bgr_1118104 - CAPPADOCIA - CAPPADOCIAN KINGDOM - ARIARATHES IX EUSEBES PHILOPATOR Drachme

CAPPADOCIA - CAPPADOCIAN KINGDOM - ARIARATHES IX EUSEBES PHILOPATOR

(101-87 BC)

Ariarathes IX is the son of Mithridates VI Eupator (120-63 BC). Installed by his father on the throne of Cappadocia at the age of eight. Mithridates was already the uncle of Ariarathes VII Philometor (116-115 BC) and brother-in-law of Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator (130-116 BC). The real ruler of Cappadocia during the reign of Ariarathes IX was Mithridates VI of Pontus. The throne of the young sovereign was disputed to him by Ariobarzanes Ier Philoromaios (96-63 before J. - C.) who was elected by the noble Cappadocians having nothing to do with the old royal family. Driven out, then reinstated several times on the throne of Cappadocia, Ariarathes IX was finally assassinated in Thessaly in 87 BC..