Gens:

IULIUS, ROYAL HOUSE OF PONTUS

Created:

9th November 2014

Update:

24th September 2018

Status Republic:

Patrician:

Pleb. Nobilis:

Senatorial:

Eques Romanus:

Local magistrates

Republican Family / Cognomen

Patrician

n/a

Pleb. Nobilis

n/a

Senatorial

n/a

Equestrian

n/a

Local magistrat.

n/a

Uncertain

n/a

Imperial Family / Cognomen

Imperators

n/a

Consular

n/a

Senatorial

n/a

Equestrian

n/a

Equestrian (mil)

n/a

Local magistrat.

n/a

Uncertain

n/a

Republican Consuls, Tribunes with consular power, Dictators, Magister Equitum, Censors

Imperial Consuls and Emperors (Augusti and Caesars)

incl. 0 emperors

Notes:

Mithradates can be spelled both Mithradates (typically Greek) and Mithridates (Roman historians)

As can be seen below there is uncertainty about the ruler dates for Pythodoris Philometor and her daughter Antonia Tryphaena,

Polemon II was not the son of Polemon I, as wikipedia would have it. But controversy about Polemo II and M. Antonius Polemo continues.

Literature

Barrett, Anthony A.: "Polemo II of Pontus and M. Antonius Polemo", in Historia, Bd. 27, 1978, p.437-448 concludes (in oppostion to Sullivan) that they were not the same man.

The duynast of Olba must be a generation older than Polemo II.

Bosworth, A.B. and Wheatley, P.V.: "The Origins of the Pontic House", in The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 118 (1998), p.155-164. They suggest that the early rulers of Cius and Arrhine were

not just rulers of these small towns but rulers of Mysia and Mariandynia to the east.

Braund, David: "Rome and the Friendly King: The Character of the Client Kingship", New York, 1984, p. 41-50

Cojocaru, Victor: "Once more about Antonia Tryphaina", in Journal of Ancient History and Archeology, vol. 1.2, 2014, p.3-8

Cojocaru, Victor: "Antonia Tryphaina im östlichen dynastischen Netzwerk", in in Gocha R. Tsetskhladze, Alexandru Avram and James Hargrave (edited): "The Danubian Lands between the Black, Aegean and Adriatic Seas",

Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on Black Sea Antiquities (Belgrade –17-21 September 2013), p.169-175. He supports that Gepaipyris for chronological reasons cannot be the daughter of

Antonia Tryphaena but is a sister of Cotys VIII of Thracia.

Dmitriev, Sviatoslav: "Claudius' Grant of Cilicia to Polemo", in The Classical Quarterly, New Series, Vol. 53, 2003, pp.286-291 mentions an inscription in Cilicia of a letter of Vespasian which has a

reference to a Iulius Polemo, indicating he was still probably king until 72 when Vespasian re-organized Cilicia.

Eder, Walter and Renger, Johannes: "Brill's Chronologies of the Ancient World , New Pauly Names, Dates and Dynasties", New Pauly Supplement I, Leiden, 2007, p.110-112

Hoben, Wolfgang: "Untersuchungen zur Stellung kleinasiatischer Dynasten in den Machtkampfen der ausgehenden romischen Republik", Mainz 1969

Kokkinos: Herodian Dynasty (2010) p.381-382 (Appendix 6 Identity of Polemo, husband of Berenice II) argues that she was married to Polemo II, but Iulia Mamaea was married to M. Antonius Polemo of Olba,

Leschhoren, W.: "Antike Ären, Zeitrechnung, Politik und Geschichte im Schwarzmeerraum und in Kleinasien nördlich des Tauros", Historia Enzelschrift Heft 81, Stuttgart, 1993, p.78-143 and 459-462

Magie, D.: "Roman Rule in Asia Minor", Princeton 1950, p.342, 364-365, 407-414, 477-478, 1229-1230 (notes 25-27), 1262-1268 (notes 13-33), 1340 (notes 29-30)

McGing, Brian C.: "The Kings of Pontus: some problems of identity and date", in Rheinisches Museum für Philologie, Neue Folge, 129. Bd., H. 1986, pp.248-259

Meyer, Eduard: "Geschichte des Königreichs Pontos", Leipzig 1879.

Olshausen, Eckart: article “Pontos,” in Pauly-Wissowa Suppl. 15, 1978, cols 396-442, with stemma p.400.

