In Asia Minor Achaius prosecuted the war against Attalus with vigor and soon had him confined to his original territory (Pol. l. c.). In Greater Media, however, a revolt had broken out. Its satrap, Molon, declared himself independent in 322; his brother Alexander, the satrap of Persis, joined him, as did Artabazanes,
The ruler of Media Atropatene. Molon defeated the first imperial army sent against him and took the Apolloniatis on the east bank of the Tigris. In the next year he defeated a second imperial army, crossed the Tigris, and seized the satrapy of Babylon (Pol. V 41-48).
Now Antiochus III personally assumed command. He crossed the Tigris from west to east and marched southwards, behind Molon. To avoid being cut off from Media, Molon recrossed the Tigris as well and attempted to retreat to Media, but Antiochus III had been too fast. Antiochus III had by far the larger army and he was the king. Most of Molon’s army deserted, and the revolt was crushed in early 220 (Pol. V 48-54). Antiochus III then turned his attention to Media Atropatene. At his arrival its ruler, Artabazanes, hastened to reach an accommodation with the king (Pol. V 55). Presumably Artabazanes recognized the king’s authority and possibly agreed to pay a tribute. Antiochus III did not care to press for more; Parthia and Bactria he left as they were for the time being and returned to Syria.
In Asia Minor, Achaius, having guessed that Antiochus would fail in the East, had proclaimed himself king (Pol. V 57), but there was also the unfinished business with Egypt in Hollow Syria. Ptolemy III Euergetes had died in 221, his son Ptolemy IV Philopator had just become king, and this gave Antiochus III an opportunity to settle matters with the house of Ptolemy. Antiochus III let Achaius be for now and in 219 marched against Egypt instead - the Fourth Syrian War.
After initial successes (he recaptured Seleuceia; Tyre and Ptolemai's were surrendered to him), his offensive ground to a halt. The Egyptians began to negotiate, and Antiochus unwisely consented to a four months’ truce for the winter of 219 to 218. But Ptolemy IV Philopator was playing for time, and in 218 the war continued. Antiochus III defeated a Ptolemaic army near Sidon, but failed to take the city itself. In the meantime he consolidated his grip on Hollow Syria all the way down to the border of Egypt. In 217 Ptolemy IV marched into Palestine with an army of some 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 elephants; Antiochus III had 62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 102 elephants. The two armies met at Raphia. It was the largest pitched battle since Ipsus. While Antiochus’s army was superior in point of cavalry and elephants, Ptolemy had a larger phalanx - but it contained 20,000 native Egyptian recruits whose loyalty to a Macedonian king was untested in battle (see Box 23.5). Antiochus stationed himself on his right, with 4,000 riders; Ptolemy stood opposite on his left with some of his own cavalry. The Seleucid cavalry with Antiochus gained the upper hand quickly, but while Antiochus pursued the retreating Egyptian riders, Ptolemy rushed to the phalanx in the center of his line. He rallied the troops and, leading raw recruits against veterans, charged against the smaller Seleucid phalanx, which gave way. Antiochus’ losses were high - 10,000 killed and 4,000 captured -, and he gladly accepted Ptolemy’s offer of peace. Although he had to accept Ptolemaic control of Hollow Syria for now, his campaign had achieved one gain: Seleuceia, Antioch’s harbor town, was back in Seleucid hands (Pol. V 59-71, 79-87).
World History
