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 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 at the site of Eucratideia. Demetrius had an army supposedly numbering 60,000 troops, 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. After the siege had endured five months, he managed to escape into India and subjugated most of the northwestern parts.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eucratideia, Siege of Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Military history of Afghanistan 169 BC 160s BC conflicts

Eucratideia Eucratideia ( el, Εὐκρατίδεια) was an ancient town in Bactria mentioned by a few ancient writers. It was most likely a foundation of Eucratides I who is the more important ruler of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom with the name Eucratides. ...