
Heliocles I (Ancient Greek:Ἡλιοκλῆς,romanized: Hēlioklês, meaning "glory ofHelios"; reigned c. 145–120 BC) was aGreco-Bactrian king, a son and successor ofEucratides the Great,[citation needed] and considered the last Greek king to reign over theBactrian country. His reign was a troubled one; according to Roman historianJustin, Eucratides was murdered crossing theHindu Kush by one of his sons, although this is highly disputed and Justin fails to name the perpetrator. Eucratides’ death led to instability, even civil war, which caused the Indian parts of the empire to be lost to Indo-Greek kingMenander I and southernBactria to be lost to theYuezhi.
From 130 BC anomadic people, theYuezhi, started to invadeBactria from the north and we could assume that Heliocles was likely killed in battle during this invasion. Details from Chinese sources seem to indicate that the nomad invasion did not end civilisation in Bactria entirely. Hellenised cities continued to exist for some time, and the well-organised agricultural systems were not demolished.
The Yuezhi would copy and adapt the coin types of Heliocles I for a long time after the latter's death.
Heliocles I used the Greek epithetDikaios ("the Just") on his coins. There is evidence that Heliocles I ruled around the same time asEucratides II, as a silver coin has been discovered showing both rulers sharing the coin in a joint issue.
| Preceded by | Greco-Bactrian King (in EasternBactria) 145 – 130 BCE | Succeeded by |