After Alexander

Fresh off his defeat at Thermopylae, Antiochus III retreats back to Asia. However, the bad news isn't stopping just yet. Let's head to Corycum to witness a sea battle- Gaius Livius and Eumenes II against Polyxenides. Here's hoping it all goes to plan for the Seleucids and... oh.Sources for this episode:Bevan, E. R. (1966), The House of Seleucus (Vol. II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Corycus (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC) (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cherson (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Delos (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025 and 26/08/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), List of Roman consuls (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025).

The Aetolian League welcomes Antiochus with open arms. However, the rest of Greece is not quite as willing. Tune in this week to hear Livy's tales about diplomatic shouting matches, Greek cities staring down implicit threats made against them, and a possible Parthian cameo.Sources for this episode:TBA

Alexander the Great once travelled east to India, tried to stamp his authority on the subcontinent and was forced home by the mutiny of his own men before planning to take over Arabia. Although that might be a subject for a During Alexander episode rather than After Alexander, we're going to see his spiritual successor Antiochus III follow in his footsteps and do surprisingly well... Sources for this episode: TBA

Achaeus the Younger is gone! How? Well, it involves an attempted meddling by Egypt, a flagrant betrayal by a Cretan mercenary, and a stealthy spy mission in the night with a king disguised as a lowly warrior. What more could you ask for? Sources for this episode: Bevan, E. R. (1966), The House of Seleucus (Vol. II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc. Greene, R. (2000), The 48 Laws of Power. London: Profile Books Ltd. Polybius (1979), Polybius the Histories, in Six Volumes (Volume III). Translated by W. R. Paton. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: Harvard University Press and William Heinemann, Ltd.

Molon starts to become a serious threat- and the Seleucid court just keep fumbling the ball...Sources for this episode: Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus (Vol. I). London: Edward Arthur. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Molon (online) (Accessed 30/04/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Xenoetas (online) (Accessed 30/04/2024).

Defeat at Magnesia sparks collapse throughout the Seleucid empire. Antiochus III leaves his son behind in Antioch as Seleucus IV and then heads out east- only to meet his end while trying to rob a temple in Persia.Sources for this episode:TBA

With Antiochus III having sent delegates to Rome, it is up to the Senate to decide what to do with the defeated Seleucid kingdom. The results definitely please Eumenes II of a newly expanded Pergamon, but the Seleucids are not so happy. As of 188 BCE, it is back behind the Taurus mountains we go- forever this time...Sources for this episode:TBA

With the Seleucid armies shattered after Magnesia, the cities of Anatolia begin to fall like dominoes. Antiochus III finds himself with no choice but to come to the negotiating table once again- to find Africanus stealing the show off his brother once more...Sources for this episode:Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.Robinson, C. E. (1932), A History of the Roman Republic. London: Methuen & Co., Ltd.Author unknown, Bank of England (date unknown), Inflation calculator (online) (Accessed 13/12/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus III the Great (online) (Accessed 13/12/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), List of rulers of Bithynia (online) (Accessed 13/12/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Treaty of Lutatius (online) (Accessed 13/12/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Watches of the Night (online) (Accessed 13/12/2025).

In 190 BCE, Antiochus III faces off against the Scipio brothers near the settlement of Magnesia-by-Sipylus. The resulting battle will be a disaster for the Seleucids- and see the king go running back to Syria with his tail between his legs...Sources for this episode:TBA

With the Romans now in Anatolia, Antiochus III has only got so long to go before a major showdown. He tries his best to avoid it- mainly by attempting to bribe Scipio Africanus- but in the end, we are setting up for a showdown near Magnesia-by-Sipylus.Sources for this episode:Bevan (1966), The House of Seleucus (Vol. II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.Greene, R. (2002), The 48 Laws of Power. London: Profile Books Ltd.Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.

The Roman and Seleucid fleets face each other at Myonessus, and the war swings decisively in favour of the Romans. Not only that, but Antiochus III retreats from Europe and the Scipio brothers cross into Asia. Oh dear...Sources for this episode:Bevan (1966), The House of Seleucus (Vol. II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Lucius Cornelius Scipio (praetor 174 BC) (online) (Accessed 31/10/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Myonessus (online) (Accessed 31/10/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Taurus Mountains (online) (Accessed 31/10/2025).

Polyxenides plays hide and seek with his Rhodian rival Pausistratus, and Antiochus III teams up with his son- now crown prince Seleucus- to attack the city of Pergamon.Sources for this episode:Bevan, E. R. (1966), The House of Seleucus (Vol. II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company.

Thanks to the influence of his brother Africanus, Lucius Scipio manages to get the war theatre of Greece assigned to him. On today's episode, we get to see cities fall into Roman hands and Rome set its sights on Asia- as well as watch Africanus be a very frustrating brother to deal with.Sources for this episode:Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.

On the site where the 300 made their stand against the armies of Xerxes I, a battle is waiting for Antiochus III. He may have managed to stroll through Greece fairly easily in 192 BCE, but 191 will see a dramatic reversal of fortune- and a crushing defeat thanks to the mountain-climbing abilities of Marcus Porcius Cato.Sources for this episode:TBA

Tensions continue to rise between the Roman Republic and Antiochus III. On both sides, others are pushing for war- Eumenes II wanting to expand his domain on the Roman side, Hannibal wanting revenge for the Second Punic War on the other. Seems like there's nothing for it but for Antiochus III to land in Greece.Sources for this episode:TBA

The Romans try to get Antiochus to recognise their hegemony over Europe, while allowing him dominance over Asia. However, Antiochus sees Thrace as his rightful birthright, and even a divide between Thrace and Greece into spheres of influence does not work. While Cleopatra I and Ptolemy VI get married in the background, the Romans and Seleucids are beginning to think war is the only option...Sources for this episode:TBA

Antiochus III attempts to stamp his authority on Asia Minor and makes the first overtures towards Thrace, just as Antiochus II and Seleucus I once did. However, he doesn't bank on the city of Lampsacus appealing to a little known state called the Roman Republic for help. Join us this week for diplomatic rowing, a rumour about the death of Ptolemy V and Rome trying to flex its muscles.Sources for this episode:TBA

The eldest son of Antiochus III has been in the driving seat ever since 210 BCE- or since the age of eleven. However, given that his epithet appears in the episode title, I wouldn't hang out the bunting for him just yet...Sources for this episode:TBA

Now that Antiochus III is a bit more secure on the throne, it's time to examine his family. We've had reason to introduce his eldest son Antiochus and his daughter Cleopatra, but what about the rest of the brood? Well, in examining the family and the facts about their lives, we need to wade through quite a bit of the fog of history- and discuss the beginning of cursed marriages within the dynasty.Sources for this episode:TBA

When Ptolemy IV of Egypt dies to be succeeded by an infant Ptolemy V, Antiochus III seizes his chance. It's time to walk all over Egypt- and establish a very famous name in the region while doing so...Sources for this episode:TBA