Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI. Epiphanes Philopator was 130-116 BC ( otherwise: 126-111 BC), King of Cappadocia.
Life and work
Ariarathes VI. Whose epithet Epiphanes Philopator are occupied by an inscription from Delos, was the youngest son Ariarathes ' V. and Nysa of Cappadocia. His fifteen- year reign began when he was a kid, so the actual power was first exercised by his mother. According to Justin Ariarathes ' mother (who is mentioned by Justin falsely Laodike ) have poisoned his five older brothers to themselves to retain power as long as possible, he himself had been deprived of his mother's influence by relatives, while these later by loyal, the Dynasty abiding citizens had been killed. Clearly, therefore ruled large Dispute in the Cappadocian royal family, the maternal uncle of Ariarathes to Mithridates V Euergetes of Pontus took advantage to occupy due to alleged inheritance Cappadocia. This attempt failed, probably because of the intervention of the Romans. Then married Mitridates V. the Ariarathes with his daughter Laodice. From this marriage Ariarathes had three children, Nysa, which Nicomedes III. Euergetes of Bithynia married, and Ariarathes VII Philometor and Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes, who succeeded him.
After ' strengthened position and showed that Pontos ' Ariarathes hope was not fulfilled, to exercise a controlling influence over Cappadocia, left, after a disputed report, Mithridates VI. , The son of Mithridates V., his brother by Gordios, a Cappadocian noble, murder. Then the kingdom was briefly ruled by Ariarathes ' widow Laodice, to King Nicomedes III. of Bithynia took power by marrying Laodice. However, this was soon after Mithridates VI. distributed to help Ariarathes VII to the throne. The reign of Ariarathes VI. likely to have been already marked as with his father, by a further Hellenization of Cappadocia.
Swell
- Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, John Selby Watson ( translator ); London 1886 (English)