Mithridatic dynasty | |
---|---|
Parent house | Pharnacid dynasty (?) |
Country | Kingdom of Pontus Bosporan Kingdom |
Founded | 281 BC |
Founder | Mithridates I Ktistes |
Current head | Extinct |
Final ruler | Pharnaces II of Pontus |
Titles | |
Dissolution | 47 BC 37 BC last ruler (Arsaces of Pontus, Roman-appointed) Rhescuporis VI |
The Mithridatic dynasty, also known as the Pontic dynasty, was a hereditary dynasty of Persian origin, [1] [2] [3] [4] founded by Mithridates I Ktistes (Mithridates III of Cius) in 281 BC. [3] The origins of the dynasty were located in the highest circles of the ruling Persian nobility in Cius. [3] Mithridates III of Cius fled to Paphlagonia after the murder of his father and his predecessor Mithridates II of Cius, eventually proclaiming the Kingdom of Pontus, and adopting the epithet of "Ktistes" (literally, Builder). [5] [6] The dynasty reached its greatest extent under the rule of Mithridates VI, who is considered the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus. [7]
They were prominent enemies of the Roman Republic during the Mithridatic Wars during the reign of Mithridates VI until the late 60s BC. [3] In 48 BC, the Roman client king of the Crimea, Pharnaces II, attempted to press his claim on Pontus, but was decisively defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Zela. [8]
The Mithridatids reached their greatest extent under the rule of Mithridates VI, who conquered the neighboring territories of Colchis and Trapezos, as well as succeeding in becoming ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom after the death of Paerisades V.
This however, did not last long. His son and successor was ousted from rule of the Pontic Kingdom after his defeat at Zela, leaving only the Bosporan Kingdom under direct Mithridatid control, who nonetheless also was ousted from power by the general Asander.
The dynasty, through Dynamis, the daughter of Mithridates VI, and her offspring, would continue to rule the Bosporan Kingdom until 342 AD. The Bosporan Kingdom would remain the longest lasting client-state of the Roman Empire. Their descendants include:
King | Reign (BC) | Consort(s) | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Mithridates I Ctistes | 281–266 BC | Ctistes meaning Builder | |
Ariobarzanes | 266–250 BC | son of Mithridates I | |
Mithridates II | c.250 – c.210 BC | Laodice | Son of Ariobarzanes |
Mithridates III | c.210 – c.190 BC | Laodice | Laodice may have been the daughter of Antiochus IV |
Pharnaces I | c.190 – c. 155 BC | Nysa | Eldest son of Mithridates III |
Mithridates IV Philopator Philadelphus | 155–150 BC | Laodice | Laodice was his sister-wife. |
Mithridates V Euergetes | 150-120 BC | Laodice VI | |
Mithridates Chrestus | 120-116 BC | None | Jointly Succeeded with brother Mithridates VI, who was forced into hiding. When brother came out Chrestus lost throne. |
Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysus | 120–63 BC | Multiple | Led Mithridatic Wars against Rome. |
Pharnaces II | 63–47 BC | Last direct ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus | |
Mithridates I Ctistes king of Pontus 281-266 BC MITHRIDATIDS | Antiochus I Soter | Achaeus I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ariobarzanes king of Pontus 266-c.250 BC | Antiochus II Theos | Andromachus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mithridates II king of Pontus c.250-c.210 BC | Laodice | Seleucus II Callinicus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mithridates III king of Pontus c.210-c.190 BC | Laodice III | Antiochus III the Great | Laodice | Achaeus II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Antiochus | Antiochus IV Epiphanes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mithridates IV king of Pontus c.155-c.150 BC | Laodice | Pharnakes I king of Pontus c.190-c.155 BC | Nyssa of Seleucids | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ariarathes V king of Cappadocia | Nyssa of Mithridatids | Mithridates V Euergetes king of Cappadocia c.150-120 BC | Laodice VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ariarathes VI king of Cappadocia | Laodice of Cappadocia | 1.Laodice | Mithridates VI of Pontus the Great king of Pontus .120-63 BC | 2.Monime 3.Berenice of Chios 4.Stratonice of Pontus 6.Hypsicratea | Mithridates Chrestus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Mithridates ruler of Colchis | (1) Arcathias general | (1) Machares king of Cimmerian Bospsrus | (1) Pharnaces