Demetrius I of Bactria

Demetrius I Of Bactria

Demetrius I (Greek: ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ, Persian: ‎/Pashto: دیمتریوس بلخی‎) was a Buddhist Greco-Bactrian king (reigned c. 200–180 BC). He was the son of Euthydemus and succeeded him around 200 BC, after which he conquered extensive areas in what now is eastern Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan thus creating an Indo-Greek kingdom far from Hellenistic Greece. He was never defeated in battle and was posthumously qualified as the Invincible (Aniketos) on the pedigree coins of his successor Agathocles.

"Demetrius" was the name of at least two, probably three Greek kings of Bactria (known as "ولایت بلخی" or Balkh Province in Afghanistan) and India. The much debated Demetrius II was a possible relative, whereas Demetrios III (c. 100 BC), is known only from numismatic evidence.