Antiochus III the Great, Seleucid king of the Hellenistic Syrian Empire from 223 bce to 187, who rebuilt the empire in the East but failed in his attempt to challenge Roman ascendancy in Europe and Asia Minor.

Antiochos III the Great.

He reformed the empire administratively by reducing the provinces in size, established a The conflicts accompanying the accession of Antiochus III reveal that Hellenistic kings were not automatically in control of their own court societies. Antiochus considered Palestine as a portion of his Seleucid dominion, invaded the land, and seized a large number of its fortified places. Successor of: Seleucus III Keraunos (or Soter) Relatives: Father: Seleucus II Callinicus Mother: Laodice II First wife: Laodice III (daughter of Mithradates II of Pontus) Children: Antiochus (died 193) Seleucus IV Philopator; Ardys; daughter (engaged to Demetrius I of Bactria)

A great number of the Jews were of the opinion that Seleucid rule was to be preferred to the Egyptian, since the yoke of Egypt had been severely felt in recent years in the shape of the pitiless taxation of the Tobiads . Antiochus III the Great.