured the aid of the Judeans by appointing Jonathan Maccabaeus as high priest. Allied with the Judeans, he succeeded in killing Demetrius I Soter and claimed the Seleucid throne for himself. Alexander Balas initially had the strong support of Ptolemy VI and was married to Ptolemy's daughter Cleopatra Thea to create an alliance. After obtaining the throne, Alexander abandoned himself to a life of debauchery, losing the support of his subjects and Ptolemy, leading to the latter's invasion of Syria in 145 BC. Demetrius I's son Demetrius II profited by the opportunity to reclaim the throne and joined forces with Ptolemy against Alexander.
Battle and Aftermath
Ptolemy invaded Syria and achieved in getting the people of Antioch to support Demetrius II, during the same time, Balas left Cilicia and entered Syria, pillaging the country around Antioch. The army of Ptolemy and Demetrius clashed with Alexander's by the Oenoparus river near Antioch in a pitched battle. The Ptolemaic force prevailed having forced Balas to flee, though Ptolemy suffered a mortal wound when his horse fell on him, having been frightened by the noise of an elephant. He however, did not perish in the immediate battle, as he was protected by his guards and sent to Egypt where he could not understand or speak for days.
Balas fled to Nabataea for refuge, but was murdered by a Nabataean prince named Zabdiel, who cut off his head seeking favor from his enemies. His head was delivered to the mortally-wounded Ptolemy, who died shortly afterwards.