Zeuxis (general)

Zeuxis (Greek: Zεῦξις ) was a politician of the Seleucid Empire during the reign of Antiochus the Great. From 213-190 BC, Zeuxis acted as viceroy of Asia Minor.

Life

Zeuxis was a son of the Macedonians Kynagos and part of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire in the upper class. When Antiochus the Great 223 BC ascended to the throne, Molon, the Governor General of Upper satrapies rose against the young king. Chancellor Hermeias convinced Antiochus to send only the generals xenon and Theodotus against Molon, to prepare themselves for the planned conquest Koilesyriens. Zeuxis took 221 BC as an officer on the punitive expedition against Molon part and was in command during a battle on the Tigris over the camp. The two royal generals suffered a heavy defeat, but could Zeuxis at least save part of the army.

In the second campaign against Molon a year later acted Zeuxis as adviser to the king, who himself had taken command this time. Hermias ' war plan was first to march on this side of the Tigris along it and to cross the river until later, but disagreed Zeuxis: First, he held the road this side of the Tigris for too strenuous, as it would have required several days crossing the desert. Second, would a later crossing the river can be possibly prevented by Molon's armed forces. Third, Zeuxis wanted to cut through an early intrusion into the sphere of his opponent this from a possible retreat to media. Zeuxis won against Hermeias and Seleukidenheer crossed the Tigris as early as possible. In the victorious final battle against Molon 220 BC commanded Zeuxis together with Hermeias the left wing of the army.

Zeuxis was from this time on one of the most important friends of the king. Antiochus conquered back 213 BC Asia Minor, which had been in the hands of his uncle Achaeus since 220. Before the king embarked on his eight-year Anabasis to the east, he sat Zeuxis as the new viceroy ( governor-general ) of Asia Minor. This was so held an office which had previously gone with a few exceptions like Molon only to members of the Seleukidendynastie. The relationship of trust between the king and governor was also reflected in their correspondence, in which Antiochus the about ten years older Zeuxis addressed as "Father." Like other Seleucid governor before him resided Zeuxis from now on in Sardis. Because of the difficult communication in the Seleucid kingdom had to take it in the following years relatively independent decisions Zeuxis.

One last time Zeuxis entered during the Roman- Syrian War in appearance. In the decisive battle of Magnesia in 190 BC Zeuxis had command of the right wing of the army. Immediately after the defeat against the Romans Zeuxis was sent as a negotiator on these. He also acted a year later in Rome, the Peace of Apamea from. Asia Minor fell in consequence to the Romans, after which Zeuxis ' function as viceroy after more than twenty years came to an end.