Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia

Ariobarzanes I, named Philoromaios (Ancient Greek: Ἀριοϐαρζάνης Φιλορώμαιος, Ariobarzánēs Philorṓmaios, lover of Rome), was the king of Cappadocia from 95 BC to ca. 63 BC–62 BC. Ariobarzanes I was a Cappadocian nobleman of obscure origins who was of Persian descent.

Ariobarzanes I was originally put in place by the citizens vote of Cappadocia after the Roman Senate rejected the claims of Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia and was supported by the Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla. He was in control on and off of a kingdom that was considered a Roman protectorate and he was removed three separate times by King Tigranes the Great of Armenia before not only securing but actually increasing his lands under general Pompey in the Third Mithridatic War. He eventually abdicated, making way for the rule of his son Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia in ca. 63 BC–62 BC.

Ariobarzanes I married a Greek woman, whom he had as his queen a noblewoman called Athenais Philostorgos I. Athenais bore Ariobarzanes I two children, a son, Ariobarzanes II who succeeded him and a daughter, Isias Philostorgos who married the King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene.

Preceded by Ariarathes IX

Ruler of Cappadocia 95 BCE – ca. 63 BCE

Succeeded by Ariobarzanes II Philopator

References

Hornblower, Simon; Antony Spawforth (1996). The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford University Press.