Editing Pontus (region) (section)

===Kingdom of Pontus===
{{main|Kingdom of Pontus}}

The [[Kingdom of Pontus]] extended generally to the east of the Halys River. The [[Persian people|Persian]] dynasty which was to found this kingdom had during the 4th century BC ruled the Greek city of [[Cius]] (or Kios) in [[Mysia]], with its first known member being [[Ariobarzanes I of Cius]] and the last ruler based in the city being [[Mithridates II of Cius]]. Mithridates II's son, also called [[Mithridates III of Cius|Mithridates]], would proclaim himself later Mithridates I Ktistes of Pontus.

As the ''[[Encyclopaedia Iranica]]'' states, the most famous member of the family, [[Mithradates VI Eupator]], although undoubtedly presenting himself to the Greek world as a civilized philhellene and new Alexander, also paraded his [[History of Iran|Iranian]] background: he maintained a harem and [[eunuchs]] in true Oriental fashion; he gave all his sons Persian names; he sacrificed spectacularly in the manner of the Persian kings at [[Pasargadae]] (Appian, Mith. 66, 70); and he appointed “[[satraps]]” (a Persian title) as his provincial governors.<ref name="iranicaonline.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/pontus|title=PONTUS – Encyclopaedia Iranica|last=electricpulp.com|website=www.iranicaonline.org|access-date=2015-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724160218/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/pontus|archive-date=2015-07-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> Iranica further states, and although there is only one inscription attesting it, he seems to have adopted the title “king of kings.” The very small number of Hellenistic Greek inscriptions that have been found anywhere in Pontus suggest that [[Greek culture]] did not substantially penetrate beyond the coastal cities and the court.<ref name="iranicaonline.org"/>

During the troubled period following the death of [[Alexander the Great]], Mithridates Ktistes was for a time in the service of [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]], one of Alexander's [[Diadochi|successors]],<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911 |wstitle=Pontus |volume=22 |pages=70–71 |first=John George Clark |last=Anderson}}</ref> and successfully maneuvering in this unsettled time managed, shortly after 302 BC, to create the Kingdom of Pontus which would be ruled by his descendants mostly bearing the same name, until 64 BC. Thus, this Persian dynasty managed to survive and prosper in the [[Hellenistic]] world while the main [[Persian Empire]] had fallen.

This kingdom reached its greatest height under [[Mithridates VI]] or Mithridates Eupator, commonly called the Great, who for many years carried on war with the Romans. Under him,  the realm of Pontus included not only Pontic Cappadocia but also the seaboard from the [[Bithynia]]n frontier to [[Colchis]], part of inland [[Paphlagonia]], and [[Lesser Armenia]].<ref name=EB1911/> Despite ruling Lesser Armenia, King Mithridates VI was an ally of Armenian King [[Tigranes the Great]], to whom he married his daughter Cleopatra.<ref>Hewsen, 41 f.</ref> Eventually, however, the Romans defeated both King Mithridates VI and his son-in-law, Armenian King Tigranes the Great, during the [[Mithridatic Wars]], bringing Pontus under Roman rule.<ref name=Hewsen42>Hewsen, 42.</ref>

[[File:1stMithritadicwar89BC.svg|center|300px|thumb|Map of Asia Minor in 89 BC, showing Roman provinces and client states as well as Pontic territory. The Kingdom of Pontus, under Mithridates VI the Great, is in green.]]