Editing Ptolemy IV Philopator (section)

===Fourth Syrian War (219–217 BC)===
{{main|Fourth Syrian War}}
In 222 BC [[Antiochus III]] had assumed the Seleucid throne and he instantly proved a dynamic leader, determined to restore Seleucid power and to reverse the losses that the Seleucids had suffered in the Third Syrian War. In 221 BC, one year after his accession, Antiochus III invaded the Ptolemaic territories in [[Coele-Syria]]. He was rebuffed by the Ptolemaic governor of the region, [[Theodotus of Aetolia|Theodotus]], and forced to turn east as a result of the revolt of his satrap of [[Media (region)|Media]], [[Molon]].<ref>[[Polybius]] 5.45–46</ref><ref name=H12832>{{harvnb|Hölbl|2001|pp=128–132}}</ref>

In spring 219 BC, Antiochus III tried again, attacking and capturing the key port city and 'hearth of the Seleucid dynasty' [[Seleucia Pieria]], which had been under Ptolemaic control since 246 BC. Immediately after this, Theodotus, who had become unpopular at the Ptolemaic court, switched to the Seleucid side, bringing Coele Syria and a large portion of the Ptolemaic fleet with him.<ref>Polybius 5.40.</ref> Antiochus III received the surrender of [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] and [[Acre, Israel|Ptolemais Ake]], but he became bogged down in protracted sieges of [[Sidon]] and [[Dora, Lebanon|Dora]].<ref>Polybius 5.61–63, 66</ref><ref name=H12832/>

In the midst of this, there was a revolt in Alexandria, led by Cleomenes III of Sparta, which [[Polybius]] presents as having been a serious threat to Ptolemy IV's regime. Ptolemy III had promised to restore Cleomenes III, now living in Alexandria with a force of 3,000 mercenaries, to the Spartan throne, but his death had put an end to these plans. Initially, Ptolemy IV and Sosibius had indulged Cleomenes III, seeing him as a counter to Ptolemy IV's brother Magas. But after Magas's death, Ptolemy IV's interest waned and Sosibius had had the Spartan placed under house arrest. In 219 BC, while Ptolemy IV was at [[Canopus, Egypt|Canopus]], Cleomenes III broke free and attempted to lead an armed uprising against Sosibius. He and his followers launched an attack on the main citadel in Alexandria, hoping to liberate the men imprisoned within, but this attack was unsuccessful and the people of Alexandria did not respond to their call to rise up. Cleomenes III and his followers then committed suicide.<ref>[[Polybius]] 5.38–39; [[Plutarch]] ''Life of Cleomenes'' 33–37</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Hölbl|2001|p=128}}</ref>

[[File:Mediterranean at 218 BC-en.svg|left|thumb|The Mediterranean in 218 BC]]
Antiochus III's efforts to consolidate his control over Coele Syria lasted for the rest of 219 BC. At the beginning of winter, he had to negotiate a ceasefire with Ptolemy IV. Formal peace negotiations followed at Seleucia Pieria, but they do not seem to have been undertaken in good faith on either side. Antiochus refused to consider returning Seleucia Pieria to the Ptolemies, while Ptolemy IV demanded that Antiochus III recognise [[Achaeus (general)|Achaeus]], the ''de facto'' ruler of Asia Minor, who was considered a rebel by the Seleucid court, as a party to the piece.<ref>[[Polybius]] 5.67</ref><ref name=H12832/>

Sosibius and Agathocles used the cease fire to whip the Ptolemaic army into shape, while Antiochus III used it to prepare for a new offensive. In early 218 BC, the Seleucid king obliterated the Ptolemaic forces at [[Berytus]] on land and at sea, opening the way for the invasion of Coele Syria. There he captured [[Amman|Philadelphia]], but was unable to gain the southern [[Beqa'a valley]], [[Damascus]], or [[Sidon]].<ref>[[Polybius]] 5.68–71</ref><ref name=H12832/>

In 217 BC, Ptolemy IV and Arsinoe III led the Egyptian army into the Levant, where it met Antiochus III's army in battle at [[Battle of Raphia|Raphia]] on 22 June 217 BC. This was one of the largest battles of the [[Hellenistic Age]] with over 150,000 soldiers participating in the melee. At the start of the battle, the Ptolemaic elephant forces were routed and Antiochus followed that up by charging in on horseback and breaking the Ptolemaic left wing. [[Polybius]] (generally hostile to Ptolemy IV) represents Ptolemy IV's sudden appearance on the front lines as the decisive turning point in the battle, inspiring his troops to fight on and defeat the rest of the Seleucid army which turned and fled while Antiochus III was still chasing the fleeing Ptolemaic soldiers on the left wing. When he discovered what had happened, Antiochus III had no choice but to retreat to Antioch.<ref>[[Polybius]] 5.79–87; [[Justin (historian)|Justin]], ''Epitome of Pompeius Trogus'' 30.1</ref><ref name=H12832/>

After the battle, Ptolemy IV set to work reorganising the situation in Coele Syria and sent Sosibius to negotiate with Antiochus III. At the end of summer, he invaded Seleucid Syria, forcing Antiochus III to accept a peace treaty. Ptolemy IV retained the territories that he had held at the start of the war except, apparently, Seleucia Pieria, and he received an enormous sum of gold. By 12 October, Ptolemy IV had returned to Egypt, where the victory was celebrated by a priestly synod at [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]] which issued the [[Raphia decree]]. The relatively mild terms of the peace and Ptolemy IV's failure to capitalise on his victory by going on the offensive have caused some surprise among modern scholars; the Raphia decree refers rather unclearly to "the treachery which the commanders of the troops perpetrated" which may be relevant to Ptolemy's decision to make peace.<ref>[[Raphia Decree]] ([http://www.attalus.org/docs/other/inscr_259.html link to text]); [[Polybius]] 5.87</ref><ref name=H12832/>