SELEUCUS I NICATOR
358 BC - 281 BC

Seleucus was a general in Alexander III the Great's army.

Alex and Seleucus went way back. Seleucus' father, Antiochus, was already a general for Alexander's father, Philip II.

One of Seleucus' major battles was the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BC.

In 324 BC, Seleucus married Apama, the princess of Bactria. Seleucus and Apama had a son, Antiochus.

Later, Seleucus married Stratonice and when his son fell in love with stepmother Stratonice, Seleucus gave his blessings and married the two. That's right. 285 BC. Those were the days.

In 321 BC, Seleucus became satrap, or governor, of Babylon.

In 301 BC, Seleucus teamed up with Lysimachus, Cassander, and Ptolemy and got rid of Antigonus at the Battle of Ipsus, the famous encounter of the diadochi.

And here is a map of Seleucus' world in 301 BC:

THE MACEDONIAN EMPIRE IN 301 BC
Click to enlarge

In February 281 BC, Seleucus managed to kill Lysimachus in the Battle of Corupedium. He didn't have long to celebrate because in September 281 BC, he was killed by Ptolemy's son, Ptolemy Ceraunus.

Seleucus was the founder of the Seleucid Dynasty. Seleucus' successor was his son Antiochus I.