Perl, G.: “Zur Chronologie der Königreiche Bithynia, Pontos und Bosporos", in ed. J. Harmatta, Studien zur Geschichte und Philosophie des Altertums, Amsterdam, 1968, p.299-330

discusses among other problems of dating the kings Pharnaces I and Mithradates IV. He concludes that year 1 of the Bithynian calendar (later Pontic and Bosporan) is 297/296 BC.

Primo, : "Client Kingdom of Pontus between Mithridatism and Philoromanism", in T. Kaizer - M. Facella (a cura di), Client Kings and Roman Principalities, Stuttgart 2010, p. 159-179

He believes Polemo I did not die until 8/10 AD and that M. Antonius Polemon (A864) is the unnamed son of Polemon I and that he later became king of Cilicia in 41.

The two wives of Polemon II he assigns to A864. Thus Polemo II was a Iulius, not an Antonius.

Reinach, Theodore: "Mithradates Eupator, König von Pontos", Leipzig, 1895. A very detailed history of 488 pages.

Saprykin, S. Yuri: "Iz istorii pontijskogo carstva Polemonidov (po dannym ėpigrafki)", translated as "On the history of the kingdom of Pontus under the Polemons",

in VDI (Vestnik Drevnei Istorii) 205, 1993, p.25-48 (NOT AVAILABLE TO ME))

Seibert, Jacob.: "Historische Beitrage zu den dynastischen Verbindungen in hellenistischer Zeit", Historia Einzelschriften Heft 10; Wiesbaden,1967, p.118-121

Settipani: Continuite (2000) p.362-367 for the descendents of Queen Pythodoris

Settipani: Continuite addenda (2001/2004) p.51-55 discusses the confusion around 10 Polemos with new stemma; and two more versions on p.109-111 (see stemma of Antonius Zeno).

Sullivan, Richard D.: "Dynasts in Pontus", in Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römischen Welt, Bd.II,7.2, 1980, pp.913-930 with stemma opposite p.928, deals with kingdom from 37 BC to 63 AD.

Sullivan, Richard D.: "King Marcus Antonius Polemo", in The Numismatic Chronicle, Seventh Series, Vol. 19 (139), 1979, p.6-20, proposes the priest-king M. Antonius Polemo (A864)

is identical to King Polemo II, in spite of different gentilicium (Antonius vs Iulius). Use of Iulius is only documented once in papyrus of 194 AD.

Sullivan, Richard D.: "Near Eastern Royalty and Rome 100-30 BC", University of Toronto Press 1990, sections on Pontus (pp.35-48, 151-163, 323-324) with stemma 2 at bookend.

Changes

2014-12-19 added new article, Athenais' birthyear corrected from 77 to 95, added Archelaus as possible son of Mithradates VI,

2015-01-10 added the kings and rulers prior to Mithradates II, added article by McGing

2018-09-24 New header, much expanded reference list plus many updates

not in RE

Mithradates I

ruler of Cius on the Propontis in Mysia and Arrhine (or Marine, unknown) before 401 - ?

RE1

Ariobarzanes I

ruler of Cius and Arrhine ? to 363/2

satrap of Phrygia Minor c.388-363/2

† 363/2 exc by Artaxerxes, King of Persia, for revolt

not in RE

RE5

Ariobarzanes II

Mithradates

ruler of Cius and Arrhine 363/2-337/6

betrayed his father in 363/2

not in RE

RE6

Ariobarzanes

Mithradates II

ruler of Cius and Arrhine 337/6-302

† 302 exc. by Antigonos I Monophthalmus

King of Asia Minor and Syria 306-301

RE7

Mithradates I Ctistes

(or Mithradates III)

ruler of Cius and Arrhine 302-281

1st King of Pontus 281-266/5

† 266/5 (aged 84?)

name means founder or builder

RE4a

Ariobarzanes

co-regent before 266/5

King of Pontus 266/5-c.256

RE8

Mithradates II

King of Pontus c.255-c.220

c.245 ~ Laodice, (RE4)

dt of Antiochus II Theos King of Seleucid Babylonia 261-246

RE9

RE16

RE17

Mithradates III

Laodice

King of Pontus c.220-c.185

mention 213

~ Laodice, (RE21)