II king of Pontus 63-47 BC | (1) Cleopatra ∞ Tigranes II of Armenia | (1) Drypetina | (2) Athenais Philostorgos II ∞ Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia | (4) Xiphares prince | (5) Mithrithates I king of Cimmerian Bosporus | (illeg.) Adobogiona the Younger ∞ Castor of Galatia | (illeg.) Ariarathes IX king of Cappadocia | (illeg.) Orsabaris ∞ 1.Socrates Chrestus 2.Lycomedes of Comana | (illeg.) daughter ∞ Archelaus general | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Darius king of Pontus | Arsaces prince | Gepaepyris | 1.Asander Philicaesar Philoromaios king of Cimmerian Bosporus 47-17 AD | Dynamis queen of C. Bosporus 16-8 BC ∞ Scribonius king of C. Bosporus 17-16 BC | 3.Polemon I Pythodoros king of Pontus 16-8 BC | Pythodoris queen of Pontus 8 BC-38 AD | Archelaus king of Cappadocia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. J. Mithridates king of Cimmerian Bosporus 38 AD-45 | T. J. Cotys I king of Cimmerian Bosporus 45 AD-63 | T. J. Aspurgus king of Cimmerian Bospsorus 8 BC-38 AD | Polemon II king of Pontus 38 AD-74 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The independent Pontic dynasty originated in the highest circles of the ruling Persian nobility in Cius.
Nicomedes IV Philopator was the king of Bithynia from c. 94 BC to 74 BC. He was the first son and successor of Nicomedes III of Bithynia.
Pontus or Pontos is a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in the modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region and its mountainous hinterland by the Greeks who colonized the area in the Archaic period and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Εύξεινος Πόντος (Eúxinos Póntos), "Hospitable Sea", or simply Pontos as early as the Aeschylean Persians and Herodotus' Histories.
The Bosporan Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus, was an ancient Greco-Scythian state located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the Cimmerian Bosporus, centered in the present-day Strait of Kerch. It was the first truly 'Hellenistic' state, in the sense that a mixed population adopted the Greek language and civilization, under aristocratic consolidated leadership. Under the Spartocid dynasty, the aristocracy of the kingdom adopted a double nature of presenting themselves as archons to Greek subjects and as kings to barbarians, which some historians consider unique in ancient history. The Bosporan Kingdom became the longest surviving Roman client kingdom. The 1st and 2nd centuries AD saw a period of a new golden age of the Bosporan state. It was briefly incorporated as part of the Roman province of Moesia Inferior from AD 63 to 68 under Emperor Nero, before being restored as a Roman client kingdom. At the end of the 2nd century AD, King Sauromates II inflicted a critical defeat on the Scythians and included all the territories of the Crimean Peninsula in the structure of his state.
The Mithridatic Wars were three conflicts fought by the Roman Republic against the Kingdom of Pontus and its allies between 88 – 63 BCE. They are named after Mithridates VI, the King of Pontus during the course of the wars who initiated the hostilities with Rome. Mithridates lead the Pontic forces in every war. The Romans were lead by various generals and consuls throughout the wars, namely Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Lucius Licinius Lucullus, and Gnaeus Pompey Magnus.
The First Mithridatic War was a war challenging the Roman Republic's expanding empire and rule over the Greek world. In this conflict, the Kingdom of Pontus and many Greek cities rebelling against Roman rule were led by Mithridates VI of Pontus against Rome and the allied Kingdom of Bithynia. The war lasted five years and ended in a Roman victory, which forced Mithridates to abandon all of his conquests and return to Pontus. The conflict with Mithridates VI later resumed in two further Mithridatic Wars.
Mithridates of Cius a Persian noble, succeeded his kinsman or father Ariobarzanes II in 337 BCE as ruler of the Greek town of Cius in Mysia. Diodorus assigns him a rule of thirty-five years, but it appears that his rule of Cius was interrupted during that period. What circumstances led to his expulsion or subjection are unknown; nothing is heard of him until his death in 302 BCE. However, it appears that he had submitted to the Macedonian Antigonus, who, to prevent him from joining the league of Cassander and his confederates, arranged for his assassination in Cius.
