Diodotus I

Diodotus I
Basileus
Gold coin of Diodotus c. 245 BC. The reverse legend reads: "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΙΟΔΟΤΟΥ" – "(of) King Diodotos". Cabinet des Medailles, Paris.
King of Bactria
Reign	c. 255 – c. 235 BCE
Predecessor	Position Established
Successor	Diodotus II
Born	c. 300 BC
Died	c. 235 BC Bactria
Issue	Diodotus II
Dynasty	Diodotid

Diodotus I Soter (Greek: Διόδοτος Σωτήρ, Diódotos Sōtḗr; c. 300 BCE – c. 235 BCE) was the first Hellenistic king of Bactria. Diodotus was initially satrap of Bactria, but became independent of the Seleucid empire around 255 BCE, establishing the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. In about 250 BCE, Diodotus repelled a Parthian invasion of Bactria by Arsaces. He minted an extensive coinage and administered a powerful and prosperous new kingdom. He died around 235 BCE and was succeeded by his son Diodotus II.^[1][2]

His rule was recounted by Apollodorus of Artemita in the Parthian History, but this text is lost, and surviving literary sources only mention him in passing.^[3] Thus, most details of Diodotus' life have to be reconstructed from numismatics and brief references by Justin.^[4] and other historians.