| Euthydemid Dynasty | |
|---|---|
 Coin of Demetrius I depicting an Elephant and the Caduceus, typical Euthydemid symbols. | |
| Country | Bactria |
| Founded | 230 BC |
| Founder | Euthydemus I |
| Final ruler | Euthydemus II (Bactria) Strato III (India) |
| Titles | Basileus, King of Kings |
The Euthydemid dynasty was a Hellenistic dynasty founded by Euthydemus I in 230 BC which ruled the Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms throughout the Hellenistic period from 230 BC to 10 AD, upon the death of its last ruler, Strato III in Gandhara.
History
It is possible that Euthydemus was a son of a certain Antimachus (born 295 BC) and a grandson of Sophytes, a satrap or ruler of Bactria in around 300 BC.
Euthydemus was a satrap of Sogdiana that was married to a sister of Diodotus II, son of the original rebel, Diodotus I. He usurped the throne from Diodotus II or perhaps Antiochus Nikator and became ruler of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. Later on in his reign, he faced an invasion by the younger and ambitious Antiochus III the Great. He was defeated on the Arius but successively waited out Antiochus in his capital Bactra. His peace treaty with Antiochus granted his son Demetrius I a marriage to an unspecified daughter of Antiochus.
His son Demetrius I would go on to invade northern India and establish the Indo-Greek kingdom. After Demetrius's sons Agathocles, Euthydemus II and perhaps even Demetrius II rule over the Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms, it becomes harder to pinpoint which of the following rulers were related to each other, or even if they were members of the Euthydemid dynasty. It is possible however, that the powerful king Menander I was a member of this dynasty.
Rulers
Precise members of this royal family cannot be fully reconstructed due to the lack of evidence and only a remaining vast coinage of following rulers. Demetrius's successor, Agathocles, left behind extensive coinage that helped reconstruct part of the dynasty. Some of the more certain rulers are:
- Sophytes (330-300 BC) satrap of the Paropamisadae, welcomed Alexander the Great and the grandfather of Euthydemus I
- Euthydemus I (260-195 BC) eponymous founder of the dynasty
- Demetrius I (222-180 BC) most famous of the Euthydemids - invaded India
- Euthydemus II ( c. 200-185 BC) Son of Euthydemus I
- Pantaleon (190-180 BC) Son of Euthydemus I
- Demetrius II (fl. 175-140 BC)
- Antimachus I (c.171-160 BC) Son of Euthydemus I
- Antimachus II (c. 170-165 BC)
- Menander I (c. 165/155-130 BC) married Agathoclia, father of Strato I
- Agathoclia I (c. 130-125 BC) widow of Menander, ruled as regent for son, Strato I
- Strato I (c. 125-105 BC) son of Menander I and Agathoclia I
- Demetrius III (c. 105-100 BC)
- Amyntas I (c. 100-90 BC)
- Menander II (c. 105 BC)
- Demetrius IV (c. 80 BC)
- Strato II (c.30 BC)
- Strato III (c.10 AD) last ruler
- Demetrius V (c. 10 AD) ? potential claimant ruler
Following these rulers, it becomes increasingly hard to date or connect them to any family, as they may have been usurpers, but the Euthydemids remained the most constant and long reigning dynasty of Greek Bactria and India.
See also
References
- "Two Remarkable Bactrian Coins" RC Senior, Oriental Numismatic Society Newsletter 159
- Polybius. Histories.
Antiochus received the young prince; and judging from his appearance, conversation, and the dignity of his manners that he was worthy of royal power, he first promised to give him one of his own daughters, and secondly conceded the royal title to his father.
- No undisputed coins of Demetrius I himself use this title, but it is employed on one of the pedigree coins issued by Agathocles, which bear on the reverse the classical profile of Demetrius crowned by the elephant scalp, with the legend DEMETRIOU ANIKETOU, and on the reverse Herakles crowning himself, with the legend "Of king Agathocles" (Boppearachchi, Pl 8). Coins of the supposed Demetrius III also use the title "Invincible", and therefore are attributed by some to the same Demetrius (Whitehead and al.)