Editing Demetrius II Nicator (section)

====Antiochene riots====
[[Image:Coin of Demetrius II Nicator, Ptolemais in Phoenicia mint.jpg|thumb|290px|Coin of Demetrius II. The reverse shows [[Zeus]] bearing [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]]. The [[Greek language|Greek]] inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΝΙΚΑΤΟΡΟΣ, i.e. "of God King Demetrius, the Victor ". The date ΔΠΡ is year 184 of the [[Seleucid dynasty|Seleucid era]], corresponding to 129–128 BC.]]
However, new troubles soon arose. Once he had expelled the Egyptian forces, he demobilised a large portion of his army.<ref>I Maccabees 11.38; Josephus ''AJ'' 13.129.</ref> It appears that his financial situation led him to cut the soldiers' wages and debase the coinage.{{sfn|Chrubasik|2016|loc=p. 135 n. 45}} Demetrius had also punished the city of Antioch severely for having supported Alexander against his father and for speaking to him disrespectfully. He disarmed the citizens and the Cretan mercenaries under Lasthenes slaughtered those who resisted, including women and children. This led the Antiochenes to rise up and besiege Demetrius in his palace. Jewish troops violently restored Demetrius' control, burning down a large portion of the city in the process. This left the city even more hostile to him.<ref>Diodorus ''Bibliotheca'' 33.4.2–3; I Maccabees 11.45–50; Josephus ''AJ'' 13.137–41</ref>{{sfn|Chrubasik|2016|pp=135–136}}