Diodotus I

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
Reignc. 255 – c. 235 BCE
PredecessorPosition Established
SuccessorDiodotus II
Bornc. 300 BC
Diedc. 235 BC
Bactria
Issue
DynastyDiodotid

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.

  1. ^ "Strabo, Geography, Book 11, chapter 11, section 1". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  2. ^ Justin XLI.1
  3. ^ Holt 1999, pp. 55–57
  4. ^ Justin XLI.4