thumb|right|250px|Seleucus I Nicator
The Seleucid dynasty or the Seleucidae (from , ) was a Macedonian Greek royal family, founded by Seleucus I Nicator, which ruled the Seleucid Empire centered in the Near East and regions of the Asian part of the earlier Achaemenid Persian Empire during the Hellenistic period.
Background
Seleucus (ca. 358 – 281 BC) served as an officer of Alexander the Great, commanding the élite infantry corps in the  Macedonian army: the "Shield-bearers" (Hypaspistai), later known as the "Silvershields" (Ἀργυράσπιδες / Argyraspides).
After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, the Partition of Triparadisus assigned Seleucus as satrap of Babylon in 321 BC.
Antigonus, the satrap of much of Asia Minor, forced Seleucus to flee from Babylon, but, supported by Ptolemy, the Satrap of Egypt, Seleucus returned in 312 BC.
Seleucus' later conquests included Persia and Media.
He formed an alliance with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya (reigned 324-297 BC).
Seleucus defeated Antigonus in the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC and Lysimachus (King of Thrace, Macedon and Asia Minor) in the battle of Corupedium (near Sardis) in 281 BC.
Ptolemy Ceraunus assassinated Seleucus later in the same year.
Seleucus' eldest son Antiochus I succeeded him as ruler of the Seleucid territories.
Seleucid rulers
'''Seleucid Rulers'''
Family tree
See also
List of kings of Persia
List of Syrian monarchs
References
External links
Livius, The Seleucid Empire by Jona Lendering
Category:312 BC Category:310s BC establishments Category:63 BC disestablishments Category:Lists of Asian rulers
Category:Babylonian dynasties
la:Seleucidae
