Antiochus Moves from Bactria Through Interior Asia
Antiochus in Bactria. See 10, 48, 49
Euthydemus was himself a Magnesian, and he answered the envoy by saying that "Antiochus
The answer of Euthydemus (a Magnesian), king of Bactria, to Teleas, the envoy of Antiochus. |
was acting unjustly in trying to expel him from
his kingdom. He was not himself a revolted
subject, but had destroyed the descendant of
some who had been such, and so had obtained
the kingdom of Bactria." After adding more
arguments to the same effect, he urged Teleas to act as a
sincere mediator of peace, by urging Antiochus not to grudge
him the royal title and dignity, "for if he did not yield to
this demand, neither of them would be safe: seeing that great
hords of Nomads were close at hand, who were a danger to
both; and that if they admitted them into the country, it
would certainly be utterly barbarised." With these words
he sent Teleas back to Antiochus. The king had long been
looking about for some means of ending the controversy; and
when he was informed by Teleas of what Euthydemus had
said, he readily admitted these pleas for a pacification. And
after several journeys of Teleas to and fro between the two,
Euthydemus at last sent his son Demetrius to confirm the
terms of the treaty. Antiochus received the young prince; and
judging from his appearance, conversation, and the dignity of
his manners that he was worthy of royal power, he first promised to give him one of his own daughters, and secondly
conceded the royal title to his father. And having on the other
points caused a written treaty to be drawn up, and the terms
of the treaty to be confirmed on oath, he marched away; after
liberally provisioning his troops, and accepting the elephants
belonging to Euthydemus.
Antiochus continues his march into the interior of Asia. |
He crossed the
Caucasus1 and descended into India; renewed
his friendship with Sophagasenus the king of
the Indians; received more elephants, until he
had a hundred and fifty altogether; and having once more
provisioned his troops, set out again personally with his army:
leaving Androsthenes of Cyzicus the duty of taking home the
treasure which this king had agreed to hand over to him.
Having traversed Arachosia and crossed the river Enymanthus,
he came through Drangene to Carmania; and, as it was now
winter, he put his men into winter quarters there.
This was
the extreme limit of the march of Antiochus into the interior:
in which he not only reduced the up-country Satraps to
obedience to his authority, but also the coast
cities, and the princes on this side Taurus; and,
in a word, consolidated his kingdom by overawing all his subjects with the exhibition of his boldness and
energy. For this campaign convinced the Europeans as well
as the Asiatics that he was worthy of royal power. . . .