Editing Demetrius III Eucaerus (section)

==Background, family and early life==

[[File:Antiochus VIII.jpg|280px|thumb|alt=A coin struck by Antiochus VIII of Syria (reigned 125–96 BC). Portrait of Antiochus VIII on the obverse; depiction of Zeus holding a star and staff on the reverse.|Coin of [[Antiochus VIII Grypus|Antiochus VIII]], father of Demetrius III]]

The [[Seleucid Empire]], based in Syria, disintegrated in the second century BC as a result of dynastic feuds and [[Ptolemaic Kingdom|Egyptian]] 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]}} A long civil war caused the nation to fragment as pretenders from the royal family fought for the throne.{{sfn|Kelly|2016|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=npNUDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA82 82]}}{{sfn|Wright|2005|p=76}} This lasted until about 123 BC, when [[Antiochus VIII Grypus|Antiochus VIII]] provided a degree of stability which lasted for a decade.{{sfn|Kosmin|2014|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=9UWdAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 23]}} To maintain a degree of peace, Egypt and Syria attempted dynastic marriages,{{sfn|Tinsley|2006|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=xwrC2CC_QBsC&pg=PA179 179]}} which helped Egypt destabilise Syria by supporting one candidate to the throne over another.{{sfn|Kelly|2016|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=npNUDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA82 82]}} In 124 BC, the Egyptian princess [[Tryphaena]] was married to Antiochus VIII.{{sfn|Otto|Bengtson|1938|pp= 103, 104}} Five sons were born to the couple: [[Seleucus VI Epiphanes|Seleucus VI]], the twins [[Antiochus XI Epiphanes|Antiochus XI]] and [[Philip I Philadelphus|Philip I]], Demetrius III and [[Antiochus XII Dionysus|Antiochus XII]].{{#tag:ref|Ancient sources do not mention the name of Demetrius III's mother, but it is generally assumed by modern scholars that she was Tryphaena, who was mentioned explicitly by [[Porphyry (philosopher)|Porphyry]] as the mother of Demetrius III's siblings Antiochus XI and Philip I.{{sfn|Bennett|2002|p= note 10}}|group=note}}{{sfn|Ogden|1999|p= 153}}

In 113 BC, Antiochus VIII's half-brother [[Antiochus IX Cyzicenus|Antiochus IX]] declared himself king; the siblings fought relentlessly for a decade and a half.{{sfn|Kosmin|2014|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=9UWdAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 23]}} Antiochus IX killed Tryphaena in 109 BC.{{sfn|Wright|2012|p=11}} Antiochus VIII was assassinated in 96 BC;{{sfn|Grainger|1997|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=eqxipjRXCf4C&pg=PA32 32]}} this date is deduced from the statement of the first century historian [[Josephus]], who wrote that Antiochus VIII, who assumed the throne in 125 BC, ruled for twenty-nine years, and is corroborated by the third century historian [[Porphyry (philosopher)|Porphyry]], who gave the [[Seleucid era|Seleucid year (SE)]] 216 (97/96 BC) for Antiochus VIII's death.{{#tag:ref|Some dates in the article are given according to the [[Seleucid era]] which is indicated when two years have a slash separating them. Each Seleucid year started in the late autumn of a [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian year]]; thus, a Seleucid year overlaps two Gregorian ones.{{sfn|Biers|1992|p= 13}}|group=note}}{{sfn|Ehling|2008|p=231}} Following the death of his brother, Antiochus IX took the Syrian capital, [[Antioch]],{{sfn|Dumitru|2016|p= 261}} while Seleucus VI, established in [[Cilicia]], prepared for war against his uncle.{{sfn|Dumitru|2016|p= 262}} In modern literature, Seleucus VI is considered the eldest son,{{#tag:ref|It was customary to name the eldest son after the dynasty's founder [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus I]], while a younger son would be named Antiochus.{{sfn|Taylor|2013|p= [https://books.google.com/books?id=CIJsBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA9 9]}}|group=note}}{{sfn|Ehling|2008|p=234}} and Demetrius III is considered younger than Antiochus XI and Philip I.{{sfn|Houghton|1987|p= 81}} However, almost nothing is known about the early life of Demetrius III, who might have been the eldest son himself.{{sfn|Ehling|2008|p=234}} According to Josephus, before assuming the throne, Demetrius III lived in the city of [[Knidos]].{{sfn|Ehling|2008|p=234}}