After Alexander’s death Seleucus-I (c.77; r.305-281 BC) obtained the satrapy of Babylonia in 321 BC. In 316 BC he was dislodged by Antigonus-I (c.81; r.306-301 BC) and fled to Ptolemy-I (c.84; r.305-c.283 BC) in Egypt. Ptolemy’s victory over Antigonus’ son Demetrius-I Poliorcetes (54; r.294-288 BC; d.283 BC) at Gaza in 312 BC enabled Seleucus to return to Babylon and recover his satrapy. In c.305 BC Seleucus went to India but failed in a campaign against Chandragupta Maurya (c.42; r.c.320-298 BC) and had to concede a vast amount of territory west of the Indus. Following the death of Antigonus at the Battle of Issus in 301 BC Seleucus was given northern Syria and Ptolemy occupied the south. After his defeat of Lysimachus (79; r.305-281 BC) at the Battle of Corupedium in 281 BC Seleucus had an empire stretching from the western coast of Asia Minor to Bactria.
But the constant rivalry with the Ptolemies impeded the Seleucids’ ability to maintain control over their satrapies. During the reign of Antiochus II (40; r.261-246 BC) two Seleucid eastern satraps: Diodotus-I of Bactria (c.46; r.255-239 BC), who founded the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom (255-130 BC), and Andragoras of Parthia (r.247-238 BC); rebelled and declared their independence.
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