Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC)

Antiochus III was King of Syria (223-187 BC), son of Seleucid II. He invaded Egypt (212-202 BC), seizing land from Ptolemy V. He recaptured Palestine, Asia Minor and the Thracian Cheronese.

The Romans overwhelmed him at Thermopylae in 191 BC. The battle of Thermopylae ended the Greek phase of the war between Rome and the Seleucid emperor Antiochus III.

In this war, Antiochus III was defeated in a battle against the consul Marcus Acilius and Cato, a general in that army. He was forced to flee back to Asia and his own territories were then invaded by the Romans, and the battle of Magnesia was finally brought to a close by the two Scipios.

The treaty of Apamea of 188 BC, took place after Roman victories in the battle of Thermopylae (191 BC), in the Battle of Magnesia (190) and after Roman and Rhodian naval victories over the Seleucid navy.

In this treaty Antiochus III had to abandon Europe altogether and all of Asia west of the Taurus. He was allowed to retain only twelves ships of war and required to pay a 15,000 talent indemnity, 500 immediately, 2,500 when the Romans government ratified the agreement, and thereafter 1,000 annually for 12 years.
Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC)

Battle of Magnesia

The Battle of Magnesia, took place sometime at the end of 190 BC or at the beginning of 189 BC, at the confluence of the Phrygian and Hermus rivers on the Hyrcanian plain about 15km east of Magnesia and Lydia and 50 km east-northeast of Aegean city of Smyrna in Asia Minor.

The opposing forces were the army of Antiochus, and Roman army under the Scipios Africanus, Lucius Cornelius and Publius Cornelius.

The Romans were assisted in this battle by Eumenes (who founded the city of Eumenia in Phrygia), the brother of King Attalus.

Born in 241 BC, Antiochus III, surnamed ‘the Great,’ was only a boy when ascended the Seleucid throne in 233 and appears to have experienced some difficulties in maintaining himself in power.

Fifty thousand cavalry of Antiochus were slain in this battle. The Seleucids had continued to employ elephants in battle since acquiring them from the Mauryans, but at the climax of the battle the beasts were stampeded by Roman cavalry and trampled their own troops.

Roman infantry rushed into the gaps, routing the Seleucid army with considering slaughter,

After his defeat at Magnesia, Antiochus made peace with the Romans and withdrew from most of Anatolia, leaving it to the Romans and their allies.

Antiochus was to leaves from Europe and Asia and stay near Mt, Taurus. All the cities of Asia that Antiochus had lost in the war were given to King Eumenes.
Battle of Magnesia