Nicomedes III of Bithynia
Encyclopedia
Nicomedes III Euergetes was the king of Bithynia
, from c. 127 BC to c. 94 BC. He was the son and successor of Nicomedes II of Bithynia by an unnamed woman.
The first wife of Nicomedes III, was the Cappadocia
n Princess Nysa, daughter of the Monarchs Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
and Laodice of Cappadocia
. By Nysa, Nicomedes III had two sons who were Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
, Socrates Chrestus
and a daughter called Nysa. Nicomedes III and Nysa were distantly related as they held lineage from the Seleucid dynasty
, the Antipatrid dynasty
and the Antigonid dynasty
.
He made himself for a time master of Paphlagonia
. After the deaths of his first wife and father-in-law, in order to have a claim on Cappadocia
, Nicomedes III married his former mother-in-law as his second wife. Laodice who had fled to him when King Mithridates VI of Pontus
(Laodice’s first brother) endeavoured to annex the country. With Laodice's two sons Ariarathes VII
and Ariarathes VIII
dead, Nicomedes III brought forward an impostor as a claimant to the throne; but the plot was detected. The Roman Senate
refused to recognize the claim, and required Nicomedes III to give up all pretensions to Cappadocia and to abandon Paphlagonia. This may be the Nicomedes III referred to in 'Fortune's Favourite', & 'Caesar' (Rome series, author Colleen McCullough
), see her bibliography for sources.
Quotes
When Nicomedes III was asked to provide troops for Roman Statesman Gaius Marius
´ war on the Cimbri and Teutones in transalpine Gaul in 104 BC he turned down the request declaring: "All those eligible for military service in my kingdom have been robbed by the Roman tax-farmers and sold into slavery".
Nicomedes III Euergetes was the king of Bithynia
, from c. 127 BC to c. 94 BC. He was the son and successor of Nicomedes II of Bithynia by an unnamed woman.
The first wife of Nicomedes III, was the Cappadocia
n Princess Nysa, daughter of the Monarchs Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
and Laodice of Cappadocia
. By Nysa, Nicomedes III had two sons who were Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
, Socrates Chrestus
and a daughter called Nysa. Nicomedes III and Nysa were distantly related as they held lineage from the Seleucid dynasty
, the Antipatrid dynasty
and the Antigonid dynasty
.
He made himself for a time master of Paphlagonia
. After the deaths of his first wife and father-in-law, in order to have a claim on Cappadocia
, Nicomedes III married his former mother-in-law as his second wife. Laodice who had fled to him when King Mithridates VI of Pontus
(Laodice’s first brother) endeavoured to annex the country. With Laodice's two sons Ariarathes VII
and Ariarathes VIII
dead, Nicomedes III brought forward an impostor as a claimant to the throne; but the plot was detected. The Roman Senate
refused to recognize the claim, and required Nicomedes III to give up all pretensions to Cappadocia and to abandon Paphlagonia. This may be the Nicomedes III referred to in 'Fortune's Favourite', & 'Caesar' (Rome series, author Colleen McCullough
), see her bibliography for sources.
Quotes
When Nicomedes III was asked to provide troops for Roman Statesman Gaius Marius
´ war on the Cimbri and Teutones in transalpine Gaul in 104 BC he turned down the request declaring: "All those eligible for military service in my kingdom have been robbed by the Roman tax-farmers and sold into slavery".
Nicomedes III Euergetes was the king of Bithynia
, from c. 127 BC to c. 94 BC. He was the son and successor of Nicomedes II of Bithynia by an unnamed woman.
The first wife of Nicomedes III, was the Cappadocia
n Princess Nysa, daughter of the Monarchs Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
and Laodice of Cappadocia
. By Nysa, Nicomedes III had two sons who were Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
, Socrates Chrestus
and a daughter called Nysa. Nicomedes III and Nysa were distantly related as they held lineage from the Seleucid dynasty
, the Antipatrid dynasty
and the Antigonid dynasty
.
He made himself for a time master of Paphlagonia
. After the deaths of his first wife and father-in-law, in order to have a claim on Cappadocia
, Nicomedes III married his former mother-in-law as his second wife. Laodice who had fled to him when King Mithridates VI of Pontus
(Laodice’s first brother) endeavoured to annex the country. With Laodice's two sons Ariarathes VII
and Ariarathes VIII
dead, Nicomedes III brought forward an impostor as a claimant to the throne; but the plot was detected. The Roman Senate
refused to recognize the claim, and required Nicomedes III to give up all pretensions to Cappadocia and to abandon Paphlagonia. This may be the Nicomedes III referred to in 'Fortune's Favourite', & 'Caesar' (Rome series, author Colleen McCullough
), see her bibliography for sources.
Quotes
When Nicomedes III was asked to provide troops for Roman Statesman Gaius Marius
´ war on the Cimbri and Teutones in transalpine Gaul in 104 BC he turned down the request declaring: "All those eligible for military service in my kingdom have been robbed by the Roman tax-farmers and sold into slavery".
