Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia

O: Diademed head of Ariarathes VI	R: Athena holding Nike with wreath and resting hand on grounded shield, spear behind; BAΣIΛEΩΣ / APIAPAΘOY ; monograms in field
Silver drachm struck in Eusebeia 130 BC–116 BC;

Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator (Ancient Greek: Ἀριαράθης Ἐπιφανής Φιλοπάτωρ, Ariaráthēs Epiphanḗs Philopátōr; reigned 130–116 BC or 126 BC–111 BC), King of Cappadocia, was the youngest son of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and Nysa of Cappadocia.

He reigned about 14 years (130–116 BC). He was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother who acted as his regent. At some point her mother seems to have poisoned all Ariarathes’ five brothers; but the infant king was saved by people loyal to the dynasty and had Nysa killed. These facts were a good pretext for his maternal uncle King Mithridates V Euergetes of Pontus (150 BC–120 BC), for trying to assert control over the country. For this he married Ariarathes to his maternal cousin Laodice of Cappadocia, his first daughter. Laodice bore Ariarathes one daughter and two sons: Nysa who married King Nicomedes III Euergetes of Bithynia; Ariarathes VII Philometor and Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes.

Since this wasn't deemed enough to transform Cappadocia in a satellite of Pontus, Mithridates V Euergetes' son, Mithridates VI, murdered Ariarathes using Gordius, a Cappadocian nobleman. On his death the kingdom was briefly ruled by Ariarathes' widow and then seized by King Nicomedes III of Bithynia, who married Laodice, the king's widow. Nicomedes III was soon expelled by Mithridates VI, who placed upon the throne Ariarathes VII.

References

Woodcut illustration of Berenice (or Laodice) of Cappadocia, wife of Ariarathes VI

• Hazel, John; Who's Who in the Greek World, "Ariarathes VI", (1999)
• Head, Barclay; Historia Numorum, "Cappadocia", (1911)
• Justin; Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, John Selby Watson (translator); London, (1886)
• Smith, William (editor); Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Ariarathes VI", Boston, (1867)

Notes

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 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 

Preceded by Ariarathes V

King of Cappadocia 130 BC – 116 BC

Succeeded by Ariarathes VII