Editing List of monarchs of Iran (section)

=== Hellenistic rule (331–129 BC) ===
{{See also|Hellenistic period}}

==== Alexander's empire (331–305 BC) ====
{{See also|Argead dynasty}}
[[File:Macedonia (ancient kingdom, greatest extent).svg|thumb|[[Alexander the Great]]'s empire|190px]]
The Achaemenid Empire was defeated and conquered by [[Alexander the Great]], king of [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]], in 331{{Sfn|Roux|1992|p=412}}–329 BC.{{Sfn|Stark|2021|pp=701–702}} After Alexander's death in 323 BC, the [[Wars of the Diadochi]] broke out between his successors, leading to the rapid disintegration of the empire.{{Sfn|Shenkar|2014|p=5}}

Alexander did not assume the former Achaemenid royal title of 'King of Kings'.{{Sfn|Worthington|2003|p=139}}{{Sfn|Hammond|1993|p=13}} His main royal title, appearing on coins intended for his Asian territories, was instead ''[[basileus]]'' ({{Literal translation|king}}).{{Sfn|Worthington|2003|p=139}} To mark his rule over the Achaemenid territories he also sometimes used the new title "Lord of Asia" (sometimes "King of Asia").{{Sfn|Worthington|2003|p=139}} The only royal title recorded for Alexander's two immediate heirs is ''basileus''.{{Sfn|Carney|1991|p=157}} Alexander ruled his empire from [[Babylon]]{{Sfn|Sykes|2011|p=40}} and planned to establish Babylon and [[Alexandria]] in Egypt as the twin imperial capitals.{{Sfn|Roux|1992|p=412}} From 319 BC onwards, Alexander's heirs resided in Macedonia while the regency in Asia was contested by several generals.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=113}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%;"
! width="7%" |Portrait
! width="27%" |Name
! width="32%" |Reign
! width="34%" |Succession
|-
|[[File:Alexander the Great mosaic (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[Alexander the Great|'''Alexander''']]{{Efn|Enumerated as Alexander III as king of Macedon (after [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]] and [[Alexander II of Macedon|Alexander II]]).}}<br/><small>''the Great''</small>
|1 October 331{{Sfn|Roux|1992|p=412}}{{efn|The date of Alexander's victory at the [[Battle of Gaugamela]], which opened the way for his conquest of [[Babylonia]] and Persia.{{Sfn|Roux|1992|p=412}}}} – 10/11 June 323 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=112}}<br /><small>(7 years, 8 months and 10/11 days)</small>
|Conquered the Achaemenid Empire{{Sfn|Shenkar|2014|p=5}}
|-
|[[File:Philip Arrhidaeus Pharaoh.jpg|65px]]
|[[Philip III of Macedon|'''Philip''' Arrhidaeus]]{{Efn|Enumerated as Philip III as king of Macedon (after [[Philip I of Macedon|Philip I]] and [[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]]).}}
|June 323 – late 317 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=112}}<br /><small>(6 years)</small>
|Brother of Alexander the Great{{sfn|Frye|1984|p=149}}
|-
|[[File:Alexander Aegus Pharaoh.jpg|65px]]
|[[Alexander IV of Macedon|'''Alexander''' Aegus]]{{Efn|Enumerated as Alexander IV as king of Macedon (after [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]], [[Alexander II of Macedon|Alexander II]], and Alexander the Great).}}
|August 323{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=112}} – 309 BC{{Sfn|Mørkholm|2001|p=187}} (305 BC){{efn|Alexander IV's murder by his regent [[Cassander]] in 309 BC was not made public knowledge until 306/305 BC and he thus continued to be recognized as king posthumously for an additional 3–4 years.{{Sfn|Mørkholm|2001|p=187}}}}<br /><small>(14 years, recognized for 18 years)</small>
|Son of Alexander the Great{{sfn|Frye|1984|p=149}}
|}

==== Seleucid Empire (305–129 BC) ====
{{See also|Seleucid dynasty|Seleucid Empire}}
[[File:Seleucid Empire (greatest extent).svg|thumb|The [[Seleucid Empire]] under [[Seleucus I Nicator]]|190px]]
The main Hellenistic successors of Alexander's empire in Iran were the [[Seleucid dynasty|Seleucids]], descendants of the Macedonian general [[Seleucus I Nicator]] and the Iranian noblewoman [[Apama]].{{Sfn|Bickerman|2003|p=3}} Seleucus seized most of the east, including [[Babylonia]], in the [[Wars of the Diadochi]] and was firmly in control in the region from 312 BC onwards.{{Sfn|Roux|1992|p=413}} After Alexander IV's death became public knowledge in 305 BC, Seleucus proclaimed himself king.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=118}}

