Alexander I Balas

ALESSANDRO I, BALA. — King of Syria (150–145 B.C.), whose history is narrated in I Mach. 10:1–11:17. He was said to be the son of Antioco IV, but was probably no more than an impostor from Smyrna. Opposed to Demetrio I Sotere (162–150 B.C.) by the coalition led by the king of Pergamum, he was recognized by the Romans as king under the name of A. and soon began the conquest of the kingdom. A. and his rival Demetrio competed in seeking to win over Gionata Maccabeo, who governed Judea. The latter declared himself in favor of A., who had appointed him high priest and offered him a golden crown, and he succeeded in routing Demetrio. To consolidate his throne, A. married Cleopatra Tea, daughter of Tolomeo VI Filometore, king of Egypt. Gionata attended the wedding ceremony, where he was received with the greatest honors. When A. abandoned the government to his ministers in order to devote himself to pleasures, Demetrio Nicanore, son of Demetrio I, took advantage of popular discontent and landed in Syria, but was defeated by Gionata. Tolomeo VI dealt the final blow to his son-in-law by occupying his kingdom and allying himself with Demetrio, to whom he gave A.’s wife. Forced to flee to Arabia, A. was betrayed by the emir who had given him refuge, and the latter sent his head to the dying Tolomeo. The Jews remained faithful to A.’s memory and supported his son Antioco VI.