ARTICLE III.

Abridgement of the history of the kings of Cappadocia, from the foundation of that kingdom to the time when it became a province of the Roman empire.

I HAVE spoken in several parts of this history of the kings of Cappadocia, according as I had occasion, but without mentioning either their beginning or succession. I shall here unite in one point of view all that relates to that kingdom.

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Cappadocia is a great country of Asia Minor. The Persians, under whom it was at first, had divided it into two parts, and established two satrapies or governments in it. The Macedonians, into whose possession it fell, suffered those two governments to be changed into kingdoms. The one extended towards mount Taurus, and was properly called Cappadocia, or Cappadocia Major, the other towards Pontus, and was called Cappadocia Pontica, or Cappadocia Minor; they were at length united into one kingdom.

Strabo says, that Ariarathes was the first king of Cappadocia, but does not mention at what time he began to reign. It is probable, that it was about A. M.the time that Philip, father of Alexander the Great, 3644. began to reign in Macedonia, and Ochus in Persia; Ant. J. C. admitting that the kingdom of Cappadocia continued three hundred threescore and sixteen years, before it was reduced into a province of the Roman empire under Tiberius.

It was governed at first by a long succession of kings named Ariarathes, then by kings called Ariobarzanes, who did not exceed the third generation ;

360.

A. M. 3644. Ant. J. C. 360.

351.

and at length by the last, Archelaus. According to Diodorus Siculus, there had been many kings of Cappadocia before Ariarathes; but as their history is almost entirely unknown, I shall make no mention of it in this place.

ARIARATHES I. He reigned jointly with his brother Holofernes, for whom he had a particular affection.

Having joined the Persians in the expedition A.M. against Egypt, he acquired great glory, and returned 3653. home laden with honours by king Ochus. Ant. J. C. d ARIARATHES II. son of the former, had lived at peace in his dominions, during the wars of Alexander the Great, who, out of impatience to come to blows with Darius, was unwilling to be delayed by the conquest of Cappadocia, and had contented himself with some instances of submission.

A. M.

3668. Ant. J. C.

336.

A. M. 3689.

315.

After that prince's death, Cappadocia, in the partition made of the provinces of his empire by his generals, fell to Eumenes. Perdiccas, to put him into possession of it, conducted him thither at the head of a powerful army. Ariarathes on his side prepared for a vigorous defence. He had thirty thousand foot and a numerous cavalry. They came to a battle. Ariarathes was defeated and taken prisoner. Perdiccas caused him, with his principal officers, to be crucified, and put Eumenes into possession of his dominions.

ARIARATHES III. After the death of his father, he escaped into Armenia.

As soon as he was apprised of the death of Perdiccas and Eumenes, and the employment which other Ant. J. C. wars gave Antiochus and Seleucus, he entered Cappadocia with troops lent him by Ardoates king of Armenia. He defeated Amyntas, general of the Macedonians, drove him out of the country, and re-ascended the throne of his ancestors.

A. M. 37 20.

Ant. J. C.

284.

ARTAMNES, his eldest son, succeeded him. He entered into an alliance with Antiochus Theos, king of Syria,

Plut. in Eumen. p. 548 Diod. 1. xviii. p. 590.

and married his eldest son to Stratonice, the daughter of the same Antiochus. He had so great an affection for this son, that he made him his colleague in the kingdom.

ARIARATHES IV. having reigned alone after the death of his father, left his dominions, when he died, to his son of the same name with himself, who was at that time very young.

ARIARATHES V. He married Antiochis, daughter of Antiochus the Great, an artful princess, who finding herself barren, had recourse to imposture. She deceived her husband, and made him believe that she had two sons, one of whom was called Ariarathes, and the other * Holophernes. Her barrenness ceasing some time after, she had two daughters, and then one son, who was named Mithridates. She confessed the fraud to her husband, and sent the elder of the supposititious children to be brought up at Rome, with a small train, and the other into Ionia. The legitimate son took the name of Ariarathes, and was educated after the manner of the Greeks.

