The Seleucids existed solely because no other nation wished to absorb them - seeing as they constituted a useful buffer between their other neighbours. Despite the clear collapse of their power, and the decline of their kingdom around them, nobles continued to play kingmakers on a regular basis, with occasional intervention from Ptolemaic Egypt and other outside powers. Traditional territory of the Seleucid Empire (in yellow).īy 100 BC, the once formidable Seleucid Empire encompassed little more than Antioch and some Syrian cities. With their wars against Rome, the Seleucids created effective units of troops that copied the Roman legions.ĭescending from Alexander's shattered empire, the Hellenistic Seleucids start in Asia, but have their sights set for reclaiming the glory of Greece and beyond. Like the Ptolemies with their wealth, the Seleucid kings had managed to recruit all kinds of people as mercenaries, from the Indians living on the Indus to the people of Crete and particularly Galatia. Also, the Seleucids had a supply of Indian war elephants which was used to cause fear amongst their enemies and, like chariots, to disrupt cohesion. They relied on troops that used the Macedonian phalanx, archers from the Eastern peoples and cavalry, especially the heavily armored cataphracts ("covered" armor-plated horsemen) and the famous Macedonian companion cavalry as the general's bodyguard and elite shock troops. Seleucid pikemen advancing towards their egyptian enemies in the battle of Raphia. When they fought other Diadochi, complete victories or the annihilation of opposing armies were generally avoided it was easier to defeat and recruit enemy soldiers than to train more, especially because of recruitment cost. Its troops were primarily of Greek origin, supplemented by Eastern people, since the Seleucid realm covered much of the eastern portions of the former Persian Empire. Their unit roster includes pikemen, cataphracts, elephants, chariots, companion cavalry, and even legionaries.Īs with many of the Hellenistic states that formed after the death of Alexander the Great, the Seleucid armies were professional, based on the Macedonian model. The Seleucids have a varied roster of units, combining both Greek and Eastern units. They are bordering and surrounded by Pontus, Egypt, the Greeks and the Parthians. The Seleucid Empire starts originally with a rather large amount of settlements. The Seleucid Empire's main ambition was to preserve the original territory conquered by Alexander the Great during his lifetime. The Seleucid legions battling their Roman counterparts. It was a major centre of Hellenistic culture which maintained the preeminence of Greek customs and where a Greek-speaking Macedonian élite dominated, mostly in the urban areas. The Seleucid Empire was centered in the near East and at the height of its power included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.
When Alexander's empire was divided among his greatest generals, Seleucus took the eastern Fertile Crescent and captured Syria soon after, founding the new Seleucid Empire. The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic empire, one of the surviving portions of Alexander the Great's original empire. Their power is only limited by the general commanding their vast cavalry, infantry and elephant legions. They are powerful and have a vast army of units they may summon. The Seleucids owe their existence to one of these generals, Seleucus.
For one, his generals divided up the vast empire and took great portions for themselves. The fall of the Greco-Macedonian Empire, under Alexander the Great, brought about great changes in the Mediterranean world. They can be played by successfully completing either a long or short campaign with any of the Roman factions, by destroying them in the Imperial Campaign. The Seleucid Empire is one of the playable factions in Rome: Total War.
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