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
, from c. 127 BC to c. 94 BC. He was the son and successor of Nicomedes II of Bithynia by an unnamed woman.
The first wife of Nicomedes III, was the Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
n Princess Nysa, daughter of the Monarchs Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator , King of Cappadocia, was the youngest son of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and Nysa of Cappadocia.He reigned about 14 years . He was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother who acted as his regent...
and Laodice of Cappadocia
Laodice of Cappadocia
Laodice of Cappadocia, also known as Laodice was a Princess from the Kingdom of Pontus.Laodice was a monarch of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. She was the daughter; first born child of the Pontian Monarchs Laodice VI and Mithridates V Euergetes who reigned 150-120 BC. Among her siblings,...
. By Nysa, Nicomedes III had two sons who were 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....
, Socrates Chrestus
Socrates Chrestus
Socrates Chrestus was a Greek Prince and King of Bithynia.Socrates was the second son born to the Monarchs Nysa and Nicomedes III of Bithynia. He had a sister called Nysa and his eldest brother was his father’s heir Nicomedes IV of Bithynia...
and a daughter called Nysa. Nicomedes III and Nysa were distantly related as they held lineage from the Seleucid dynasty
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
, the Antipatrid dynasty
Antipatrid dynasty
The Antipatrid dynasty was a Macedonian dynasty founded by Cassander, the son of Antipater, who declared himself King of Macedon in 302 BC. This dynasty did not last long; in 294 BC it was overthrown by the Antigonid dynasty, whose members proved to be more effective rulers.Members of the...
and the Antigonid dynasty
Antigonid dynasty
The Antigonid dynasty was a dynasty of Hellenistic kings descended from Alexander the Great's general Antigonus I Monophthalmus .-History:...
.
He made himself for a time master of 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...
. After the deaths of his first wife and father-in-law, in order to have a claim on Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, Nicomedes III married his former mother-in-law as his second wife. Laodice who had fled to him when 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...
(Laodice’s first brother) endeavoured to annex the country. With Laodice's two sons Ariarathes VII
Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VII Philometor , King of Cappadocia, was the first son of King Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and his wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VII had an older sister called Nysa and a younger brother called Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia....
and Ariarathes VIII
Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes , King of Cappadocia, was the second son of Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VIII had an older sister called Nysa and an older brother called Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia....
dead, Nicomedes III brought forward an impostor as a claimant to the throne; but the plot was detected. The Roman Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
refused to recognize the claim, and required Nicomedes III to give up all pretensions to Cappadocia and to abandon Paphlagonia. This may be the Nicomedes III referred to in 'Fortune's Favourite', & 'Caesar' (Rome series, author Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough-Robinson, , is an internationally acclaimed Australian author.-Life:McCullough was born in Wellington, in outback central west New South Wales, in 1937 to James and Laurie McCullough. Her mother was a New Zealander of part-Māori descent. During her childhood, her family moved...
), see her bibliography for sources.
Quotes
When Nicomedes III was asked to provide troops for Roman Statesman Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
´ war on the Cimbri and Teutones in transalpine Gaul in 104 BC he turned down the request declaring: "All those eligible for military service in my kingdom have been robbed by the Roman tax-farmers and sold into slavery".
Nicomedes III Euergetes was the king of Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
, from c. 127 BC to c. 94 BC. He was the son and successor of Nicomedes II of Bithynia by an unnamed woman.
The first wife of Nicomedes III, was the Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
n Princess Nysa, daughter of the Monarchs Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator , King of Cappadocia, was the youngest son of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and Nysa of Cappadocia.He reigned about 14 years . He was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother who acted as his regent...
and Laodice of Cappadocia
Laodice of Cappadocia
Laodice of Cappadocia, also known as Laodice was a Princess from the Kingdom of Pontus.Laodice was a monarch of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. She was the daughter; first born child of the Pontian Monarchs Laodice VI and Mithridates V Euergetes who reigned 150-120 BC. Among her siblings,...
. By Nysa, Nicomedes III had two sons who were 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....
, Socrates Chrestus
Socrates Chrestus
Socrates Chrestus was a Greek Prince and King of Bithynia.Socrates was the second son born to the Monarchs Nysa and Nicomedes III of Bithynia. He had a sister called Nysa and his eldest brother was his father’s heir Nicomedes IV of Bithynia...
and a daughter called Nysa. Nicomedes III and Nysa were distantly related as they held lineage from the Seleucid dynasty
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
, the Antipatrid dynasty
Antipatrid dynasty
The Antipatrid dynasty was a Macedonian dynasty founded by Cassander, the son of Antipater, who declared himself King of Macedon in 302 BC. This dynasty did not last long; in 294 BC it was overthrown by the Antigonid dynasty, whose members proved to be more effective rulers.Members of the...
and the Antigonid dynasty
Antigonid dynasty
The Antigonid dynasty was a dynasty of Hellenistic kings descended from Alexander the Great's general Antigonus I Monophthalmus .-History:...
