Demetrius I of Bactria
Demetrius I Anicetus (Ancient Greek: Δημήτριος Ἀνίκητος, romanized: Dēmētrios Anikētos, "the unconquered"), also called Damaytra was a Greco-Bactrian and later Indo-Greek king (Yona in Pali language, "Yavana" in Sanskrit) (reigned c. 200–167 BC), who ruled areas from Bactria to ancient northwestern India. He was the son of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom's ruler Euthydemus I and succeeded him around 200 BC, after which he conquered extensive areas in what is now southern Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan and India.
| Demetrius I | |
|---|---|
| King of Kings, Basileus | |
| King of Bactria | |
| Reign | c. 200 – c. 180 BC |
| Predecessor | Euthydemus I |
| Successor | Euthydemus II |
| Indo-Greek king | |
| Reign | c. 200-180 BC |
| Predecessor | Position Established |
| Successor | Pantaleon |
| Born | c. 222 BC Bactria |
| Died | c. 167 BC India |
| Spouse | Daughter of Antiochus III |
| Issue |
|
| Dynasty | Euthydemid |
| Father | Euthydemus I |
| Religion | Hellenistic religion |
He was never defeated in battle and was posthumously referred to as "the Unconquered" (Aniketos) on the pedigree coins of his successor Agathocles. Demetrius I may have been the initiator of the Yavana era, starting in 186–185 BC, which was used for several centuries thereafter.
"Demetrius" was the name of at least two and probably three Bactrian kings. The much debated Demetrius II was a possible relative, whereas Demetrius III (c. 100 BC), is known only from numismatic evidence.