ARIARATHES V. Supplied his father-in-law, Antiochus king of Syria, with troops, in the war which he undertook against the Romans. Antiochus having been defeated, Ariarathes sent ambassadors to Rome, to ask pardon of the senate, for having been obliged to declare against the Romans in favour of his fatherin-law. This was granted him, but not till after he had been condemned to pay, by way of expiation of his fault, two hundred talents, that is to say, two hundred thousand crowns. The senate afterwards abated him half that sum, at the request of Eumenes king of Pergamus, who had lately married his daughter.

Ariarathes afterwards entered into an alliance with his son-in-law Eumenes, against Pharnaces king of

e Liv. 1. xxxvii. n. 40. 1. xxxviii. n. 37, & 39. He is called so by Polybius, and Orophernes by Diodorus Siculus

KK 2

A. M. 3814.

Ant. J. C.

190:

HE

A. M.

3842.

Ant. J.C.

162.

Pontus. The Romans, who had rendered themselves arbiters of the kings of the East, sent ambassadors to negotiate a treaty between those three princes: but Pharnaces rejected their mediation. However, two years after, he was obliged to treat with Eumenes and Ariarathes upon conditions sufficiently hard.

The latter had a son of his own name, who loved him in the most tender manner, which occasioned his being surnamed Philopator, and for whom he had no less affection. He desired to give him proofs of it by resigning the kingdom to him, and placing him upon the throne during his life. The son, who' had all possible affection and respect for a father who so well deserved both, could not resolve to accept an offer so advantageous in the vulgar opinion of men, but one which aimed a mortal wound at so good a heart as his; and represented to his father, that he was not one of those who could consent to reign during the life of him to whom he owed his being. Such examples of moderation, generosity, disinterestedness, and sincere affection for a father, are the more extraordinary, and the more to be admired, as in the times of which we are now relating the history, inordinate ambition respected nothing, and boldly violated the most sacred ties of nature and religion.

'Ariarathes VI. surnamed Philopator, reigned after his father's death, and was an excellent prince. As soon as he ascended the throne, he sent an embassy to Rome, to renew the alliance his father had contracted with the Romans, which he found no dif

ficulty to obtain. He applied himself very closely to the study of philosophy, from whence Cappadocia, which, till then, had been unknown to the Greeks, became the residence of many learned men.

Diod. in Eclog. 1. xxxi. p. 865.

Demetrius, king of Syria, had a sister, whom Ariarathes refused to espouse, lest that alliance, should give offence to the Romans. The refusal extremely prejudiced Demetrius against the king of Cappadocia, He soon found an occasion to be revenged, by supplying Holophernes with troops, who pretended to be the brother of Ariarathes, expelled him from the throne, and after that violence reigned tyrannically. He put many to death, confiscated the estates of the greatest noblemen, and even plundered a temple of Jupiter, which had been reverenced by the people from time immemorial, and had never suffered such a violation before. Apprehending a revolution which his cruelty gave him reason to expect, he deposited four hundred talents with the inhabitants of Priene, a city of Ionia. Ariarathes had taken refuge at Rome, to implore aid of the Romans. The usurper sent his deputies thither also. The senate, according to the usual motives of their policy, decrced that the kingdom should be divided between the two brothers. Ariarathes found a more ready and more effectual protector in the person of Attalus king of Pergamus, who signalized the beginning of his reign by re-establishing this unfortunate prince upon the throne of his ancestors. Ariarathes, to revenge himself on the usurper, wished to compel the inhabitants of Priene to deliver into his hands the four hundred talents Holophernes had left with them. They opposed that demand, with pleading the inviolable faith of deposits, which would not admit their giving up that sum to any one whosoever, during the life of the person who had confided it to their keeping. Ariarathes had no regard to so just a representation, and laid waste their lands without mercy, notwithstanding which, so considerable a loss did

Diod. in Excerpt. p. 334, & 336. * Four hundred thousand crowns.