Ariobarzanes I of Media Atropatene

Ariobarzanes I of Media Atropatene,[1] also known as Ariobarzanes I of Media,[2] Ariobarzanes of Atropatene,[3] Ariobarzanes I[4] and Ariobarzanes[5] (flourished 1st century BC, ruled from 65 BC til 56 BC[6]) was a Prince who served as a King of Media Atropatene.[7][8]

Ariobarzanes I was a monarch of Median and possibly of Armenian, Greek descent. According to modern genealogies, Ariobarzanes I was a son of a previous ruling King Mithridates I and his wife, an unnamed Armenian Princess from the Artaxiad Dynasty who was a daughter of the Armenian King Tigranes the Great and his wife, Cleopatra of Pontus,[9][10] which can explain the claims of Mithridates I’s descendants to the Armenian Kingship in opposition to the lasting ruling monarchs of the Artaxiad Dynasty. Another possibility in linking Ariobarzanes I as a son born to Mithridates I and his wife is through his name. The name Ariobarzanes is a name of Iranian origin.[11] There were Persian Satraps who bore this name as did some of the ancestors of Cleopatra of Pontus. Cleopatra was a Pontian Princess, who was a daughter of King Mithridates VI of Pontus from his first wife, his sister Laodice.[12]

Little is known on the life of Ariobarzanes I. Ariobarzanes I appeared to have succeeded Darius I as King of Media Atropatene in 65 BC,[13] whom appeared to have a short reign.[14] Ariobarzanes I and Darius I were related as they may have been brothers.[15] Although Ariobarzanes I ruled from 65 BC til 56 BC,[16] his reign in the time-scale would appear to preclude the short reign of Darius I and shows that he came to the throne sometime before 59 BC.[17]

Little is known on the reign of Ariobarzanes I. He appeared to have died in 56 BC, as he was succeeded by his son Artavasdes I of Media Atropatene.[18] His son from an unnamed wife, was born before 59 BC.[19]

In Rome, two Epitaph inscriptions have been found bearing the name of Artavasdes. The Epitaphs are probably of the son and the grandson of a Median Atropatenian King called Ariobarzanes.[20] However it is uncertain, if the Ariobarzanes refers to Ariobarzanes I or his grandson Ariobarzanes II.[21] Ariobarzanes I is mentioned in paragraph 33 of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti.

References
  1. Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
  2. Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
  3. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
  4. Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
  5. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
  6. Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
  7. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
  8. Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
  9. Cassius Dio, 36.14
  10. Toumanoff, Manual genealogy and chronology for the Christian Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Albania), p.p.81-82
  11. Encyclopaedia Iranica – Ariobarzanes
  12. Mayor, The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy p.p.114&138
  13. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
  14. Settipani on Baldwin on the Commagenian DFA Link Part 2 of 3
  15. Settipani on Baldwin on the Commagenian DFA Link Part 2 of 3
  16. Commagene Genealogy Notes at Rootsweb
  17. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
  18. Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
  19. Encyclopaedia Iranica - Artavasdes
  20. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period
  21. Azerbaijan iii. Pre-Islamic History, Atropates, Persian satrap of Media, made himself independent in 321 B.C. Thereafter Greek and Latin writers named the territory as Media Atropatene or, less frequently, Media Minor: Parthian period

Sources
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