Antiochus IV of Commagene
Gaius Julius Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, also known as or Antiochus IV of Commagene, ( ancient Greek ο Γαίος Ιούλιος Αντίοχος Επιφανής ) was the last king of Commagene, who reigned 38-72. Antiochus was a vassal king of the Roman Empire.
Life
Antiochus was a prince and son of Antiochus III. and an unnamed mother. His sister and later wife was Iotapa. He was Armenian- Greek Medo- Persian descent.
Father's side he was related on Laodice VII Thea, the mother of Antiochus I, the Seleucid. Antiochus was quite young when his father died in the year 17. The Roman Emperor Tiberius agreed with the citizens comma Genes on making her kingdom to a part of the Roman province of Syria. Between 17-38 Antiochus received the Roman citizenship. Because of this he was awarded by an emperor of the Julian imperial family, he and his descendants added their name to the Roman name Gaius Iulius. Antiochus lived with his sister in Rome. While they were growing up in Rome, they were a part of this extraordinary court of Antonia Minor. Antonia Minor was the niece of the first Roman Emperor Augustus and the youngest daughter of the triumvir Mark Antony. She was a very influential woman and her company controlled by various princes and princesses.
In the year 38, Antiochus was given his paternal kingdom of Antonia's grandson, the emperor Caligula, back. In addition, the rulers enlarged the kingdom of Antiochus ' with parts of Cilicia on the coast. Caligula gave him the total government revenues comma Genes during the 20 years during which it was a Roman province. The reasons for these huge donations to a vassal king remain unclear; perhaps the reason was the well-documented eccentricity Caligula. Antiochus had an intimate relationship with Caligula, and through him, and King Herod Agrippa I say that they instructed the Emperor in the art of tyranny. However, this friendship did not last long, for he was deposed by Caligula. He received his kingdom again when Claudius was emperor in the year 41.
Antiochus ' first son Antiochus Epiphanes Gaius Julius Archelaus was engaged in the year 43 of Herod Agrippa's daughter Drusilla. However, the marriage did not materialize. Instead Epiphanes married some time later Claudia Capitolina, the daughter of Tiberius Claudius Balbillus scholars. Except Epiphanes Antiochus had two other children with Iotapa namely Kallinicus and Iotapa.
53 Antiochus suggested an uprising of barbarian Clitae in Cilicia down. 55 he received from Nero ordered to levy troops against the Parthians, and in 59 he Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo served under General against King Trdat I., brother of the Parthian king Vologaeses I. For this he received in 61 parts of Greater Armenia. He supported Vespasian as emperor was 70 for this; from then on they spoke of him as the richest vassal king. In the same year he sent troops under the command of his son Epiphanes to help Titus at the siege of Jerusalem.
Antiochus ' decline began in the year 72, when he was accused of Lucius Junius Caesennius Paetus, the governor of Syria, of conspiring with the Parthians against the Romans. He was ousted after 34 years of rule. Antiochus ' sons fled after a brief clash with the Roman troops to Parthia. Antiochus himself retired to Sparta and then to Rome, where the rest of his life with his sons and was treated with great respect. Among his grandchildren was the famous Athenian citizen Gaius Iulius Philopappus and the poetess Julia Balbilla.
There are several coins of this king and their grooving prove that he controlled large parts of Cappadocia and Cilicia and Commagene itself. On one of these coins he is called ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΣ ( Great king Antiochus ), a proof of his political ambitions, which no doubt played a role in its demise. On the reverse of this coin are a Scorpio, which is surrounded by laurel leaves, and displayed the inscription ΚΟΜΜΑΓΗΝΩΝ. From this coin we learn that his wife Iotapa said.