Editing 153 BC (section)

==== Seleucid Empire ====
* The [[Seleucid]] king [[Demetrius I Soter]]'s relations with [[Attalus II Philadelphus]] of [[Pergamum]] and [[Ptolemy VI Philometor]] of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] deteriorate to the point where they support a rival claimant to the [[Syria]]n throne, [[Alexander Balas]], who claims to be the son of the former Seleucid king [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]] and, therefore, a first cousin of Demetrius. He has been "discovered" by Heracleides, a former minister of Antiochus IV and brother of [[Timarchus]], who has been executed by Demetrius I Soter in [[160 BC]] after leading a revolt against him in [[Medes|Media]].
* As a result of the rise of the pretender, Alexander Balas, Demetrius I Soter is forced to recall most of his garrisons in [[Judea]]. To retain control of Judea, he makes a bid to gain the loyalty of [[Jonathan Maccabeus]], whom he permits to recruit an army and to take back the hostages that the Syrians are holding in the city of [[Acre, Israel|Acre]]. Jonathan gladly accepts these terms, takes up residence in [[Jerusalem]] and begins to fortify the city, becoming [[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Jerusalem]] until [[143 BC]].