Editing Antiochus X Eusebes (section)

== Background, early life and name ==
[[File:Antiochos IX Kyzikenos, Tetradrachm, 110-109 BC, HGC 3-1228i.jpg|thumb|Coin of [[Antiochus IX]], father of Antiochus X]]
The second century BC witnessed the disintegration of the Syria-based [[Seleucid Empire]] due to never-ending dynastic feuds and foreign [[Ptolemaic Kingdom|Egyptian]] and [[Roman Republic|Roman]] interference.{{sfn|Marciak|2017|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=hwEtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA8 8]}}{{sfn|Goodman|2005|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=4me0TRqPOB4C&pg=PA37 37]}} Amid constant civil wars, Syria fell to pieces.{{sfn|Kelly|2016|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=npNUDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA82 82]}} Seleucid pretenders fought for the throne, tearing the country apart.{{sfn|Wright|2005|p=76}} In 113 BC, [[Antiochus IX]] declared himself king in opposition to his half-brother [[Antiochus VIII]].{{sfn|Kosmin|2014|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=9UWdAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 23]}} The siblings fought relentlessly for a decade and a half until Antiochus VIII was killed in 96 BC.{{sfn|Grainger|1997|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=eqxipjRXCf4C&pg=PA32 32]}} The following year, Antiochus VIII's son [[Seleucus VI]] marched against Antiochus IX and killed him near the Syrian capital [[Antioch]].{{sfn|Grainger|1997|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=eqxipjRXCf4C&pg=PA33 33]}}

Egypt and Syria attempted dynastic marriages to maintain a degree of peace.{{sfn|Tinsley|2006|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=xwrC2CC_QBsC&pg=PA179 179]}} Antiochus IX married several times; known wives are his cousin [[Cleopatra IV of Egypt]], whom he married in 114 BC,{{sfn|Bouché-Leclercq|1913|p= [https://archive.org/stream/histoiredessle01bouc#page/418/mode/2up 418]}}{{sfn|Whitehorne|2002|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0-IAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA165 165]}} and her sister [[Cleopatra Selene of Syria|Cleopatra Selene]], the widow of Antiochus VIII.{{#tag:ref|The 6th-century monk and historian [[John Malalas]] wrote that following the war between [[Antiochus VII]] and [[Parthian Empire|Parthia]], a daughter of the Parthian king, named Brittane, was married to Antiochus IX, Antiochus VII's son, to end the conflict.{{sfn|Malalas|1940|p= 19}} The work of Malalas is considered generally unreliable by scholars,{{sfn|Scott|2017|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=RtMuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA76 76]}} but 16 or 17 years separate the death of Cleopatra IV and the marriage of Antiochus IX and Cleopatra Selene; it would be very strange for the king to have remained unmarried throughout this period.{{sfn|Ogden|1999|p= 156}}|group=note}}{{sfn|Bouché-Leclercq|1913|pp= [https://archive.org/stream/histoiredessle02bouc#page/640/mode/2up 641], 643, 416}} Some historians, such as John D. Grainger, maintain the existence of a first wife unknown by name who was the mother of Antiochus X.{{sfn|Grainger|1997|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=eqxipjRXCf4C&pg=PA32 32]}} Others, such as [[Auguste Bouché-Leclercq]], believe that the first wife of Antiochus IX and the mother of his son was Cleopatra IV,{{sfn|Bouché-Leclercq|1913|p= [https://archive.org/stream/histoiredessle01bouc#page/418/mode/2up 418]}} in which case Antiochus{{nbsp}}X would have been born in {{circa|113 BC}}.{{sfn|Bennett|2002a|p= [http://www.instonebrewer.com/TyndaleSites/Egypt/ptolemies/selene_i.htm#Selene.4 note 4]}} None of those assertions are based on evidence, and the mother of Antiochus{{nbsp}}X is not named in ancient sources.{{sfn|Bennett|2002|p=[http://www.instonebrewer.com/TyndaleSites/Egypt/ptolemies/cleopatra_iv.htm#Cleopatra%20IV.14 note 14]}} Antiochus is a Greek name meaning "resolute in contention".{{sfn|Ross|1968|p=47}} The capital Antioch received its name in deference to [[Antiochus (father of Seleucus I Nicator)|Antiochus]], the father of the Seleucid dynasty's founder [[Seleucus I]];{{sfn|Downey|2015|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=gTTWCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA68 68]}} the name became dynastic and many Seleucid kings bore it.{{sfn|Hallo|1996|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=SbsEtMon-dEC&pg=PA142 142]}}{{sfn|Taylor|2013|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=hodsBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA163 163]}}