Diodotus Tryphon
Diodotus Tryphon was king of the
Seleucid kingdom of Syria. As a general of the army, he promoted the claims of the infant son of
Alexander Balas, but then in
142 deposed and killed the child and himself seized power in
Palestine where
Demetrius II was unpopular for his oppressive treatment of the Jews. However, internal strife led in 143 to the establishment of
Hasmonean rule, and in 138 Diodotus was attacked and defeated in Antioch by
Antiochus VII of Side. Diodotus committed suicide.