Antiochus III of Commagene
Encyclopedia
Antiochus III Epiphanes was the ruler of the Kingdom of Commagene
from 12 BC to 17 AD. He was the son and successor of King Mithridates III of Commagene
and Princess of Media
and Queen of Commagene, Iotapa
, and of mixed Armenian
, Greek
and Median
descent. His parents were first cousins.
When Antiochus died in 17 AD, his death created major issues for the kingdom. At the time of Antiochus’ death, Commagene was in political turmoil. The reasons for this situation are unclear, however it may have been the result of his children by his sister-wife Queen Iotapa
, Antiochus and Iotapa being too young to succeed their father. This may have meant that there was no effective authority to prevent civil unrest and unite the citizens of Commagene.
Very little is known on his life and his reign as King. After Antiochus' death, two factions appeared. One faction was led by noblemen who wanted Commagene to be placed under the rule of the Roman Empire
and the other faction was led by citizens who wanted to Commagene's independence to be retained under the rule of their own king.
Both political factions sent embassies to Rome
, seeking the advice and assistance of the Roman Emperor Tiberius
to decide the future of Commagene. Tiberius decided to make Commagene a part of the Roman province
of Syria
. That decision was welcomed by many of the citizens by Commagene. Commagene remained under Roman rule until Roman Emperor Caligula
restored the kingdom to Antiochus’ children in 38 AD.
Antiochus III and his son are honoured on the Philopappos Monument
in Athens
, Greece
, dedicated to his great-grandson prince Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos
, who was a prominent and respected citizen in Athens. In the left figure of the monument is a statue of Antiochus III's son, Antiochus IV. Below Antiochus IV is an inscription that states King Antiochus son of King Antiochus.
Kingdom of Commagene
The Kingdom of Commagene was an ancient kingdom of the Hellenistic Age.Little is known of the region of Commagene prior to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. However, it seems that, from what little evidence remains, Commagene formed part of a larger state that also included Sophene...
from 12 BC to 17 AD. He was the son and successor of King Mithridates III of Commagene
Mithridates III of Commagene
Mithridates III Antiochus Epiphanes was a King. The son and successor of King Mithridates II of Commagene and Queen Laodice, he was of Armenian and Greek descent....
and Princess of Media
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
and Queen of Commagene, Iotapa
Iotapa
Iotapa or Iotape also known as Iotapi was the name of various queens and princesses who lived in between the 2nd century BC, 1st century BC, 1st century and 2nd century. The name Iotapa or Iotape originally derives from the name Jotapa or Jotape, which was a name of Persian origin...
, and of mixed Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
and Median
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
descent. His parents were first cousins.
When Antiochus died in 17 AD, his death created major issues for the kingdom. At the time of Antiochus’ death, Commagene was in political turmoil. The reasons for this situation are unclear, however it may have been the result of his children by his sister-wife Queen Iotapa
Iotapa
Iotapa or Iotape also known as Iotapi was the name of various queens and princesses who lived in between the 2nd century BC, 1st century BC, 1st century and 2nd century. The name Iotapa or Iotape originally derives from the name Jotapa or Jotape, which was a name of Persian origin...
, Antiochus and Iotapa being too young to succeed their father. This may have meant that there was no effective authority to prevent civil unrest and unite the citizens of Commagene.
Very little is known on his life and his reign as King. After Antiochus' death, two factions appeared. One faction was led by noblemen who wanted Commagene to be placed under the rule of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and the other faction was led by citizens who wanted to Commagene's independence to be retained under the rule of their own king.
Both political factions sent embassies to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, seeking the advice and assistance of the Roman Emperor Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
to decide the future of Commagene. Tiberius decided to make Commagene a part of the Roman province
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. That decision was welcomed by many of the citizens by Commagene. Commagene remained under Roman rule until Roman Emperor Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
restored the kingdom to Antiochus’ children in 38 AD.
Antiochus III and his son are honoured on the Philopappos Monument
Philopappos Monument
The Philopappos Monument is an ancient Greek mausoleum and monument dedicated to Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos or Philopappus, , a prince from the Kingdom of Commagene...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, dedicated to his great-grandson prince Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos
Philopappos
Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos or Philopappus, was a Prince of the Kingdom of Commagene who lived in the Roman Empire during the 1st century and 2nd century. He was one of the most prominent Greeks who lived in the Roman Empire....
, who was a prominent and respected citizen in Athens. In the left figure of the monument is a statue of Antiochus III's son, Antiochus IV. Below Antiochus IV is an inscription that states King Antiochus son of King Antiochus.
Sources
- The Building Program of Herod the Great, By Duane W. Roller, Published by University of California Press 1998, ISBN 0520209346
- TacitusTacitusPublius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
- Annals of Imperial Rome, Part One: Tiberius, Chapter 4, First Treason Trials - http://www.mavors.org/PDFs/Commagene.pdf
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0203.html
- http://www.catholicity.com/encyclopedia/s/samosata.html
- http://www.stoa.org/athens/sites/philopappos/source/d0206120018.html
- http://www.tyndalehouse.com/Egypt/ptolemies/affilates/aff_ptolemies.htm
- http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.cliolamuse.com/spip.php%3Frubrique65&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DcOMMAGENE%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN