Background Seleucus ( 358 – 281 BC) served as an officer of
Alexander the Great, commanding the elite infantry corps in the
Macedonian army: the "Shield-bearers" (,
Hypaspistai), later known as the "
Silvershields" (,
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 agreed to a peace treaty 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 in 281 BC. ==Seleucid rulers==