The Kingdom of Cappadocia was a Hellenistic-era Iranian kingdom centered in the historical region of Cappadocia in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). It developed from the satrapy of Cappadocia, and it was founded by its last satrap, Ariarathes I.
Throughout its history, it was ruled by three families in succession; the House of Ariarathes (331-96 BC), the House of Ariobarzanes (96 BC-36 BC), and lastly that of Archelaus (36 BC-17 AD). In 17 AD, following the death of Archelaus, during the reign of Roman emperor Tiberius (14-37), the kingdom was incorporated as a Roman province.
Throughout its history, it was ruled by three families in succession; the House of Ariarathes (331-96 BC), the House of Ariobarzanes (96 BC-36 BC), and lastly that of Archelaus (36 BC-17 AD). In 17 AD, following the death of Archelaus, during the reign of Roman emperor Tiberius (14-37), the kingdom was incorporated as a Roman province.
Ariarathes I was the satrap of the Satrapy of Cappadocia under the Achaemenid Empire from 350 BC to 331 BC, and the King of Cappadocia from 331 BC until his death in 322 BC. He was the son of the Cappadocian satrap Ariamnes I.
Alexander the Great conquered Cappadocia during his route and installed a governor there, Ariarathes somehow assumed power as the first king of Cappadocians and e...
Alexander the Great conquered Cappadocia during his route and installed a governor there, Ariarathes somehow assumed power as the first king of Cappadocians and e...
Ariarathas II was satrap and king of Cappadocia, but fled into Armenia after the death of his uncle and adopted father Ariarathes I, ruler of Cappadocia, who had refused to submit to Eumenes, the Governor appointed by Perdiccas following the death of Alexander the Great.
After the death of Eumenes he recovered Cappadocia with the assistance of Ardoates, the Armenian king, and killed Am...
After the death of Eumenes he recovered Cappadocia with the assistance of Ardoates, the Armenian king, and killed Am...
Ariamnes II was a ruler and king of Cappadocia, who succeeded his father Ariarathes II. He is styled as the second of his name in our time, although his predecessor was a Satrap and not a king.
He was fond of his children, and shared his crown with his son Ariarathes III in his lifetime.
He was probably the first to obtain the independence of Cappadocia from the Seleucid Emp...
He was fond of his children, and shared his crown with his son Ariarathes III in his lifetime.
He was probably the first to obtain the independence of Cappadocia from the Seleucid Emp...
Ariarathes III son of Ariamnes, ruler of Cappadocia, and grandson of Ariarathes II was King of Cappadocia from 255-220 BC, in the beginning as co-ruler with his father Ariamnes II, later as sole rulers. He married Stratonice, a daughter of the Seleucid ruler Antiochus II.
About 250 BC he was the first ruler of Cappadocia to proclaim himself king (basileus). It is known that he sided wit...
About 250 BC he was the first ruler of Cappadocia to proclaim himself king (basileus). It is known that he sided wit...
Ariarathes IV was the king of Cappadocia in 220–163 BC. He was the son of Ariarathes III and his Greek Macedonian wife Stratonice.
He was a child at his accession, and reigned for about 57 years. He married Antiochis, the daughter of Antiochus III, and, in consequence of this alliance assisted Antiochus in his war against the Romans. After the defeat of Antiochus by the Romans in 190 ...
He was a child at his accession, and reigned for about 57 years. He married Antiochis, the daughter of Antiochus III, and, in consequence of this alliance assisted Antiochus in his war against the Romans. After the defeat of Antiochus by the Romans in 190 ...
Ariarathes V as a son of the preceding king Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia and queen Antiochis. He was distinguished by his contemporaries for his excellence of his character and his cultivation of philosophy and the liberal arts and is considered by some historians to have been the greatest of the kings of Cappadocia. He was a strong philhellene; he was honoured with Athenian citizenship. He refound...
Ariarathes VI , was the youngest son of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and Nysa of Cappadocia, and reigned around 14 years as the King of Cappadocia.
e was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother, who acted as his regent. At some point his mother seems to have poisoned all of Ariarathes’ five brothers; but the infant king was saved by people loyal to ...
e was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother, who acted as his regent. At some point his mother seems to have poisoned all of Ariarathes’ five brothers; but the infant king was saved by people loyal to ...
Ariarathes VII was king of Cappadocia from 116 BC to 101 BC. He was the first son of King Ariarathes VI and his wife Laodice.
In his first years he reigned under the regency of his mother Laodice, the eldest sister of the King Mithridates VI of Pontus. During this period the kingdom was seized by King Nicomedes III of Bithynia, who married Laodice.
Nicomedes III was soon exp...
