Second Siege of Babylon (310 BC)

The Second Siege of Babylon (310 BC) was a military conflict between Seleucus I Nicator, founder of the Seleucid Empire, and Antigonus I Monophthalmus, one of the Diadochi (successors) of Alexander the Great, over control of Babylon. This siege was part of the larger Wars of the Diadochi that erupted following Alexander's death in 323 BC.

Having already weathered a previous siege and held Babylon, Seleucus was forced to abandon the city in 312 BC after Antigonus' forces drove him out. He retreated eastwards to consolidate his power and gather support, building up an army to reclaim his territories.

In 310 BC, Seleucus returned to Babylonia to challenge Antigonus’s control. Antigonus had left a garrison in Babylon, commanded by his general Diphilus. Seleucus laid siege to the city, likely employing standard siege warfare tactics of the time, including building siege ramps, using siege engines (such as catapults and battering rams), and blockading the city to cut off supplies.

Details about the exact course of the siege are limited due to fragmented historical sources. However, after a period of siege, Seleucus's forces were successful in breaching the city's defenses and capturing Babylon. Diphilus was likely killed or captured, and the Antigonid garrison was defeated.

The successful recapture of Babylon by Seleucus in 310 BC was a significant turning point in the Wars of the Diadochi. It marked a key victory for Seleucus and solidified his control over Babylonia, which would become the heartland of the Seleucid Empire. While further conflicts with Antigonus would occur, the Second Siege of Babylon established Seleucus as a major power in the region and allowed him to expand his empire eastward. The event is documented primarily through the writings of ancient historians such as Diodorus Siculus and accounts compiled later by others.