SELEUCUS I., surnamed N1CATOIt, the first of this line, was the son of Antiochus, a distinguished officer in the service of Philip of Macedon, and was born about 358 B.C. TIC WUS one of the conspirators against Perdiceas, and in the second partition of the provinces of Alexander the great's kingdom, obtained Babylonia, to which with the aid of Antigonus, he subsequently added Susiana; but a misunderstanding with that power ful chief having arisen, Seleueus took refuge in Egypt (316 B.O. The victory gained by Ptolemy over Antigouus's son, Demetrius, at Gaza having laid open the route to the east, Seieucus returned to his satrapy, amid the joyous congratulations of his subjects (312 B.c.). From Oct. I. of this year (the date of Seleucus's return to Babylon) com mences the era of the Seieucithe. Having next recovered Susiana, he conquered Media, and extended his power to the Oxus and Indus. Of his campaign against Sandrocottus (q.v.), there are few details extant. In 306 B.C. he assumed the regal title; and four years afterward joined the confederacy of Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Cassande•, against the now formidable Autigonus, deciding the battle of Ipsus (301 B.c.) chiefly by hie cavalry and elephants. Being now, after Antigonus's death, the most powerful of Alexander's successors, he obtained the largest share in the conquered kingdom, a great part of Asia. Minor and the whole of Syria falling to him. Toward the close of his reign, war broke out with Demetrius (now his father-in-law), and afterward with Lysim achus, king of Thrace and the other part of Asia Minor, both contests terminating in the defeat and death of his opponents, and being followed by the acquisition of the rest of Asia Minor. Ile was assassinated (280 B.c.) by Ptolemy Ceraunus. Of Seleucus's pet sonal character, little can be gathered from the fragments of his history which remain to us; according to Pausanias, he was the most upright of Alexander's success ors, unstained by those crimes which have foully blotted the characters of the others; but of his constumnate generalship and great political talents we have sufficient proof. He pursued with great zeal the plan of "Hellenizing" the east, by founding numerous Greek and Macedonian colonies in various parts of his dominions; he also built numer ous cities. several of which—as Antioch in Syria, and Seleucia on the Tigris—rose to be among the most populous and wealthy in the world.—After the reigns of ANT1OCHUS I. (q.v.). and Ax•rocuus II. (q.v.), SELEUCUS II. (246-226), surnamed CALLINICUS, obtained the throne; but having, at the instigation of his mother Laodice, murdered his step mother 'Berenice, an Egyptian princess, lie was driven from his kingdom by Ptolemy Euergetes (q.v.). However, he recovered his throne on Ptolemv's withdrawal; and though defeated in a great battle with the Egyptians, lie succeeded in maintaining his hold of Syria and most of Asia Minor against both the Egyptians and his younger brother Antiochus, who exercised independent authority over part of Asia Minor. Antiochus was at a later period wholly defeated in Mesopotamia, and soon after mur dered by robbers. Seleucus undertook agreat expedition against the revolted provinces of Parthia and Bactria, but was totally routed by Arsaces I., king of Parthia; while, on the n.w., several provinces were wrested from•him by Attalus, the king of Pert,tamus.— Ins sons, SELEUCUS III. (226-223), surnamed CERATTNUS, and ANTIOCHUS DI. (q.v.), " time great," were his successors, the latter being the first of the dynasty who came into collision with the Romans.—SELEuces IV. (187-175), surnamed PRILOPATOR, was eager to dispossess the king of Pergamus of the provinces whickhe had taken from the Syrian monarchy, but fear of the Romans prevented him from carrying out his design.—
ANTIOCHUS IV. (q.v.), EPIPHANES (I.) (" the illustrious"), conquered Ccele-Syria and Palestine from the Egyptians, to whom they had been given by his father, but retired from Egypt at the bidding of the Romans. He practiced time most atrocious cruelties on the Jews, whose religion he endeavored to root out, and introduce the Greek religion; but the heroic resistance of the Maccabees (q.v.) completely foiled his project. He died in a state of raving madness, which was attributed to his sacrilegious Crimes by his sub jects, who, in derision. converted his surname into (" the madman").—The succeeding names of the dynasty were ANTiocuus V., EUPA10IC (164-16%); DEmETturs 1., SOTER (162-150), who regained Babylon, lost Judea, and was defeated and slain by the impostor Alexander Balas (150 -146); DEMETRIUS II., NICATOR (146-138. 128-125), who overthrew the impostor, and was himself taken prisoner by the Parthians, having been already seized by Dior:Ion:Ts, surnamed TRYPITON, who set up the puppet ANTIOCH US VI., TUEOS (144-142). and afterward ascended the thrcnc himself (142-187); 1,NT1OCHUS VII., SIDETES (137-128), who restored the royal line of the Scleueidae; J .NT OCI1 US VIII.. Ginvnus (125-96), who was compelled to share his dominions with his half-brother, ANTICCIIUS IX., CYZICENTJS (111f-95); SELEtCUS V. or VI., ETIPTIANES (95-9-1), and ANTIOCtIUS X., EUSEBES (95-83), who continued the division till P4 st.c., when the latter was victorious in a pitched battle and seized the whole kinrdom; for which, however, he was forced to tight with Philip, and ANTIOCRUS XI., EPIPUANES All.). the younger brother of Selencus; and DEMETRIUS III.. EUCJEDUS (94-88). a third brother of Selencus, who, with Philip, next claimed the sovereignty, which was taken from them by Tigranes (83-69), king of Armenia, at the solicitation of the Syrians: ANTI BUHL'S XII., DIONYSUS, a fourth brother of Selencus, and ANTIOCUUS .Ill. (CO-CS), ASIATICUS. The short-lived prosperity of this dynasty, for it had begun to decline dur ing the reign of SELEUCUS II., 80 years after its foundation, is principally owing to the fatal principle on which it was founded—viz., that of establishing a Gratco-Macedonian pow2r in a foreign country, instead of conciliating the attachment of the native popula tions, and governing them more in accordance with the eastern method; the conse quences were the successive revolts of the natives, the foundation of the independent mid hostile kingdoms of Bactria, Parthia, Armenia, Judea, and the ultimate conver sion of the small remnant into a Roman province by Cneius Pompeins, 65 n.c.
in law, defense of one's person or property from injury. A person upon whom violence is inflicted may defend himself by so nitwit counter-violence as is necessary for his protection and no more. If assaulted by blows, he may defend -himself by blows. A man may defend himself, even to the extent of committing homicide, to pre vent any violent crime, whose perpetration w ould constitute a felony lie may return force with force in defense of or property against an attempt at forcible felony; and he need not retreat, but may even 'follow his assailant. Where there is no threatened or intended felony, a man may defend himself in a mutual fight caused by a sudden quarrel, or where without a mutual fight the assailant attempts or commits an assault:Ind Lattcry ; and the assailed person, where an attempt to strike him is made and his assailant is near enough to be able to strike him, need not wait to be.struck first.