Alexander Balas

E451861

Alexander Balas was a 2nd-century BC pretender to the Seleucid throne who briefly ruled the Seleucid Empire after overthrowing Demetrius I Soter, amid ongoing conflicts with neighboring powers.

All labels observed (4)

Label Occurrences
Alexander Balas canonical 7
Alexander I Balas 5
Antiocus 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Hellenistic ruler
Seleucid king
pretender to the throne
ally Jonathan Apphus
Ptolemy VI Philometor
birthPlace Smyrna
capital Antioch
centuryOfActivity 2nd century BC
claimedParent Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Laodice IV
coinage issued silver tetradrachms bearing his image
conflict Seleucid civil war against Demetrius I Soter
linked to: Seleucid civil wars
country Seleucid Empire
deathDate 145 BC
deathPlace near Antioch
downfall defeated by Demetrius II Nicator and Ptolemy VI
dynasty Seleucid dynasty
linked to: Seleucid kings
era Hellenistic period
ethnicGroup Greek
father Antiochus IV Epiphanes
fullName Alexander I Balas
linked to: Alexander Balas
legitimacy widely regarded as a usurper
mannerOfDeath killed in battle
mother Laodice IV
notableEvent marriage alliance with Ptolemaic Egypt through Cleopatra Thea
overthrew Demetrius I Soter
recognized as king by the Roman Senate
occupation monarch
opponent Demetrius I Soter
Demetrius II Nicator
Ptolemy VI Philometor
positionHeld King of the Seleucid Empire
predecessor Demetrius I Soter
reignEnd 145 BC
reignStart 150 BC
religion Hellenistic polytheism
riseToPower backed by foreign powers claiming to be son of Antiochus IV
sexOrGender male
source 1 Maccabees
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
spouse Cleopatra Thea
successor Demetrius II Nicator
supportedBy Egypt
Pergamon
Roman Republic
title Basileus (King)

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (14)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

1 Maccabees centralFigure Alexander Balas
Seventh Syrian War opponent Alexander Balas
Seventh Syrian War participant Alexander Balas
Jonathan Apphus opponent Alexander Balas
Jonathan Apphus appointedBy Alexander Balas
Demetrius I Soter successor Alexander I Balas
linked to: Alexander Balas
Demetrius I Soter enemy Alexander I Balas
linked to: Alexander Balas
Demetrius II Nicator predecessor Alexander I Balas
linked to: Alexander Balas
Demetrius II Nicator politicalOpponent Alexander I Balas
linked to: Alexander Balas
Antiochus V Eupator styleOnCoins Theos Eupator
linked to: Alexander Balas
Antiochus hasVariant Antiocus
linked to: Alexander Balas
Alexander Balas fullName Alexander I Balas
linked to: Alexander Balas
Battle of Antioch (145 BCE) belligerent Alexander Balas
Cleopatra Thea spouse Alexander Balas