Seleucus II Callinicus (ca. 265–225 bc). Oldest son of Antiochus II and Laodice; successor of Antiochus II to the Seleucid throne (246–225 bc).

Seleucus II was the disputed successor of his father’s throne. His mother, Laodice, was the first wife of Antiochus II, but he divorced and exiled her with her son as part of peace negotiations with Ptolemy II after the Second Syrian War (260–255 bc). Antiochus married Ptolemy’s daughter, Berenice, and their son was to be Antiochus’ heir instead of Seleucus II.

When Antiochus died, exiled Laodice declared Seleucus II king and had Berenice and Berenice’s son killed. These events launched the Third Syrian War (the Laodicean War; 246–241 bc; see Dan 11:7–9), which Seleucus II lost, forfeiting territory in Asia Minor. Before his death, caused by falling off a horse, Seleucus regained his control of Northern Syria.