Editing Antiochus I of Commagene (section)

==Family, ancestry and early life==
Antiochus&nbsp;I was the son of king [[Mithridates I Callinicus]] and queen [[Laodice VII Thea]] of Commagene.{{sfnp|Widengren|1986|pp=135–136}} Antiochus was half [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]], a distant member of the [[Orontid dynasty]]<ref>{{harvnb|Marciak|2017|p=157}}; {{harvnb|Garsoian|2005}}; {{harvnb|Erskine|Llewellyn-Jones|Wallace|2017|p=75}}; {{harvnb|Babaie|Grigor|2015|p=80}}; {{harvnb|Sartre|2005|p=23}}; {{harvnb|Widengren|1986|pp=135–136}}; {{harvnb|Merz|Tieleman|2012|p=68}}; {{harvnb|Canepa|2010|p=13}}; {{harvnb|Ball|2002|p=436}}</ref> and half Greek.{{efn|“After taking over my paternal dominion (archē) […] I proclaimed that the kingdom (basileia) subject to my throne should be the common dwelling place of all the gods; and I decorated it with representations of their forms by all the kinds of art that the ancient traditions (logos) of Persians and Greeks – the fortunate roots of my ancestry – had handed down [to me], and honored them with sacrifices and festivals in accordance with the 
original law (nomos) and common practice (ethos) of all mankind ”{{sfn|Strootman|2021|p=297}}}} Antiochus' father Mithridates was the son of King [[Sames II Theosebes Dikaios]] of Commagene and an unidentified woman. Mithridates was possibly related to the kings of [[Arsacid Empire|Parthia]] and, in the light of archaeological discoveries at [[Mount Nemrut]], claimed descent from [[Orontes I|Orontes]] and also claimed [[Darius I]] of Persia as an ancestor, thanks to Orontes' marriage to Rhodogune, daughter of [[Artaxerxes II of Persia|Artaxerxes&nbsp;II]], who was a descendant of king [[Darius I]].

More certain are his dynastic connections to the [[Diadochi]]. Antiochus’ mother, [[Laodice VII Thea]], was a Greek princess of the [[Seleucid Empire]]. Laodice's father was the Seleucid King [[Antiochus VIII Grypus]], while her mother was a [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic]] princess and later Seleucid Queen Tryphaena (see [[Cleopatra VI of Egypt]]). Thus, Antiochus was a direct descendant of [[Seleucus I Nicator]] of the [[Seleucid Empire]], [[Ptolemy I Soter]] of [[Egypt]], [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus]] of [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]] and Asia, [[Lysimachus]] of [[Thrace]] and the [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonian]] regent, [[Antipater]]. These five men, the [[Diadochi]] 'successors', had served as generals under [[Alexander the Great]]. Antiochus’ parents had married as part of a peace alliance between their kingdoms. Little is known of his early life and education, aside from its philhellenic aspect; however, it seems that when his father died in 70&nbsp;{{sc|BC}}, Antiochus succeeded his father as king.

Antiochus married Isias, daughter of King [[Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia]]. They had five children:
* [[Mithridates II of Commagene]], succeeded Antiochus as King of Commagene after his death in 31&nbsp;{{sc|BC}}
* [[Laodice of Parthia|Laodice]], who married [[Orodes II of Parthia|King Orodes&nbsp;II of Parthia]]
* [[Antiochus II of Commagene|Prince Antiochus II of Commagene]]
* [[Antiochis of Commagene]]