He was now near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a>, the city at the crossing of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Euphrates&groupId=138&placeId=377">Euphrates</a>, and there he was joined by Diognetus, the admiral from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cappadocia&groupId=435&placeId=343">Cappadocia</a> Pontica, bringing Laodice, the daughter of Mithridates, a virgin, the affianced bride of the king.
Mithridates claimed to be a descendant of one of those seven Persians who had killed the Magus, and he had preserved in his family the kingdom on the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> originally granted to them by Darius.
Antiochus received the maiden on her approach with all due pomp and at once celebrated his nuptials with right royal magnificence.
After the wedding was over he went down to Antioch, where he proclaimed Laodice queen and henceforth busied himself with preparations for the war.
Meanwhile Molon, having worked upon the troops in his own satrapy till they were ready for anything, by the hopes of booty he held out and the fear which he instilled into their officers by producing forged letters from the king couched in threatening terms,
having also a ready coadjutor in his brother Alexander, and having secured the support of the neighbouring satrapies by gaining the favour of their governors with bribes, marched out with a large army against the king's generals.
Xenon and Theodotus, terror-struck by his approach, withdrew into the towns,
and Molon making himself master of the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apollonia&groupId=1066&placeId=1873">Apollonia</a> was now abundantly furnished with supplies. Even previously he had been a formidable antagonist owing to the importance of the province over which he ruled.
Walbank Commentary