Jump to content

Mithridates II of the Bosporus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by LuciusHistoricus (talk | contribs) at 23:24, 2 August 2023 (Added a link to the Battle of the Nile, where Mithridates fought under Caesar's command). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mithridates II
King of The Bosporus
Reign47 - 46 BC
PredecessorAsander (Bosporan king)
SuccessorAsander (Bosporan king)
Tetrarch of the Trocmi
ReignUnknown - 47 BC
Died46 BC
FatherMithridates VI Eupator
MotherAdobogiona the Elder

Mithridates II of the Bosporus, also known as Mithridates of Pergamon (flourished 1st century BC), was a nobleman from Anatolia. Mithridates was one of the sons born to King Mithridates VI of Pontus from his mistress, the Galatian Princess Adobogiona the Elder. He also had a full-blooded sister called Adobogiona the Younger. The Pontic prince was of Persian, Macedonian and Galatian ancestry.[1]

Early life

His father sent Mithridates to Pergamon to be educated, where he became a leading citizen of that city. Mithridates was a tetrarch over the Trocmi tribe.

Roman Civil War

In the winter of 48/47 BC, Julius Caesar was under siege in Alexandria by the armies of Achillas, guardian and general for King Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator. Mithridates raised an army and came to Caesar's relief. In the aftermath of the Battle of Zela, Caesar made him king of the Bosporan Kingdom. Mithridates's niece Dynamis and her husband Asander were the ruling monarchs at the time, and were defeated by Mithridates's army.

Reign as King of the Bosporus

Mithridates reign was short-lived, as Asander defeated him in 47/46 BC. Apparently, Mithridates died shortly after that. Sometime between 27 and 17 BC, Augustus formally recognised Asander as king of Bosporus.

Culture

Mithridates was portrayed by Furio Meniconi in the 1963 film Cleopatra.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Adrienne., Mayor (2011). Poison king : the life and legend of mithradates, rome's deadliest enemy. Princeton Univ Press. ISBN 978-0-691-15026-0. OCLC 694600766.
  2. ^ Cleopatra (1963) - IMDb, retrieved 2021-05-11

Sources

  • Mayor, Adrienne: "The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy" Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2009, ISBN 978-0-691-12683-8