222/1 ~ Antiochus III

1 (eng) ~ Antiochus Hierax (RE23), † 227,

King of Seleucid Babylonia 223-187

ygr brother of Seleucus II Kallinikos, king of Seleucid Babylonia 246-225

2 ~ Achaios the Younger of Seleucid Babylonia † 214 exc,

cousin of Seleucus II Kallinikos, king of Seleucid Babylonia 246-225

RE1

RE10

RE22

Pharnaces I

Mithradates IV Philopator Philadelphus

Laodice Philadelphos

King of Pontus c.185-c.160/154 or

King of Pontus 155/154-c.152/1 or

King of Pontus c.185-155/154

King of Pontus 160/154-c.152/1

first attested as king 155/4.

160/159 ~ Nysa of Syria, dt of

Seleucid prince Antiochus † 193

RE11

RE2

Mithradates V Euergetes

Nysa Laodice

King of Pontus c.152/1-120

regent of Cappadocia 130-126

first attested as king 149

† 126 exc

† 120 assasinated

~ Ariarathes V King of Cappadocia 163-130

~ Laodice, (RE23), regent 120-116 (113?)

dt of Antiochus IV

King of Seleucid Babylonia 175-164

RE28

eldest daughter

RE29

RE12

RE13

RE5

RE6

RE4

Laodice

~ 1

Mithradates VI Eupator Dionysos

Mithradates Chrestos

Nysa

Roxane

Stateira

* c.140

† c.90 exc

* 131/132 † 63 suicide

joint ruler 120-c.116

capt by Lucullus

murdered by

suicide to avoid

regent of Cappadocia 111

by husband

King of Pontus 120-63

ment 116/5

brother Mithradates VI

capture by Romans

(1) ~ Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia

Mithradates

King of Bosporus 107-63

† exc. by brother

son of Ariarathes V and Nysa

2 ~

c.89/8-c.72/71

Monime, † 72/1 dt of Philopoemen of Miletus

King 130-111 (or 116)

3 ~

86-72/71

Berenice (RE19) of Chios † c.72/1 suicide

assassinated by Mithradates VI

4 ~

until 63

Stratonike (RE12) from Kabeira in Pontus

c.102/1 (2) ~ Nicomedes III of Bithynia

5 ~

until 63

Hypsikrateia

King 128/7-c.94

6 ~

various concubines

7 ~

concubine Adobogiana (RE1),

dt of tetrarch Deiotaros of Galatia

DAUGHTERS OF MITHRADATES VI

RE27

RE1

RE6

RE1

RE6

RE1

not in RE

Cleopatra

Drypetina

Athenais Philostorgos II

Mithradatis

Nysa

Eupatra

Orsabaris

Cleopatra

Adobogiona

* c.110 † post 64

† c.66 killed by her

* 85 ment by Cicero

† 63 suicide

capt by

in triumph of Pompeius 61

the younger

full sister of Mithradates of Pergamon

94 ~ Tigranes I

guards to avoid

as regent 50

eng. Ptolemaeus XII Auletes

eng. Ptolemaeus

Pompeius 63

? = Musa Orsobaris

the Great

capture by Pompeius

~ Ariobarzanes II Philopator

King of Egypt 55-51

of Cyprus, brother of

in triumph of

ruler of Prusias to 47

~ Castor II Saecundaros

King of Armenia

King of Cappadocia 63/2-52/1

Ptolemaeus XII Auletes

Pompeius 61

? ~ Socrates Chrestos of

tetrarch of Galatia c.40-36

↓

Bithynia

↓

? ~ Lycomedes, priest-

SONS OF MITHRADATES VI

prince of Comana 47-30

RE14

RE9

RE1

RE6

RE1

RE2

RE1

RE6

RE4

RE17

RE4

RE15

RE12

Mithradates

Ariarathes IX

Arkathias

Artaphrenes

Machares

Pharnaces II

Xiphares

Dareios

Xerxes

Cyros

Oxathres

Mithradates

Archelaus

general 85

Eusebes Philopator

general 88-86

* c.104 capt by

sub king

* c.97

† 65/64 exc.