The main royal title used by the Seleucids was ''basileus'', as was the case for the other Macedonian successor kingdoms (such as the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]]).{{Sfn|Watson|2009|p=54}} Only two Seleucid rulers ([[Antiochus III the Great|Antiochus III]], 223–187 BC, and [[Antiochus VII Sidetes|Antiochus VII]], 139–129 BC) used the greater ''megas basileus'' ('Great King'),{{Sfn|Strootman|2020|p=147}} the style applied to Achaemenid kings in ancient Greek sources.{{Sfn|Dandamaev|1989|p=55}} The Seleucids at first ruled from [[Seleucia]] in Mesopotamia, though [[Antioch]] was soon made the main capital.{{Sfn|Kia|2016|p=287}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Portrait
! Name
! Reign
! Succession
|-
|[[File:Seleucos Nicator Louvre Ma3597 n3.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus I]]'''<br /><small>''Nicator''</small>
|305{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=118}} – September 280 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(25 years)</small>
|Former general under Alexander the Great. Held most of the east of his empire from 312 BC onwards{{Sfn|Roux|1992|p=413}} and proclaimed king in 305 BC.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=118}}
|-
|[[File:Antiochos I Soter tetradrachm obverse.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Antiochus I Soter|Antiochus I]]'''<br /><small>''Soter''</small>
|September 280 – 261 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(19 years)</small>
|Son of Seleucus I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Antiochos II Theos portrait.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Antiochus II Theos|Antiochus II]]'''<br /><small>''Theos''</small>
|261–246 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(15 years)</small>
|Son of Antiochus I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Seleucus II Callinicus (cropped), Antioch mint.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Seleucus II Callinicus|Seleucus II]]'''<br /><small>''Callinicus''</small>
|246–226 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(20 years)</small>
|Son of Antiochus II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Seleukos III Keraunos, Tetradrachm, 226-223 BC, HGC 3-414c (obverse).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Seleucus III Ceraunus|Seleucus III]]'''<br /><small>''Ceraunus''</small>
|226–223 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(3 years)</small>
|Son of Seleucus II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Male head wearing a head-band resembling king of Syria Antiochus III (223–187 BC), late 1st century BC–early 1st century AD, Louvre Museum (7462828632).jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Antiochus III the Great|Antiochus III]]'''<br /><small>''the Great''</small>
|223–187 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(36 years)</small>
|Son of Seleucus II{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Seleukos IV tetradrachm obverse.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Seleucus IV Philopator|Seleucus IV]]'''<br /><small>''Philopator''</small>
|187–175 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(12 years)</small>
|Son of Antiochus III{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Antiochus IV Epiphanes - Altes Museum - Berlin - Germany 2017.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Antiochus IV Epiphanes|Antiochus IV]]'''<br /><small>''Epiphanes''</small>
|175 – late 164 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(11 years)</small>
|Son of Antiochus III{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Antiochos V Eupator tetradrachm obverse.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Antiochus V Eupator|Antiochus V]]'''<br /><small>''Eupator''</small>
|Late 164 – 162 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(2 years)</small>
|Son of Antiochus IV{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Demetrios I Soter, Tetradrachm, 162-150 BC, SC 1611.3 Obverse.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Demetrius I Soter|Demetrius I]]'''<br /><small>''Soter''</small>
|162–150 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(12 years)</small>
|Son of Seleucus IV. Overthrew Antiochus IV.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Alexander I Balas, Antioch mint.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Alexander Balas|Alexander]]'''<br /><small>''Balas''</small>
|152–145 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(7 years)</small>
|Alleged son of Antiochus IV. Rival king against Demetrius I, supported by the [[Roman Empire]].{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Antiochus VI - face.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Antiochus VI Dionysus|Antiochus VI]]'''<br /><small>''Dionysus''</small>
|145–142 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(3 years)</small>
|Son of Alexander Balas{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Coin of Demetrius II Nicator (cropped), Ptolemais in Phoenicia mint.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Demetrius II Nicator|Demetrius II]]'''<br /><small>''Nicator''</small>
|147–139 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(8 years)</small>
|Son of Demetrius I. Revolted against Alexander Balas with support from the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]]. Sole king after Antiochus VI's death.{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|-
|[[File:Antiochos VII.jpg|65px]]
|'''[[Antiochus VII Sidetes|Antiochus VII]]'''<br /><small>''Sidetes''</small>
|139–129 BC{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}<br /><small>(10 years)</small>
|Son of Demetrius I{{Sfn|Venning|2023|p=119}}
|}