263) a fourth power in the various political movements and combinations of the Graeco-Oriental world.
Of the four powers thus established, the most important, and that with which we are here especially concerned, was the kingdom of Syria (as it was called), or that ruled for 247 years by the Seleucidae.

Seleucus Nicator, the founder of this kingdom, was one of Alexander's officers, but served without much distinction through the various compaigns by which the conquest of the East was effected.

At the first distribution of provinces (B.C.

323) among Alexander's generals after his death, he received no share; and it was not until B.C.320, when upon the death of Perdiccas a fresh distribution was made at Triparadisus, that his merits were recognized, and he was given the satrapy of Babylon.

In this position he acquired a character for mildness and liberality, and made himself generally beloved, both by his soldiers and by those who were under his government.