Mithridatic dynasty

{{Royal house||surname=Mithridatic dynasty|estate=|coat of arms=INC-3128-r Статер Понтийское царство Митридат VI Евпатор (реверс).png|coat_of_arms_size=135px|caption=Coin of Mithridates VI|parent house=Pharnacid dynasty (?)|country=Kingdom of Pontus
Bosporan Kingdom|titles=*King of Pontus

King of the Cimmerian Bosphorus|founder=Mithridates I Ktistes|final ruler=Pharnaces II of Pontus|current head=Extinct|founding year=281 BC|dissolution=47 BC
37 BC last ruler (Arsaces of Pontus, Roman-appointed)
Rhescuporis VI|cadet branches=}}

The Mithridatic dynasty, also known as the Pontic dynasty, was a hereditary dynasty of Persian origin,The Foreign Policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, by B. C. McGing, page 11Children of Achilles: The Greeks in Asia Minor Since the Days of Troy, by John Freely, page 69-70{{sfn|Dueck|2002|p=3}}{{cite encyclopedia | article = PONTUS | last = McGing | first = Brian | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/pontus | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia Iranica | year = 2004 }} founded by Mithridates I Ktistes (Mithridates III of Cius) in 281 BC.{{sfn|Dueck|2002|p=3}} The origins of the dynasty were located in the highest circles of the ruling Persian nobility in Cius.{{sfn|Dueck|2002|p=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).{{cite book|last1=McGing|first1=B.C.|title=The Foreign Policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus|date=1986|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-9004075917|page=15|quote=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.}}{{harvnb|Dueck|2002|p=3}}: "Mithridates III of Cius fled to Paphlagonia after his father was killed by Antigonus and after he defeated certain Seleucid forces. In 281 BCE he became the first king of the Pontic dynasty and thus acquired the name "Ktistes", founder." The dynasty reached its greatest extent under the rule of Mithridates VI, who is considered the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus.{{cite book|last=Hewsen|first=Robert H.|title=Armenian Pontus: The Trebizond-Black Sea Communities|year=2009|publisher=Mazda Publishers, Inc.|location=Costa Mesa, CA|isbn=978-1-56859-155-1|pages=41, 37–66|editor=Richard G. Hovannisian|chapter=Armenians on the Black Sea: The Province of Trebizond}}

They were prominent enemies of the Roman Republic during the Mithridatic Wars during the reign of Mithridates VI until the late 60s BC.{{sfn|Dueck|2002|p=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.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vDjvBQAAQBAJ&q=battle+zela|title=A History of War in 100 Battles|last=Overy|first=Richard|date=2014-10-01|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199390724|pages=89|language=en}}

History

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:

Mithridates III, who opposed Roman rule during the Roman-Bosporan War.
Cotys I, who supported the Romans against his brother Mithridates.
Sauromates II, who expanded the kingdom and inflicted serious injuries to the Scythian and Siracian tribes.
Rhescuporis VI, the final ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom who died in 342 AD.

Kings of Pontus

class="wikitable" align="center" \| style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; width: 75%" \|+Kings of Pontus !width="220px"\|King !! align="center" width="120px"\|Reign (BC) !! width="180px"\|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

Family tree of Mithridatids, kings of Pontus

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | Mi1 | | | | | | An1 | | | | | | Ac1 |An1=Antiochus I Soter|Ac1=Achaeus I|Mi1=Mithridates I Ctistes
king of Pontus
281-266 BC
MITHRIDATIDS}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | Ari | | | | | | An2 | | | | | | And |Ari=Ariobarzanes
king of Pontus
266-c.250 BC|An2=Antiochus II Theos|And=Andromachus}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | |,|-|-|-|(| | | | | | | |!| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | Mi2 |~| Lao | | Se2 | | | | | | |!|Mi2=Mithridates II
king of Pontus
c.250-c.210 BC|Lao=Laodice|Se2=Seleucus II Callinicus}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|t|-|-|-|.| | | |!| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | Mi3 | | La3 |~| An3 | | Lad |~| Ac2 |Mi3=Mithridates III
king of Pontus
c.210-c.190 BC|La3=Laodice III|Lad=Laodice|Ac2=Achaeus II|An3=Antiochus III the Great}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | Ant | | An4 |Lac=Laodice VI|Ant=Antiochus|An4=Antiochus IV Epiphanes}}

