1 Bevan, The House of Seleucus, Vol. II, Appendix Q (p.302), offers the following explanation of the title Autokrator (Αυτοκρατωρ): “... Its meaning is somewhat problematical, as it is used in various connexions – often in the classical writers of ambassadors or generals given full discretion. It cannot but have some reference here to the peculiar circumstances of Tryphon’s elevation. Its distinctive use as a translation of the Latin ‘imperator’ would hardly occur in Syria till later. But it is found in one connexion which seems to throw light on its use here. The Macedonian kings (Philip, Alexander, Antiochus III) who were elected as ‘captains-general’ of the free states of Greece bore in that capacity the title of στρατηγος αυτοκρατωρ (Diod. xvi. 89; Arr. Anab. vii. 9, 5; App. Syr. 12). Tryphon may have intended to assimilate his position to theirs, as having been elected by the free Greco-Macedonian states of Syria.”

2 The royal name Tryphon Autokrator is attested by both silver and bronze coins (see, e.g., SNG Spaer or Houghton, CSE). His orginal name Diodotos is mentioned by several ancient authors (Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 33.4a and 33.28, Livy, Periochae, 52 and 55, Strabo, Geography, 14.5.2 and 16.2.10, Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 13.131-132, Appian, Roman History, 11.68).

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 33.4a: A certain Diodotus, also called Tryphon, who stood high in esteem among the king’s “Friends,” perceiving the excitement of the masses and their hatred for the prince (Demetrios II), revolted from Demetrius, ...

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 33.28: In Syria Diodotus, surnamed Tryphon, having murdered Antiochus (Antiochos VI), the son of Alexander (Alexander I), ...

Livy, Periochae, 52: Because of the cruelty with which Demetrius (Demetrios II) tortured his own people, he was defeated in war and forced to flee to Seleucia (Seleukeia in Pieria) by one Diodotus, one of his subjects and a man who supported the claim to the throne of Alexander’s (Alexander I’s) two year old son (Antiochos VI).

Livy, Periochae, 55: [Antiochus] (Antiochos VI) the son of Alexander (Alexander I), the king of Syria, who was a mere ten years old, was killed by the treachery of his tutor Diodotus, surnamed “the magnificent”.

Strabo, Geography, 14.5.2: The first place is Coracesium, a fortress of the Cilicians, situated upon an abrupt rock. Diodotus surnamed Tryphon used it as a rendezvous at the time that he caused Syria to revolt from her kings, and carried on war against them with various success.

Strabo, Geography, 16.2.10: The power Trypho, surnamed Diodotus, acquired is a proof of the influence of this place (Apamea); for when he aimed at the empire of Syria, he made Apameia the centre of his operations.

Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 13.131-132: Now there was a certain commander of Alexander’s (Alexander I’s) forces, an Apanemian by birth, whose name was Diodotus, and was also called Trypho, ...

Appian, Roman History, 11.68: While the country was without a government Diodotus (Tryphon), a slave of the royal house, placed on the throne a young boy named Alexander (Appian’s confusion of Antiochos VI with Alexander II), a son of Alexander the Bastard (Alexander I) and of Ptolemy’s daughter (Kleopatra Thea, daughter of Ptolemy VI).

3 Tryphon controlled inland Syria (in particular Antioch and Apamea), Phoenicia and Palestine, whereas Demetrios II held Cilicia, the Syrian cities of Seleukeia in Pieria and Laodikeia, and the eastern satrapies.

4 Tryphon reached high position under the rule of Alexander I (Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 33.3 and 33.4a, Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 13.131). Moreover, according to Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 32.27.9c, Tryphon committed misdeeds against Demetrios I. So, he was probably at least about 20 years old in 150 BC when Demetrios I died and Alexander I usurped the Seleukid throne. Thus, he was born not later than about 170 BC.

On the other hand, his coins show him as a man between 25 and 35 years old (see, e.g., SNG Spaer or Houghton, CSE), although his coin portraits can be idealized. His earlier coins bear the regnal date 1 which probably corresponds to 142/1 BC (Houghton, CSE, 816). So, we can estimate that he was born not earlier than about 180 BC.

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 32.27.9c Hierax and Diodotus (Tryphon), despairing of Alexander (Alexander I) and standing in fear of Demetrius (Demetrios II) because of their misdeeds against his father (Demetrios I), aroused the people of Antioch (Antioch on the Orontes) to rebellion, and receiving Ptolemy (Ptolemy VI) within the city, bound a diadem about his head and offered him the kingship.

