Seleucus I

Seleucus I, called Nicator (Greek, “the conqueror”) (358?-281 bc), king of Syria (301-281 bc). The founder of the Seleucid dynasty, he was a Macedonian general serving under Alexander the Great, and in the second partition of Alexander's empire in 321 bc he was made satrap of Babylon, becoming king of Babylonia in 312 bc. In 302 bc he joined the confederacy against Macedonia and in 301, upon the defeat and death of King Antigonus I of Macedonia, obtained the largest share of the spoils, including the whole of Syria and a great part of Asia Minor. He built numerous cities, including Antioch and several named for him as Seleucia. Toward the end of his reign, he proclaimed himself king of Macedonia but was subsequently assassinated. See also Seleucids.