Seleucus VI Epiphanes

Seleucus VI Epiphanes
Seleucus VI's portrait on the obverse of a tetradrachm minted in Antioch
King of Syria (Seleucid Empire)
Reign	96–94 BC
Predecessors	Antiochus VIII, Antiochus IX
Successors	Demetrius III, Antiochus X, Antiochus XI, Philip I
Contenders	Antiochus IX (96–95 BC) Demetrius III (96–94 BC) Antiochus X (95–94 BC)
Died	94 BC Mopsuestia in Cilicia (modern-day Yakapınar, Yüreğir, Adana, Turkey)
Regnal name Seleucus Epiphanes Nicator
Dynasty	Seleucid
Father	Antiochus VIII
Mother	Tryphaena

Seleucus VI Epiphanes Nicator (Ancient Greek: Σέλευκος Ἐπιφανής Νικάτωρ, romanized: Séleukos Epiphanís Nikátor; between 124 and 109 BC – 94 BC) was a Hellenistic Seleucid monarch who ruled Syria between 96 and 94 BC. He was the son of Antiochus VIII and his Ptolemaic Egyptian wife Tryphaena. Seleucus VI lived during a period of civil war between his father and his uncle Antiochus IX, which ended in 96 BC when Antiochus VIII was assassinated. Antiochus IX then occupied the capital Antioch while Seleucus VI established his power-base in western Cilicia and himself prepared for war. In 95 BC, Antiochus IX marched against his nephew, but lost the battle and was killed. Seleucus VI became the master of the capital but had to share Syria with his brother Demetrius III, based in Damascus, and his cousin, Antiochus IX's son Antiochus X.

According to the ancient historian Appian, Seleucus VI was a violent ruler. He taxed his dominions extensively to support his wars, and resisted allowing the cities a measure of autonomy, as had been the practice of former kings. His reign did not last long; in 94 BC, he was expelled from Antioch by Antiochus X, who followed him to the Cilician city of Mopsuestia. Seleucus took shelter in the city where his attempts to raise money led to riots that eventually claimed his life in 94 BC. Ancient traditions have different versions of his death, but he was most probably burned alive by the rioters. Following his demise, his brothers Antiochus XI and Philip I destroyed Mopsuestia as an act of revenge and their armies fought those of Antiochus X.