{{tree chart| | | | | Mi4 |~| Lae | | Ph1 |~| Nys | | |!| |Ph1=Pharnakes I
king of Pontus
c.190-c.155 BC|Nys=Nyssa
of Seleucids|La6=Laodice VI|Mi4=Mithridates IV
king of Pontus
c.155-c.150 BC|Lae=Laodice}}

{{tree chart| Ar5 |~| Nys | | | | | | Mi5 |~|~|~|~|~| La6 |Ar5=Ariarathes V
king of Cappadocia|Nys=Nyssa
of Mithridatids|Mi5=Mithridates V Euergetes
king of Cappadocia
c.150-120 BC|La6=Laodice VI}}

{{tree chart| Ar6 |~| Lao | | wf1 |~| Mi6 |~| wf2 | | MiC |Ar6=Ariarathes VI
king of Cappadocia|Lao=Laodice of Cappadocia|Mi6=Mithridates VI of Pontus the Great
king of Pontus
.120-63 BC|MiC=Mithridates Chrestus|wf1=1.Laodice|wf2=2.Monime
3.Berenice of Chios
4.Stratonice of Pontus
6.Hypsicratea}}

{{tree chart| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart| MiC | | Arc | | Mac | | Ph2 | | Cle | | Dry | | At2 | | Xif | | Mi1 | | Ado | | Ar9 | | Ors | | dau |MiC=(1) Mithridates
ruler of Colchis|Arc=(1) Arcathias
general|Mac=(1) Machares
king of Cimmerian Bospsrus|Ph2=(1) Pharnaces II
king of Pontus
63-47 BC|Cle=(1) Cleopatra
∞ Tigranes II of Armenia|Dry=(1) Drypetina|At2=(2) Athenais Philostorgos II
∞ Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia|Xif=(4) Xiphares
prince|Mi1=(5) Mithrithates I
king of Cimmerian Bosporus|Ado=(illeg.) Adobogiona the Younger
∞ Castor of Galatia|Ar9=(illeg.) Ariarathes IX
king of Cappadocia|Ors=(illeg.) Orsabaris
∞ 1.Socrates Chrestus
2.Lycomedes of Comana|dau=(illeg.) daughter
∞ Archelaus
general}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | Dar | | Ars | | Gep |y| Asa |y| Dyn |~| Po1 |y| Pyt |~| Arc |Dar=Darius
king of Pontus|Ars=Arsaces
prince|Dyn=Dynamis
queen of C. Bosporus 16-8 BC
∞ Scribonius
king of C. Bosporus
17-16 BC|Gep=Gepaepyris|Asa=1.Asander Philicaesar Philoromaios
king of Cimmerian Bosporus
47-17 AD|Po1=3.Polemon I Pythodoros
king of Pontus
16-8 BC|Pyt=Pythodoris
queen of Pontus
8 BC-38 AD|Arc=Archelaus
king of Cappadocia}}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|(| | | |!| | | | | | | |!| }}

{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TJM | | TJC | | TJA | | | | | | Po2 |TJM=T. J. Mithridates
king of Cimmerian Bosporus
38 AD-45|TJC=T. J. Cotys I
king of Cimmerian Bosporus
45 AD-63|TJA=T. J. Aspurgus
king of Cimmerian Bospsorus
8 BC-38 AD|Po2=Polemon II
king of Pontus
38 AD-74}}

Sources

{{cite book|last1=Dueck|first1=Daniela|title=Strabo of Amasia: A Greek Man of Letters in Augustan Rome|date=2002|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1134605613|quote=The independent Pontic dynasty originated in the highest circles of the ruling Persian nobility in Cius.}}

References

Category:Hellenistic dynasties

Category:Mithridatic kings of Pontus

Category:Monarchs of the Bosporan Kingdom