Arcathius
Encyclopedia
Arcathius was a Prince from the Kingdom of Pontus
. He was a prince of Persian
and Greek Macedonian ancestry
. Arcathius was among the sons born to King Mithridates VI of Pontus
and his sister-wife Laodice
. He was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus
.
Arcathius joined his father’s generals Neoptolemus
and Archelaus
with 10,000 horses which he brought from Lesser Armenia
at the commencement of the First Mithridatic War
(89 BC–85 BC). He participated in the great battle fought near the Amnias River
in Paphlagonia
which King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
was defeated.
He was a brilliant cavalry commander. In 86 BC, Arcathius invaded Macedonia with a separate army and completely conquered the country. He then proceeded to march against the Roman Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
, but on his way, Arcathius died near Mount Tisaion. Arcathius was a happy person in character and his father considered him as a beloved son and as a victorious hero in war.
Kingdom of Pontus
The Kingdom of Pontus or Pontic Empire was a state of Persian origin on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was founded by Mithridates I in 291 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC...
. He was a prince of Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
and Greek Macedonian ancestry
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
. Arcathius was among the sons born to King Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI or Mithradates VI Mithradates , from Old Persian Mithradatha, "gift of Mithra"; 134 BC – 63 BC, also known as Mithradates the Great and Eupator Dionysius, was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia from about 120 BC to 63 BC...
and his sister-wife Laodice
Laodice (sister-wife of Mithridates VI of Pontus)
Laodice was a beautiful Pontian Princess and Queen who was first wife and sister-wife to King Mithridates VI of Pontus.She was a monarch of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry...
. He was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus
Kingdom of Pontus
The Kingdom of Pontus or Pontic Empire was a state of Persian origin on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was founded by Mithridates I in 291 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC...
.
Arcathius joined his father’s generals Neoptolemus
Neoptolemus (Pontic general)
Neoptolemus was a distinguished general of King Mithridates VI of Pontus. He was the brother of Archelaus another general of Mithridates VI and the paternal uncle of Archelaus’ sons: Archelaus and Diogenes....
and Archelaus
Archelaus (general)
Archelaus was a leading military general of the King Mithridates VI of Pontus. Archelaus was the greatest general that had served under Mithridates VI and was also his favorite general....
with 10,000 horses which he brought from Lesser Armenia
Lesser Armenia
Lesser Armenia , also known as Armenia Minor and Armenia Inferior, refers to the Armenian populated regions, primarily to the West and North-West of the ancient Armenian Kingdom...
at the commencement of the First Mithridatic War
First Mithridatic War
The First Mithridatic War was a war challenging Rome's expanding Empire and rule over the Greek world. In this conflict, the Kingdom of Pontus and many Greek cities rebelling against Rome were led by Mithridates VI of Pontus against the Roman Republic and the Kingdom of Bithynia...
(89 BC–85 BC). He participated in the great battle fought near the Amnias River
Gök River
The Gök River or Gökırmak is a tributary of the Kızılırmak in Turkey. Its source is in Kastamonu Province....
in Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia was an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east, and separated from Phrygia by a prolongation to the east of the Bithynian Olympus...
which King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
Nicomedes IV Philopator, was the king of Bithynia, from c. 94 BC to 74 BC. He was the first son and successor of the Monarchs Nicomedes III of Bithynia and Nysa and had a sister called Nysa....
was defeated.
He was a brilliant cavalry commander. In 86 BC, Arcathius invaded Macedonia with a separate army and completely conquered the country. He then proceeded to march against the Roman Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
, but on his way, Arcathius died near Mount Tisaion. Arcathius was a happy person in character and his father considered him as a beloved son and as a victorious hero in war.
Sources
- http://ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0267.html
- Mayor, A. The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy, Princeton University Press, 2009