capt by

in triumph of

capt by

of Pergamon

general of

†85 emprisoned

* c.108

† 86

Pompeius 63

of Bosporus

King of Pontus 48-47

by his father

Pompeius 63

Pompeius 61

Pompeius 63

King of Bosporus 47

Mithridates VI

by father

King of Cappadocia

? = Ariarthes

in triumph of

80 - 65 †

King of Bosporus 63-47

in triumph of

appointed by Caesar

88-86

c.100-c.86 †

Pompeius 61

† 47 killed by Asandros

Pompeius 61

↓

? = Arkathias

Kings of Cappadocia

priest-prince of Comana-Pontica

RE8

not in RE

D211

RE1

P531 RE2

Darius

Arsaces

Dynamis Philorhomaios

3 ~ 1

Polemon I (Polemo I)

King of Pontus c.39-37 †

rebel King of Pontus 37/6

* c.67 Queen of Bosporus † 7/8 AD

son of Zenon (Zeno) of Laodicea in Phrygia

installed by M.Antonius,

† 37/6

ruler alone 21/20-17/6 BC and 8 BC-7/8AD

(full name probably M. Antonius Zeno, see stemma Antonius Zeno)

last Mithradatid king of Pontus

installed by M.Antonius

King of Pontus 37-9/8 BC amicus et socius populi Romani (Eusebes) 26 BC

1 ~ Asandros (or Asander) (A1197)

King of Bosporus 14-9/8 BC

King of Bosporus c.45/4-c.21/20 BC

King of Armenia Minor 34/3- p 31BC

2 ~ Scribonius (S256)

† 9/8 BC killed by the Sarmatian Aspurgians

claimed to be grdson of Mithradates VI

2 ~ c.12 BC Pythodoris Philometor (P1114 RE1)

usurper king of Bosporus c.15/14 BC

* c.29 BC † 33 AD or by 38/9

exc. by the people

dt of Pythodorus of Tralles and possibly dt of an Antonia, dt of M. Antonius, triumvir

ruling queen of Pontus 8BC-33AD or 38/9 (attested coins 23/4 or 22/3 and 26/7 or 25/6)

reaffirmed by Augustus in 3/2 BC

2 ~ Archelaus I Philopatris Ktistes King of Cappadocia 36 BC-17 AD

A1265 RE Asp 1

A900

RE130

A1168 RE Art 3

A864 RE88

Ti. Iulius Aspurgus Philoromaios

elder son

Antonia Tryphaena

Zeno

M. Antonius Polemo

King of Bosporus 10/11 AD -37/8

assisted as private

Ruling Queen of Pontus 33?-38

Atraxias III as

probably = unnamed elder son of Polemo I

~ Gepaipyris, ruling queen 37/8-38/9

citizen his mother

or from 38-55/6 with Polemon II

King of Armenia 18-34

lord/high priest (archiereus)

dt of Cotys VIII of Thracia

in her reign

~ C. Iulius Cotys VIII

† 35 AD

of Olba in Cilicia Tracheia

and grd dt of Polemo I

? = A864 →

King of Thracia, † by 19 AD

(? = L. Antonius Zeno)

c.17 (attested 27/8) -38

→

?? King of Cilicia 41-68/9

(see stemma Antonius Zeno)

↓

R68 RE3

P1115

G168

RE1

J472

RE Pol 3

C1555 RE9

kings of Bosporus

(C.Iulius) Rhoemetalces III

Pythodoris (II)

Gepaipyris

(C.) Iulius Polemon II (Polemo II)

(C.Iulius) Cotys IX

King of Thracia 19 and c.38-46

? or sister to Cotys VIII

also M. Antonius Polemo on coins

King of Armenia Minor 38-a.54

installed by CALIGULA

~ C. Iulius

ruler of Bosporus 37/8-38/9

* c.15 King of Pontus 38-64

after Roman rule 17-38

archon Athens 36/37

Rhoemetalces II

with her son Mithradates III

King of Cilicia 41-68/9

installed by CALIGULA

murdered by his wife

King of Thracia 19-26 (38)

~ Ti. Iulius Aspurgus

Pontus became part of Roman province of Galatia

~ Pythodoris

King of Bosporus

as Pontus Polemonianus 64

10/11 AD -38/39

King of Bosporus 38-41 appointed by Imp. Caligula

←

but doubtful if he exercised any actual power

† 68/69 or 72

c.54 1 ~ Iulia Berenice of Judaea (J651)

2 ~ Iulia Mamaea, dt of king Sohaemus of Emesa

Rhoemetalces

Polemo