Middle East Kingdoms

Phrygia

The kingdom was created by Indo-Europeans who began to infiltrate into western Anatolia from the Balkans after about 1450 BC. Linguistically, they bore some relationship with the Armenians who later occupied the mountains in the north of Mesopotamia in the kingdoms of Nairi and Urartu. Along with their eastern neighbours, the Kaskians, the Phrygians seized power in Anatolia after being involved in the fall of the Hittite Empire. Thereafter, they found themselves bordered to the south-west by the Neo-Hittite kingdom of Maeonia.

c.1190 BC

Mygdon

Midas

c.547 BC

The kingdom falls to Persia.

334 BC

The region is conquered by Alexander the Great's Greek Empire.

ARGAED DYNASTY OF GREATER PHRYGIA

The Argead were the ruling family and founders of Macedonia who reached their greatest extent under Alexander the Great and his two successors before the kingdom broke up into several Hellenic sections. Alexander's successors held no real power, being mere figureheads for the generals who really held control of Alexander's empire.

334 - 323 BC

Alexander III the Great

King of Macedonia. Conquered Persia.

323 - 317 BC

Philip III Arrhidaeus

Feeble-minded half-brother of Alexander the Great.

317 - 310 BC

Alexander IV of Macedonia

Infant son of Alexander the Great and Roxana.

EMPIRE OF ANTIGONUS

Antigonus was appointed governor of Greater Phrygia upon Alexander's death, which included Lycia, Pamphylia, and Canaan. Although Antigonus survived the first two successional wars with the other generals of Alexander's army, the Third War of the Diadochi (generals) in 314 BC resulted because Antigonus had grown too powerful in the eyes of the other generals, grabbing Babylonia and attempting to rebuild Alexander's empire. He was attacked by Ptolemy (Egypt), Lysimachus (Thrace), Cassander (Macedonia), and Seleucus (Babylonia) but came to terms in 311 BC after losing Babylonia to Seleucus. The Fourth War of the Diadochi ended in the death of Antigonus, but by then he had already established his kingdom in Greater Phrygia (306 BC). The other generals responded by proclaiming themselves kings the following year.

306 - 301 BC

Antigonus Monophthalmos (One Eye)

General in Alexander's army. Satrap (334-306). Raised to king.

301 BC

Following the death of Antigonus at the decisive Battle of Ipsus, Lysimachus of Thrace gains much of his territory in western Asia Minor, including Phoenicia, and Seleucus gains more of it in the east. Antigonus' son and joint ruler keeps the remaining territories for himself, thanks to jealousy between the four conquering kings.

306 - 285 BC

Demetrius I Poliorcetes

Son. Captured Athens and restored democratic system.

294 - 288 BC

Demetrius seizes the kingdom of Macedonia and rules from there.

285 BC

After attempting to re-unify the empire himself, Demetrius is chased into Asia by his rivals, and surrenders to Seleucus in Babylonia. He dies two years after being imprisoned.

283 - 239 BC

Antigonus II Gonatas (Antikini)

Son. Defeated Celts. Occupied Macedonia 277 BC.

277 BC

Antigonus successfully smashes an invasion of Celts in Greece and claims the throne of Macedonia, passing his kingdom onto his son when he dies at the age of eighty.