Ariobarzanes I of Media Atropatene

Ariobarzanes I of Media Atropatene, ^[1] also known as Ariobarzanes I of Media, ^[2] Ariobarzanes of Atropatene, ^[3] Ariobarzanes I ^[4] and Ariobarzanes ^[5] (flourished 1st century BC, ruled from 65 BC until 56 BC ^[6] ) was king of Media Atropatene. ^{[7] [8]}

Ariobarzanes I was a monarch of Median and possibly of Armenian, Greek descent. According to modern genealogies, Ariobarzanes I was a son of a previous ruling King Mithridates I and a daughter of the Armenian King Tigranes the Great and his wife, Cleopatra of Pontus, ^{[9] [ failed verification ] [10]} which can explain the claims of Mithridates I’s descendants to the Armenian kingship in opposition to the lasting ruling monarchs of the Artaxiad dynasty. Another possibility in linking Ariobarzanes I as a son born to Mithridates I and his wife is through his name. The name Ariobarzanes is a name of Iranian origin. ^[11] There were Persian satraps who bore this name as did some of the ancestors of Cleopatra, daughter of King Mithridates VI of Pontus and his sister-wife Laodice. ^[12]

Little is known on the life of Ariobarzanes I. Ariobarzanes I appeared to have succeeded Darius I as king of Media Atropatene in 65 BC, ^[13] whom appeared to have a short reign. ^[14] Ariobarzanes I and Darius I were related as they may have been brothers. ^[15] Although Ariobarzanes I ruled from 65 BC til 56 BC, ^[16] his reign in the time-scale would appear to preclude the short reign of Darius I and shows that he came to the throne sometime before 59 BC. ^[17]

Little is known on the reign of Ariobarzanes I. He appeared to have died in 56 BC, as he was succeeded by his son Artavasdes I of Media Atropatene. ^[18] His son from an unnamed wife, was born before 59 BC. ^[19]

In Rome, two Epitaph inscriptions have been found bearing the name of Artavasdes. The Epitaphs are probably of the son and the grandson of a Median Atropatenian king called Ariobarzanes. ^[20] However it is uncertain, if the Ariobarzanes refers to Ariobarzanes I or his grandson Ariobarzanes II. ^[21] Ariobarzanes I is mentioned in paragraph 33 of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti . ^[22]

References

1. Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
2. Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
3. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
4. Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
5. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
6. Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
7. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
8. Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
9. Cassius Dio, 36.14
10. Toumanoff, Manual genealogy and chronology for the Christian Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Albania), p.p.81-82
11. Encyclopaedia Iranica – Ariobarzanes
12. Mayor, The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy p.p.114&138
13. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
14. Settipani on Baldwin on the Commagenian DFA Link Part 2 of 3
15. Settipani on Baldwin on the Commagenian DFA Link Part 2 of 3
16. Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
17. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
18. Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
19. Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
20. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
21. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
22. "Res Gestae Divi Augusti" (PDF). Translated by P.A. Brunt; J.M. Moore.

Sources

• Res Gestae Divi Augusti , 1st century
• C. Toumanoff, Manual genealogy and chronology for the Christian Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Albania), ED. Aquila, Rome, 1976
• A. Mayor, The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy, Princeton University Press, 2009
• Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
• Settipani on Baldwin on the Commagenian DFA Link Part 2 of 3
• Encyclopaedia Iranica – Ariobarzanes
• Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
• Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period