v11_0161 - CAPPADOCIA - CAPPADOCIAN KINGDOM - ARIARATHES VII PHILOMETOR Drachme

CAPPADOCIA - CAPPADOCIAN KINGDOM - ARIARATHES VII PHILOMETOR

(116-101 BC)

Ariarathes VII, is the son of Ariarathes VI Ephiphanes Philopator (130-116 BC) and Laodike, the sister of Mithridates VI of Pontus (121-63 BC). On the death of his father, his mother assumed the regency. Nicomedes III, king of Bithynia (128-94 BC) seized Cappadocia and married Laodiké. Mithridates VI of Pontus in turn invaded the country, drove out Nicomedes and restored his nephew, Ariarathes VII. But a dissension arose between the kings of Cappadocia and Pontus about Gordios, a former collaborator of Ariarathes VI. War broke out, but Mithridates had his nephew assassinated before the battle and replaced him with his own son, Ariarathes IX (101-87 BC).