Siege of Eucratideia

The Siege of Eucratideia was a five-month-long siege of the city that occurred in around 169 BC. Demetrius II, a descendant of Euthydemus, besieged the usurper Eucratides although being repelled various times.

Siege of Eucratideia
Datec. 169 BC
Location
Eucratideia
Result

Indecisive

  • Presumed destruction of Eucratideia
  • Eucratides flees into India.
Belligerents
Indo-Greek Kingdom Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Demetrius II Eucratides I
Strength
"60,000" 300

Siege and Aftermath

The year before, Eucratides had usurped the power in Greco-Bactria while one of its rulers, Demetrius II, was conquering parts of northern India. Demetrius then made his way back into Bactria and besieged Eucratides.[1] at the site of Eucratideia. Demetrius had an army supposedly numbering 60,000 troops,[2] although this is unlikely. Eucratides however, against overwhelming odds, managed to repel various times the Indo-Greek forces with a small garrison of 300 men.[3] After the siege had endured five months, he managed to escape into India and subjugated most of the northwestern parts.[4]

References
  1. Philippic Histories. when he was besieged by Demetrius king of the Indians
  2. Philippic Histories. a force of sixty thousand enemies
  3. Philippic Histories. with a garrison of only three hundred soldiers, he repulsed, by continual sallies...
  4. Philippic Histories. Having accordingly escaped, after a five months' siege, he reduced India under his power.

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