Mithridates I Ctistes, also known as Mithridates III of Cius, was a Persian nobleman and the founder of the Kingdom of Pontus in Anatolia.
The Third Mithridatic War, the last and longest of the three Mithridatic Wars, was fought between Mithridates VI of Pontus and the Roman Republic. Both sides were joined by a great number of allies, dragging the entire east of the Mediterranean and large parts of Asia into the war. The conflict ended in defeat for Mithridates; it ended the Pontic Kingdom and the Seleucid Empire, and also resulted in the Kingdom of Armenia becoming an allied client state of Rome.
Mithridates IV of Pontus, sometimes known by his full name Mithridates Philopator Philadelphus, was a prince and sixth ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus.
Archelaus was a prominent Greek general who served under King Mithridates VI of Pontus in northern Anatolia and was also his favorite general.
The Battle of the Lycus was fought in 66 BC between an army of Roman Republic under the command of Pompey the great and the forces of Mithridates VI of Pontus. The Romans won the battle with few losses; their victory turned out to be decisive with Mithridates fleeing to the Kingdom of the Bosporus and committing suicide a few years later, finally ending the Third Mithridatic War.
Nicomedes III Euergetes was the king of Bithynia, from c. 127 BC to c. 94 BC. He was the son and successor of Nicomedes II of Bithynia.
Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator, was made king of Cappadocia by his father King Mithridates VI of Pontus after the assassination of Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia in c. 100 BC. Since he was only eight years old, he was put under the regency of the Cappadocian Gordius.
Pontus was a Hellenistic kingdom centered in the historical region of Pontus in modern-day Turkey, and ruled by the Mithridatic dynasty of Persian origin, which may have been directly related to Darius the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty. The kingdom was proclaimed by Mithridates I in 281 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC. The Kingdom of Pontus reached its largest extent under Mithridates VI the Great, who conquered Colchis, Cappadocia, Bithynia, the Greek colonies of the Tauric Chersonesos, and for a brief time the Roman province of Asia. After a long struggle with Rome in the Mithridatic Wars, Pontus was defeated.
Mithridates or Mithradates VI Eupator was the ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus in northern Anatolia from 120 to 63 BC, and one of the Roman Republic's most formidable and determined opponents. He was an effective, ambitious and ruthless ruler who sought to dominate Asia Minor and the Black Sea region, waging several hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful wars to break Roman dominion over Asia and the Hellenic world. He has been called the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus. He cultivated an immunity to poisons by regularly ingesting sub-lethal doses; this practice, now called mithridatism, is named after him. After his death, he became known as Mithridates the Great.
Cappadocia was a province of the Roman Empire in Anatolia, with its capital at Caesarea. It was established in 17 AD by the Emperor Tiberius, following the death of Cappadocia's last king, Archelaus.
Bithynia and Pontus was the name of a province of the Roman Empire on the Black Sea coast of Anatolia. It was formed during the late Roman Republic by the amalgamation of the former kingdoms of Bithynia and Pontus. The amalgamation was part of a wider conquest of Anatolia and its reduction to Roman provinces.
Paerisades V was the son of Paerisades III and Kamasarye Philoteknos. He was last Spartocid ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom and ruled from 125 to c. 109 BC after the death of his brother Paerisades IV Philometor. With his death, ended a dynasty of Bosporan kings that had ruled the Bosporan Kingdom for over 3 centuries, starting in 438 BC with his ancestor Spartokos I.
Mount Harşena, is a mountain located in Amasya, the capital of the Amasya Province of Turkey. It has a height of 272 m (892 ft). Mount Harşena was added to the tentative list in the cultural category of UNESCO World Heritage Site on 13 April 2015 alongside the tombs of the kings of Pontus.
In 302 Mithridates II fell under suspicion of conspiring with Cassander against Antigonus and was killed near Cius. His son Mithridates III of Cius inherited the dynasty but was warned by his friend Demetrius that he too was in danger from Antigonus and fled to Paphlagonia. Here he ruled for thirty-six years (302–266) at some stage proclaiming himself Mithridates Ctistes, founder of the kingdom of Pontus and the line of Pontic kings.