Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia
Ariobarzanes I, named Philoromaios (Ancient Greek: Ἀριοβαρζάνης Φιλορωμαίος, Ariobarzánēs Philorōmaíos, friend of Rome), was the king of Cappadocia from 95 BC to c. 63 BC–62 BC. Ariobarzanes I was a Cappadocian nobleman of obscure origins who was of Armenian descent.
| Ariobarzanes I | |
|---|---|
 Drachma of Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia | |
| King of Cappadoccia | |
| Reign | 95 BC to c. 63 BC–62 BC. |
| Successor | Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia |
| Spouse | Athenais Philostorgos I |
| Issue | Ariobarzanes II Isias Philostorgos |
Ariobarzanes I was originally put in place by the citizens vote of Cappadocia after the Roman Senate rejected the claims of Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia and was supported by the Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla. He was in control on-and-off of a kingdom that was considered a Roman protectorate and he was removed three separate times by King Mithridates before not only securing but actually increasing his lands under general Pompey in the Third Mithridatic War.[1] He eventually abdicated, making way for the rule of his son Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia in c. 63 BC–62 BC.
Ariobarzanes' queen was a Greek noblewoman, Athenais Philostorgos I. Athenais bore Ariobarzanes I two children: a son, Ariobarzanes II, who succeeded him, and a daughter, Isias Philostorgos, who married the King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene.
References
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 491–492.
- Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony (1996). The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford University Press.
| Preceded by Ariarathes IX |
King of Cappadocia 95 BC – c. 63 BC |
Succeeded by Ariobarzanes II Philopator |