Diodotus I (c.290-230 BC) was the first ruler of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, a Hellenistic realm situated largely in modern day Afghanistan. Little evidence survives about his story, but the combination of coinage and ancient literary material have provided us some vital clues.
Diodotus was originally instated as the Seleucid satrap of Bactria during the reign of Antiochus I. For a time he proved a loyal subordinate, encouraging further Hellenisation in the region through the creation of Greek-style cities (such as the famous Ai-Khanoum) and through the settling of Hellenic colonists.
Diodotus remained loyal during the reign of Antiochus I, but things changed after the king's death in 261 BC.
In c.250 BC, as the Seleucid Empire was faced with ever growing instability, Diodotus started to assert his satrapy's growing independence. Though his coinage still retained the name of the Seleucid dynast, Diodotus started to place his own image on one side of the currency.
Not long after, he won a decisive victory against the nomadic rebel Arsaces I, chasing the marauder away from Bactria's borders. The victory proved a great success for Diodotus and he was sure to have it celebrated far and wide across the region, placing a victory wreath on his coinage portraits.
Diodotus bathed in the afterglow of defeating Arsaces for the rest of his reign. He established a strong frontier system across Bactria's borders and his Greco-Bactrian thrived as a result.
It was only after his death that Diodotus' namesake son and successor took the final step, placing the name 'DIODOTOS' on the kingdom's coinage and completing the wishes of his father to forge his own Hellenistic dynasty.
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