Mithridates II of Pontus
Encyclopedia
Mithridates II third king of Pontus
and son of Ariobarzanes
, whom he succeeded on the throne. He was a minor when his father died, but the period of his accession cannot be determined. It seems probable that it must be placed considerably before 240 BC
, as Memnon
tells us that he was a child at his father's death, and he had a daughter of marriageable age in 222 BC
. Shortly after his accession, his kingdom was invaded by the Gauls
, who were eventually repulsed. After he attained manhood, he married Laodice
, a sister of Seleucus II Callinicus
, with whom he is said to have received the province of Phrygia
as a dowry. But notwithstanding this alliance, we find Mithridates II fighting against Seleucus during a war between Seleucus and Antiochus Hierax
. Eventually, Mithridates defeated Seleucus in a great battle at Ancyra in 239 BC
whereby Seleucus lost twenty thousand of his troops and narrowly escaped with his own life. In 222 BC
, Mithridates gave his daughter Laodice
in marriage to the Seleucid
king Antiochus III
: another of his daughters, also named Laodice
, was married about the same time to Achaeus
, the cousin of Antiochus. In 220 BC
, Mithridates declared war upon the wealthy and powerful city of Sinop
e. However, he was unable to weaken it and the city did not fall into the power of the kings of Pontus until 183 BC
. At an earlier period, we find Mithridates II vying with the other monarchs of Asia in sending magnificent presents to the Rhodians
, after the subversion of their city by an earthquake in 227 BC
. The date of his death is utterly unknown. He was succeeded by Mithridates III
, his son with Laodice
.
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
and son of Ariobarzanes
Ariobarzanes of Pontus
Ariobarzanes was the second king of Pontus, succeeding his father Mithridates I Ctistes in 266 BC and died in an uncertain date between 258 and 240. He obtained possession of the city of Amastris in Paphlagonia, which was surrendered to him...
, whom he succeeded on the throne. He was a minor when his father died, but the period of his accession cannot be determined. It seems probable that it must be placed considerably before 240 BC
240 BC
Year 240 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Centho and Tuditanus...
, as Memnon
Memnon of Heraclea
Memnon of Heraclea was a Greek historical writer, probably a native of Heraclea Pontica. He described the history of that city in a large work, known only through the Excerpta of Photius , and describing especially the various tyrants who had at times ruled Heraclea.Memnon's history encompassed...
tells us that he was a child at his father's death, and he had a daughter of marriageable age in 222 BC
222 BC
Year 222 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marcellus and Calvus...
. Shortly after his accession, his kingdom was invaded by the Gauls
Gauls
The Gauls were a Celtic people living in Gaul, the region roughly corresponding to what is now France, Belgium, Switzerland and Northern Italy, from the Iron Age through the Roman period. They mostly spoke the Continental Celtic language called Gaulish....
, who were eventually repulsed. After he attained manhood, he married Laodice
Laodice (wife of Mithridates II of Pontus)
Laodice was a Greek Princess of the Seleucid Empire. Laodice was of Greek Macedonian and Persian descent. She was one of the daughters and youngest child born to the Seleucid Monarchs Antiochus II Theos and Laodice I. Among her siblings were her brothers Seleucus II Callinicus and Antiochus Hierax...
, a sister of Seleucus II Callinicus
Seleucus II Callinicus
Seleucus II Callinicus or Pogon , was a ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, who reigned from 246 to 225 BC...
, with whom he is said to have received the province of Phrygia
Phrygia
In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians initially lived in the southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges , changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the...
as a dowry. But notwithstanding this alliance, we find Mithridates II fighting against Seleucus during a war between Seleucus and Antiochus Hierax
Antiochus Hierax
Antiochus Hierax , or Antiochus III, , so called from his grasping and ambitious character, was the younger son of Antiochus II and Laodice I and separatist leader in the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom, who ruled as king of Syria during his brother's reign.On the death of his father, in 246 BCE,...
. Eventually, Mithridates defeated Seleucus in a great battle at Ancyra in 239 BC
239 BC
Year 239 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Turrinus and Falto...
whereby Seleucus lost twenty thousand of his troops and narrowly escaped with his own life. In 222 BC
222 BC
Year 222 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marcellus and Calvus...
, Mithridates gave his daughter Laodice
Laodice III
Laodice III , was a Princess of Pontus and a daughter born to King Mithridates II of Pontus and his wife Laodice. Her sister was Laodice of Pontus and her brother was Mithridates III of Pontus....
in marriage to the Seleucid
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
king Antiochus III
Antiochus III the Great
Antiochus III the Great Seleucid Greek king who became the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire as a youth of about eighteen in 223 BC. Antiochus was an ambitious ruler who ruled over Greater Syria and western Asia towards the end of the 3rd century BC...
: another of his daughters, also named Laodice
Laodice of Pontus
Laodice , was a Princess of Pontus and was one of the daughters of Mithridates II of Pontus and Laodice. She sister was Laodice III the first wife of Antiochus III the Great and her brother was Mithridates III of Pontus. She married her distant maternal cousin the Seleucid general Achaeus...
, was married about the same time to Achaeus
Achaeus (general)
Achaeus was a general and later a separatist ruler of part of the Greek Seleucid kingdom. He was the son of Andromachus, whose sister Laodice II, married Seleucus Callinicus, the father of Antiochus III the Great. Achaeus himself married Laodice of Pontus, one of the daughters to Laodice and...
, the cousin of Antiochus. In 220 BC
220 BC
Year 220 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Laevinus/Catulus and Scaevola/Philo...
, Mithridates declared war upon the wealthy and powerful city of Sinop
Sinop, Turkey
Sinop is a city with a population of 36,734 on İnce Burun , by its Cape Sinop which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known as Sinope...
e. However, he was unable to weaken it and the city did not fall into the power of the kings of Pontus until 183 BC
183 BC
Year 183 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marcellus and Labeo...
. At an earlier period, we find Mithridates II vying with the other monarchs of Asia in sending magnificent presents to the Rhodians
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, after the subversion of their city by an earthquake in 227 BC
227 BC
Year 227 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Flaccus and Regulus...
. The date of his death is utterly unknown. He was succeeded by Mithridates III
Mithridates III of Pontus
Mithridates III was the fourth King of Pontus, son of Mithridates II of Pontus and Laodice. Mithridates had two sisters who were Laodice III the first wife of the Seleucid King Antiochus III the Great and Laodice of Pontus. He may have ruled in an uncertain period between 220 BC and 183 BC...
, his son with Laodice
Laodice (wife of Mithridates II of Pontus)
Laodice was a Greek Princess of the Seleucid Empire. Laodice was of Greek Macedonian and Persian descent. She was one of the daughters and youngest child born to the Seleucid Monarchs Antiochus II Theos and Laodice I. Among her siblings were her brothers Seleucus II Callinicus and Antiochus Hierax...
.