Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia
| Ariobarzanes I | |
|---|---|
Mazaca in 83/82 BC | |
| King of Cappadocia | |
| Reign | 95–63/62 BC |
| Predecessor | Ariarathes VIII (Ariarathid dynasty) |
| Successor | Ariobarzanes II |
| Spouse | Athenais Philostorgos I |
| Issue | Ariobarzanes II |
Ariobarzanes I (
Persian
descent.
Name
"Ariobarzanes" is the
Aryans".[1] It is uncertain whether Ariobarzanes had adopted this name at his accession or that it was a personal one.[2]
Biography
Ariobarzanes belonged to one of the Persian aristocratic families of Cappadocia.[3] Like the previous ruling Ariarathid dynasty, Ariobarzanes also claimed to be a direct descendant of the companions of Darius the Great (r. 522–486 BC), the king of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC). Ariobarzanes continued to mint the same Greek-style coins as the Ariarathids, albeit with a new addition. As a demonstration of his political allegiance with the Romans, he adopted the Roman veristic style on his portraits.[2]
Ariobarzanes I was originally put in place by the citizens vote of Cappadocia after the
Mithridates before not only securing but actually increasing his lands under general Pompey in the Third Mithridatic War.[4] He eventually abdicated, making way for the rule of his son Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia
in 63/62 BC.
Ariobarzanes' queen was a Greek noblewoman,
Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
.
References
- ^ Dandamayev, Shahbazi & Lecoq 1986, pp. 406–409.
- ^ a b Miller 2017, p. 63.
- ^ Canepa 2018, p. 107.
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 491–492.
Sources
- ISBN 9780520379206.
- Dandamayev, M. A.; Shahbazi, A. Sh.; Lecoq, P. (1986). "Ariobarzanes". In ISBN 978-0-71009-104-8.
- ISBN 978-3515113823.