In his first years he reigned under the regency of his mother Laodice, the eldest sister of the King Mithridates VI of Pontus. During this period the kingdom was seized by King Nicomedes III of Bithynia, who married Laodice.
Nicomedes III was soon exp...
Ariarathes VIII was the second son of Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and wife Laodice of Cappadocia.
He ascended to the throne when the Cappadocian nobleman rebelled against his maternal uncle, King Mithridates VI of Pontus and his son, the puppet King Ariarathes IX.
He was speedily driven out of the kingdom by Mithridates VI, and shortly afterwards died a natural death. By the ...
He ascended to the throne when the Cappadocian nobleman rebelled against his maternal uncle, King Mithridates VI of Pontus and his son, the puppet King Ariarathes IX.
He was speedily driven out of the kingdom by Mithridates VI, and shortly afterwards died a natural death. By the ...
Ariarathes IX was made king of Cappadocia by his father King Mithridates VI of Pontus after the assassination of Ariarathes VII.
Since he was only eight years old, he was put under the regency of the Cappadocian Gordius. Early in his reign, he was overthrown by a rebellion by the Cappadocian nobility, who replaced him with Ariarathes VIII, , whom Mithridates promptly expelled, restoring...
Since he was only eight years old, he was put under the regency of the Cappadocian Gordius. Early in his reign, he was overthrown by a rebellion by the Cappadocian nobility, who replaced him with Ariarathes VIII, , whom Mithridates promptly expelled, restoring...
Ariobarzanes I was the king of Cappadocia from 95 BC to c. 63 BC–62 BC.
Ariobarzanes I was originally put in place by the citizens vote of Cappadocia after the Roman Senate rejected the claims of Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia and was supported by the Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla. He was in control on-and-off of a kingdom that was considered a Roman protectorate and he was removed t...
Ariobarzanes I was originally put in place by the citizens vote of Cappadocia after the Roman Senate rejected the claims of Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia and was supported by the Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla. He was in control on-and-off of a kingdom that was considered a Roman protectorate and he was removed t...
Ariobarzanes II was the king of Cappadocia from c. 63 BC or 62 BC to c. 51 BC. He was the son of King Ariobarzanes I.
Ariobarzanes II married Athenais Philostorgos II, one of the daughters of King Mithridates VI of Pontus. He was an ineffective ruler, requiring the aid of Gabinius in 57 BC to ward off his enemies.
He was successful in maintaining rule over Cappadocia for appr...
Ariobarzanes II married Athenais Philostorgos II, one of the daughters of King Mithridates VI of Pontus. He was an ineffective ruler, requiring the aid of Gabinius in 57 BC to ward off his enemies.
He was successful in maintaining rule over Cappadocia for appr...
Ariobarzanes III was the king of Cappadocia from ca. 51 BC until 42 BC.
Of Persian and Greek ancestry, the Roman Senate agreed that he was to be the successor of his father, Ariobarzanes II. Cicero, Roman governor of Cilicia, noted that he was surrounded by enemies who included his mother, Athenais.
Originally highly supportive of Pompey despite the cost, he was maintained i...
Of Persian and Greek ancestry, the Roman Senate agreed that he was to be the successor of his father, Ariobarzanes II. Cicero, Roman governor of Cilicia, noted that he was surrounded by enemies who included his mother, Athenais.
Originally highly supportive of Pompey despite the cost, he was maintained i...
Ariarathes X was the king of Cappadocia from c. 42 BC to 36 BC.
His father was King Ariobarzanes II and his mother was Queen Athenais. He became king after his brother Ariobarzanes III Philoromaios was killed.
His rule did not last long as Marcus Antonius of Rome removed and executed him, replacing him with Sisines, who became king under the name Archelaus.
His father was King Ariobarzanes II and his mother was Queen Athenais. He became king after his brother Ariobarzanes III Philoromaios was killed.
His rule did not last long as Marcus Antonius of Rome removed and executed him, replacing him with Sisines, who became king under the name Archelaus.
Archelaus was a Roman client prince and the last king of Cappadocia, ruling from 36 BC to 17 AD.
After Archelaus assumed the Cappadocian throne, his royal title was in Greek: Ἀρχέλαος Φιλοπατρίς Κτίστης, Archelaus Philopatris Ktistes. Philopatris Ktistes, means in Greek lover and founder of his country. His royal title is known from surviving inscriptions; in particular from coinage. <...
After Archelaus assumed the Cappadocian throne, his royal title was in Greek: Ἀρχέλαος Φιλοπατρίς Κτίστης, Archelaus Philopatris Ktistes. Philopatris Ktistes, means in Greek lover and founder of his country. His royal title is known from surviving inscriptions; in particular from coinage. <...