Mithridates II of Commagene
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Mithridates II Antiochus Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellen Monocritis or Mithridates II of Commagene (Greek: ο ΜιΘριδάτης Αντίοχος Επιφανής Φιλορωμαίος Φιλέλλην' Μονοκρίτης) was a man of Armenian[1] and Greek descent who lived in the 1st century BC. He was a prince of Commagene and one of the sons of King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene by an unknown mother. When his father died in 38 BC, he succeeded his father.
According to Plutarch, he was an ally to Roman Triumvir Mark Antony and in 31 BC Mithridates personally led his forces to Actium Greece in support of Antony in the war against Octavian (future Roman Emperor Augustus). Mithridates had a brother called Antiochus II of Commagene who was also a prince of the kingdom. In 29 BC, his brother Antiochus II was summoned to Rome by Roman Emperor Augustus, because Antiochus caused the assassination of an ambassador, whom Mithridates had sent to Rome. Antiochus II was executed on Augustus’ orders.
After the death of Antony and Augustus became Emperor, Mithridates became a loyal ally to the emperor. Augustus forced Mithridates to hand over to the Roman Province of Syria, a village in Commagene called Zeugma. The village was a major crossing to the Euphrates River. To avoid having any conflicts with Augustus, Mithridates dropped his title Philhellen, from his Aulic titulature however Mithridates was known as Philorhomaios. The titles Philhellen and Philorhomaios were names associated from the Royal Commagenean Cult that Mithridates’ late father had founded and played an important role in Mithridates‘ extraordinary personal position in the cult. His other title Monocritis was an unattested title and was a judicial function within the Royal Administration and was a sign of his high social standing.
According to an inscription of a funerary altar found in the Turkish village of Sofraz of a local wealthy leading family, which dates around the mid 1st century, reveals that the wife of Mithridates, was a Greek woman called Laodice. The altar inscribes family members that stretches over 7 generations and includes the names of Mithridates, his father and his wife Laodice. Mithridates reigned as king of Commagene between 38 BC-20 BC. When he died in 20 BC; his son with Laodice, Mithridates III of Commagene, succeeded him.
[edit] References
- ^ Chahin, Mark (2001). The Kingdom of Armenia. Routlege, pp. 190-191. ISBN 0700714529.