.
He made himself for a time master of 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...
. After the deaths of his first wife and father-in-law, in order to have a claim on Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, Nicomedes III married his former mother-in-law as his second wife. Laodice who had fled to him when 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...
(Laodice’s first brother) endeavoured to annex the country. With Laodice's two sons Ariarathes VII
Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VII Philometor , King of Cappadocia, was the first son of King Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and his wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VII had an older sister called Nysa and a younger brother called Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia....
and Ariarathes VIII
Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes , King of Cappadocia, was the second son of Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VIII had an older sister called Nysa and an older brother called Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia....
dead, Nicomedes III brought forward an impostor as a claimant to the throne; but the plot was detected. The Roman Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
refused to recognize the claim, and required Nicomedes III to give up all pretensions to Cappadocia and to abandon Paphlagonia. This may be the Nicomedes III referred to in 'Fortune's Favourite', & 'Caesar' (Rome series, author Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough-Robinson, , is an internationally acclaimed Australian author.-Life:McCullough was born in Wellington, in outback central west New South Wales, in 1937 to James and Laurie McCullough. Her mother was a New Zealander of part-Māori descent. During her childhood, her family moved...
), see her bibliography for sources.
Quotes
When Nicomedes III was asked to provide troops for Roman Statesman Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
´ war on the Cimbri and Teutones in transalpine Gaul in 104 BC he turned down the request declaring: "All those eligible for military service in my kingdom have been robbed by the Roman tax-farmers and sold into slavery".
Nicomedes III Euergetes was the king of Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
, from c. 127 BC to c. 94 BC. He was the son and successor of Nicomedes II of Bithynia by an unnamed woman.
The first wife of Nicomedes III, was the Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
n Princess Nysa, daughter of the Monarchs Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator , King of Cappadocia, was the youngest son of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and Nysa of Cappadocia.He reigned about 14 years . He was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother who acted as his regent...
and Laodice of Cappadocia
Laodice of Cappadocia
Laodice of Cappadocia, also known as Laodice was a Princess from the Kingdom of Pontus.Laodice was a monarch of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. She was the daughter; first born child of the Pontian Monarchs Laodice VI and Mithridates V Euergetes who reigned 150-120 BC. Among her siblings,...
. By Nysa, Nicomedes III had two sons who were 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....
, Socrates Chrestus
Socrates Chrestus
Socrates Chrestus was a Greek Prince and King of Bithynia.Socrates was the second son born to the Monarchs Nysa and Nicomedes III of Bithynia. He had a sister called Nysa and his eldest brother was his father’s heir Nicomedes IV of Bithynia...
and a daughter called Nysa. Nicomedes III and Nysa were distantly related as they held lineage from the Seleucid dynasty
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
, the Antipatrid dynasty
Antipatrid dynasty
The Antipatrid dynasty was a Macedonian dynasty founded by Cassander, the son of Antipater, who declared himself King of Macedon in 302 BC. This dynasty did not last long; in 294 BC it was overthrown by the Antigonid dynasty, whose members proved to be more effective rulers.Members of the...
and the Antigonid dynasty
Antigonid dynasty
The Antigonid dynasty was a dynasty of Hellenistic kings descended from Alexander the Great's general Antigonus I Monophthalmus .-History:...
.
He made himself for a time master of 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...
. After the deaths of his first wife and father-in-law, in order to have a claim on Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, Nicomedes III married his former mother-in-law as his second wife. Laodice who had fled to him when 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...
(Laodice’s first brother) endeavoured to annex the country. With Laodice's two sons Ariarathes VII
Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VII Philometor , King of Cappadocia, was the first son of King Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and his wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VII had an older sister called Nysa and a younger brother called Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia....
and Ariarathes VIII
Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes , King of Cappadocia, was the second son of Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VIII had an older sister called Nysa and an older brother called Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia....
dead, Nicomedes III brought forward an impostor as a claimant to the throne; but the plot was detected. The Roman Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
refused to recognize the claim, and required Nicomedes III to give up all pretensions to Cappadocia and to abandon Paphlagonia. This may be the Nicomedes III referred to in 'Fortune's Favourite', & 'Caesar' (Rome series, author Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough-Robinson, , is an internationally acclaimed Australian author.-Life:McCullough was born in Wellington, in outback central west New South Wales, in 1937 to James and Laurie McCullough. Her mother was a New Zealander of part-Māori descent. During her childhood, her family moved...
), see her bibliography for sources.
Quotes
When Nicomedes III was asked to provide troops for Roman Statesman Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
´ war on the Cimbri and Teutones in transalpine Gaul in 104 BC he turned down the request declaring: "All those eligible for military service in my kingdom have been robbed by the Roman tax-farmers and sold into slavery".
Sources
- B.C. McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, BRILL, 1986
- The Dynastic History of the Hellenistic Monarchies of Asia Minor According to Chronography of George Synkellos by Oleg L. Gabelko