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 33.3: In Syria King Alexander (Alexander I), whose weakness of character rendered him incompetent to govern a kingdom, had turned over the administration of Antioch (Antioch on the Orontes) to Hierax and Diodotus (Tryphon).

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 33.4a: A certain Diodotus, also called Tryphon, who stood high in esteem among the king’s “Friends,” perceiving the excitement of the masses and their hatred for the prince (Demetrios II), revolted from Demetrius, ...

Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 13.131: Now there was a certain commander of Alexander’s forces, an Apanemian by birth, whose name was Diodotus, and was also called Trypho (Tryphon), ...

5 According to Green, Alexander to Actium, p. 535, this was late in 138 BC. In any case, there are Tryphon’s coins dated year 4 of his regnal era (= 174 SE = October 139/October 138 BC), but no coin of his dated year 5 is known. Tryphon’s dated coins were minted at Ake-Ptolemais, Askalon and Byblos only. His coins dated year 4 are known from all these three mints (Ake-Ptolemais: Houghton, CSE, 800, and SNG Spaer, 1841-1842; Askalon: Houghton, CSE, 817, and SNG Spaer, 1844-1845; Byblos: Houghton, CSE, 702). This indicates that he was driven out of Phoenicia and Palestine before the end of October 138 BC.

6 Strabo, Geography, 14.5.2: The first place is Coracesium, a fortress of the Cilicians, situated upon an abrupt rock. Diodotus surnamed Tryphon used it as a rendezvous at the time that he caused Syria to revolt from her kings, and carried on war against them with various success. Antiochus (Antiochos VII), the son of Demetrius (Demetrios I), obliged him to shut himself up in one of the fortresses, and there he killed himself.

1 Maccabees, 15.10-14, 15.25, 15.37-39: In the one hundred and seventy-fourth year (probably year 174 of the Babylonian Seleukid Era, i.e. 138/7 BC) Antiochus (Antiochos VII) set out and invaded the land of his fathers. All the troops rallied to him, so that there were few with Trypho (Tryphon). Antiochus pursued him, and he came in his flight to Dor, which is by the sea; for he knew that troubles had converged upon him, and his troops had deserted him. So Antiochus encamped against Dor, and with him were a hundred and twenty thousand warriors and eight thousand cavalry. He surrounded the city, and the ships joined battle from the sea; he pressed the city hard from land and sea, and permitted no one to leave or enter it. ... Antiochus the king besieged Dor anew, continually throwing his forces against it and making engines of war; and he shut Trypho up and kept him from going out or in. ... Now Trypho embarked on a ship and escaped to Orthosia. Then the king made Cendebeus commander-in-chief of the coastal country, and gave him troops of infantry and cavalry. He commanded him to encamp against Judea, and commanded him to build up Kedron and fortify its gates, and to make war on the people; but the king pursued Trypho.

Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 13.223-224: As Antiochus (Antiochos VII) was now come to Seleucia (Seleukeia in Pieria), and his forces increased every day, he marched to fight Trypho (Tryphon); and having beaten him in the battle, he ejected him out of the Upper Syria into Phoenicia, and pursued him thither, and besieged him in Dora which was a fortress hard to be taken, whither he had fled. He also sent ambassadors to Simon the Jewish high priest, about a league of friendship and mutual assistance; who readily accepted of the invitation, and sent to Antiochus great sums of money and provisions for those that besieged Dora, and thereby supplied them very plentifully, so that for a little while he was looked upon as one of his most intimate friends; but still Trypho fled from Dora to Apamea, where he was taken during the siege, and put to death, when he had reigned three years.

Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, 1.51: He (Simon) was afterward an auxiliary to Antiochus (Antiochos VII), against Trypho (Tryphon), whom he besieged in Dora, before he went on his expedition against the Medes; ...

Appian, Roman History, 11.68: But Antiochus (Antiochos VII), the brother of the captive Demetrius (Demetrios II), learning in Rhodes of his captivity, came home and, with great difficulty, put Trypho (Tryphon) to death.

Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, 36.1: When he (Tryphon) had enjoyed it for some time, and the liking of the people for his new government began at length to wear off, he was defeated in a battle by Antiochus (Antiochos VII), the brother of Demetrius (Demetrios II), who was then quite a boy, and who had been educated in Asia; and the throne of Syria again returned to the family of Demetrius.

Eusebius, Chronicle, pp. 255-256: The younger brother of Demetrius (Demetrios II), called Antiochus (Antiochos VII), was brought up in the city of Side, from which he was given the name Sidetes. When he heard that Demetrius had been defeated and made a prisoner, he left Side and in the fourth year of the 160th Olympiad (137/6 BC) gained control of Syria, which he ruled for nine years.