Overview of All Kings of Bactria

This page offers a chronological list of the Greco-Bactrian kings (c. 250–125 BCE), covering the break from Seleucid authority and the formation of a powerful Hellenistic state in Bactria. For each ruler, it records the reign dates alongside brief context on expansion into Sogdiana, urban foundations, coinage and titulature, and shifting alliances that defined the kingdom’s political and cultural influence along the Central Asian routes.

Title	Date	Excerpt
Diodotus I Soter: Founder of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and Its Historical Impact	255 - 239 BC	Diodotus I Soter established the Greco-Bactrian kingdom in the Oxus valley during the 3rd century BCE, creating a self-governing Hellenistic state that blended Greek and local elements and influenced Central and South Asian history.
Diodotus II Theos: Ruler of the Graeco-Bactrian Kingdom and His Historical Impact	239 - 223 BC	Diodotus II Theos governed the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom in the mid third century BC, overseeing key shifts in foreign policy and monetary systems that influenced Central Asian politics and economy during a period of emerging Parthian power and internal conflict.
Euthydemus I: Founder of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and Its Historical Impact	230 - 200 BC	Euthydemus I established and stabilized the Greco-Bactrian kingdom in Central Asia during the late third and early second centuries BC, promoting military resilience, diplomatic recognition, and economic development through coinage and fortifications.
Demetrius I of Bactria: Hellenistic Expansion into South Asia on AncientWorlds.com	200 - 180 BC	Demetrius I of Bactria was a Hellenistic king who expanded Greek influence from Central Asia into northwestern India in the early second century BCE, establishing the Indo-Greek realm and fostering cultural and political exchanges that shaped the region's history.
Pantaleon: Indo-Greek King and Numismatic Pioneer	200 - 180 BC	Pantaleon ruled parts of Bactria and northwestern India in the early second century BC, known for issuing the earliest bilingual Indian-standard coins by a Greek ruler and reflecting cultural exchanges in the region.
Agathocles of Bactria: Indo-Greek King and Cultural Mediator	190 - 180 BC	Agathocles of Bactria was an Indo-Greek ruler whose coinage reveals his role in blending Greek and South Asian cultures, advancing numismatic innovation, and aiding the decipherment of ancient Indian scripts.
Euthydemus II: Greco-Bactrian King in the Euthydemid Dynasty	185 - 180 BC	Euthydemus II ruled Bactria in the 180s BCE, known for his youthful royal portraiture and numismatic contributions during a brief reign marked by cultural exchanges with the Han dynasty.
Antimachus I Theos: Greco-Bactrian King and His Historical Legacy	180 - 170 BC	Antimachus I Theos ruled parts of Bactria and neighboring regions around 185–170 BC, known through his coinage and administrative documents that reveal aspects of Hellenistic governance and royal ideology.
Demetrius II: Indo-Greek Ruler and Numismatic Legacy on Historical and Archaeological Insights	175 - 160 BC	Demetrius II was an Indo-Greek ruler of the 2nd century BC known primarily through his silver coinage, with debates surrounding the dates and extent of his reign and his relation to other rulers of the period.
Eucratides I: The Greco-Bactrian King Shaping Hellenistic Central Asia	171 - 145 BC	Eucratides I ruled the Greco-Bactrian kingdom in the late second century BC, expanding Greek influence into northwestern India and issuing widely circulated coinage that reflects the cultural and economic dynamics of his diverse realm.
Plato Epiphanes: Greco-Bactrian King and Numismatic Figure	145 - 140 BC	Plato Epiphanes was a mid-2nd century BCE Greco-Bactrian ruler known primarily through his coinage, which provides key insights into his reign and dynastic connections within the Eucratid dynasty.
Eucratides II: Greco-Bactrian King and Dynastic Struggles	145 - 140 BC	Eucratides II ruled the Greco-Bactrian kingdom in the 2nd century BC during a turbulent period marked by internal conflict and external pressures, which contributed to the kingdom's decline.
Heliocles I: The Last Greco-Bactrian King and His Legacy	140 - 130 BC	Heliocles I ruled Bactria in the mid-2nd century BC during a period of dynastic turmoil and external invasions, marking the end of Greek dominance in the region while leaving a lasting numismatic influence.