| Diodotus I | |
|---|---|
| Basileus | |
 Gold coin of Diodotus c. 245 BC. The reverse legend reads: "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΙΟΔΟΤΟΥ" – "(of) King Diodotos". Cabinet des Medailles, Paris. | |
| King of Bactria | |
| Reign | c. 255 – c. 235 BCE |
| Predecessor | Position Established |
| Successor | Diodotus II |
| Born | c. 300 BC |
| Died | c. 235 BC Bactria |
| Issue | |
| Dynasty | Diodotid |
Diodotus I Soter (Greek: Διόδοτος Σωτήρ, Diódotos Sōtḗr; c. 300 BC – c. 235 BC) was the first Hellenistic king of Bactria. Diodotus was initially satrap of Bactria, but became independent of the Seleucid empire around 255 BC, establishing the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. In about 250 BC, Diodotus repelled a Parthian invasion of Bactria by Arsaces. He minted an extensive coinage and administered a powerful and prosperous new kingdom. He died around 235 BC and was succeeded by his son Diodotus II.[1][2]
His rule was recounted by Apollodorus of Artemita in the Parthian History, but this text is lost, and surviving literary sources only mention him in passing.[3] Thus, most details of Diodotus' life have to be reconstructed from numismatics and brief references by Justin[4] and other historians.