When Ptolemy Ceraunus assassinated Seleucus I Nicator in 280 BC, Antiochus I Soter succeeded in orderly fashion. Initially affairs in the Upper Satrapies fully occupied the new king. Upon his arrival in the west he attempted to bring the Bithynians, whom the Persians had struggled to govern (Xenophon, Hell. III 2,2) and whom even the great Alexander had left unconquered, under control, but Antigonus Gonatas took their side and they remained independent (Memnon, BNJ 424, Fr. 1.9-12). The Galatians’ entrance, with the Bithynians’ assistance, into Asia Minor in 278 unsettled the entire region.
The absence of a reliable narrative source makes itself felt acutely as one works through Antiochus I’s reign. For example, with the help of his elephants Antiochus I defeated the Galatians in a major battle (App. Syr. 65; Lucian, Zeuxis, 8-11). The battle, however, remains undateable, and one can advance aprioristic arguments for dating it as early as 277 or 276 (doing something about these marauders should have been an absolute priority for Antiochus I) or for some time later in the 260s (since by the time of the battle the Galatians appear to have established themselves in the Greater Phrygian highlands too firmly for even a major defeat to dislodge them). All the same Antiochus had brought the situation under some degree of control.
Antiochus moreover conceded a fair degree of autonomy to Philhetaerus, who under Seleucus I had become the ruler of Pergamum. While Philhetaerus lived, no problems arose. He coined in his own name, but he placed Seleucus’ image on the coins (Cat. of Gr. Coins, Mysia, p. xxix) and otherwise maintained friendly relations with Antiochus I (Strab. XIII 4,1, p. 623).
The overall picture which emerges somewhat resembles that under the Persians. These too put up with the occasional district that was independent de facto (Bithynia, for example); with more or less independent tribes in mountainous terrain (the Uxii in Iran - Arr. III 17); and with a local ruler whom they allowed near complete autonomy as long as he paid the tribute and preserved the trappings of formal subordination, for example the city-king Evagoras of Salamis [Diod. XIV 98; 110; XV 2-4; 8-9].
A slightly different matter was Ptolemaic possession of land (e. g., Hollow Syria) which the King claimed as his. As in the previous generation, the current Ptolemy (II Philadelphus) had problems within his own house; and like Seleu-cus before him, Antiochus I planned to turn this to his advantage. Ptolemy I Soter had made Ptolemy II’s half-brother, Magas, the governor of Cyrene but after their mother’s death the two half-brothers had a falling out. In the mid-270s Magas entered into negotiations with Antiochus I who gave Magas his daughter Apame in marriage. In 276 Magas revolted and marched on Alexandria, but a revolt by his Libyan allies forced him to retreat. Antiochus I ought to have invaded Hollow Syria simultaneously with Magas’ march on Alexandria, but failed to muster his troops in time, and Ptolemy II - now that Magas had turned back - launched a pre-emptive strike (the beginning of the First Syrian
War). Ptolemy II apparently managed to take the important city of Damascus before Antiochus with the help of troops from the Upper Satrapies retook the city (Paus. I 7; Poly. II 28,2 and IV 15; Austin, Nr. 141 with date). If the Ptolemaic holdings in southern Asia Minor (see Box 23.2) did not antedate the First Syrian War, then they were established now. Granted, no fighting in Asia Minor is attested during this war, but given how poorly attested the war is, that is neither here nor there.
Antiochus I and Ptolemy II eventually made peace, evidently on the basis of the status quo and Ptolemy II presumably agreed to tolerate Magas’ rule in Cyrene. Especially if Ptolemy II had made substantial gains in southern Asia Minor, the First Syrian War had ended badly for Antiochus I. Worse was to follow, however, in 263 when Philhetaerus, the ruler of Pergamum, died. His nephew and adoptive son, Eumenes I, revolted against Antiochus I and defeated him in a battle near Sardis (Strab. XIII 4,2, p. 624). With that Pergamum became fully independent. Ephesus, meanwhile, revolted as well and became part of Ptolemy II’s dominions; Ptolemy II appointed his adoptive son and co-regent, also called Ptolemy, as governor (see below). Shortly thereafter Antiochus I Soter died (261). His younger son and co-regent, Antiochus II Theos (“god”), succeeded to the throne and his first task was to restore Seleucid authority in Asia Minor. His interest in so doing coincided with that of Antig-onus Gonatas in expelling the Ptolemies from the Aegean.
World History
