Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
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Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator (in Greek Aριαράθης Eπιφανής Φιλoπάτωρ; reigned 130–116 BC), king of Cappadocia, was the youngest son of Ariarathes V. He reigned about 14 years (130–116 BC). He was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother Nysa. At some point her mother seems to have poisoned all Ariarathes five brothers; but the infant king was saved by people loyal to the dynasty and Nysa killed. These facts were a good pretext for Mithridates Euergetes (151–120 BC), king of Pontus, for trying to assert control over the country. For this he married Ariarathes to Laodice, Mithridates daughter; but since this wasn't deemed enough to trasform Cappadocia in a satellite of Pontus, Mithridates Euergetes' son, Mithridates VI, murdered Ariarathes using Gordius, a Cappadocian nobleman.1 On his death the kingdom was briefly ruled by Ariarathes' widow and then seized by Nicomedes III, king of Bithynia, who married Laodice the widow of the late king, Laodice. But Nicomedes III was soon expelled by Mithridates VI, who placed upon the throne Ariarathes VII, a son of Ariarathes VI.
| Preceded by Ariarathes V |
King of Cappadocia 130 BC – 116 BC |
Succeeded by Ariarathes VII |
[edit] References
- Hazel, John; Who's Who in the Greek World, "Ariarathes VI", (1999)
- Head, Barclay; Historia Numorum, "Cappadocia", (1911)
- Justin; Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, John Selby Watson (translator); London, (1886)
- Smith, William (editor); Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Ariarathes VI", Boston, (1867)
[edit] Note
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology by William Smith (1867).
