[[Image:AlexanderI.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Silver coin of Alexander I "Balas". The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΧΑΝΔΡΟΥ (king Alexander). The date ΓΞΡ is year 163 of the [[Seleucid dynasty|Seleucid era]], corresponding to [[150 BC|150]]–[[149 BC]].]]
[[Image:AlexanderIBalasAndCleopatraThea.jpg|thumb|Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea.]]
'''Alexander Balas''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''{{Polytonic|Ἀλέξανδρoς Bάλας}}'''), ruler of the [[Greece|Greek]] [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid kingdom]] [[150 BC|150]]-[[146 BC]], was a native of [[İzmir|Smyrna]] of humble origin, but gave himself out to be the son of [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]] and heir to the Seleucid throne. Along with his sister Laodice, the youngster Alexander was "discovered" by Heracleides, a former minister of Antiochus IV and brother of [[Timarchus]], a usurper in [[Medes|Media]] who had been executed by the reigning king [[Demetrius I of Syria|Demetrius I Soter]].

Alexander's claims were recognized by the [[Roman Senate]], [[Ptolemy VI of Egypt|Ptolemy Philometor of Egypt]] and others. He married [[Cleopatra Thea]], a daughter of the [[Ptolemaic dynasty]]. At first unsuccessful, Alexander finally defeated Demetrius Soter in [[150 BC]]. Being now master of the empire, he is said to have abandoned himself to a life of debauchery. Whatever the truth behind this, the young king was forced to depend heavily on his Ptolemaic support and even struck portraits with the characteristic features of king [[Ptolemy I]].

Demetrius Soter's son [[Demetrius II of Syria|Demetrius II]] profited by the opportunity to regain the throne. Ptolemy Philometor, who was Alexander's father-in-law, went over to his side, and Alexander was defeated in the [[battle of Antioch (145 BC)]] in Syria, sometimes known as the battle of the Oenoparus.

He fled for refuge to a [[Nabataea]]n prince, who murdered him and sent his head to Ptolemy Philometor, who had been mortally wounded in the engagement.

See [[1 Maccabees]] 10 ff.; [[Junianus Justinus|Justin]] xxxv. 1 and 2; [[Josephus]],
''Antiq.'' xiii. 2; [[Appian]], ''Sir.'' 67; [[Polybius]] xxxiii. 14.

==References==
*{{1911}}

==External links==

*[http://virtualreligion.net/iho/a_balas.html Alexander Balas], article in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid dynasty]]||Unknown||146 BC}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Demetrius I Soter]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid King]]|years=150–146 BC}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Demetrius II Nicator]] or [[Antiochus VI Dionysus]]}}
{{end}}
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{{Hellenistic rulers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander 1}}
[[Category:146 BC deaths]]
[[Category:Seleucid rulers]]
[[Category:Ptolemaic dynasty]]

[[ca:Alexandre I Balas]]
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[[el:Αλέξανδρος Α' Βάλας]]
[[es:Alejandro Balas]]
[[fr:Alexandre Ier Balas]]
[[ko:알렉산더 발라스]]
[[it:Alessandro I Bala]]
[[he:אלכסנדר באלאס]]
[[nl:Alexander Balas]]
[[no:Aleksander I Balas]]
[[pl:Aleksander I Balas]]
[[pt:Alexandre Balas]]
[[ru:Александр I Валас]]
[[fi:Aleksanteri Balas]]
[[sv:Alexander Epifanes]]