Editing Cappadocia (section)

===Kingdom of Cappadocia===
{{main|Kingdom of Cappadocia}}
After ending the Persian Empire, [[Alexander the Great]] tried to rule the area through one of his military commanders. But [[Ariarathes I of Cappadocia|Ariarathes]], previously satrap of the region, declared himself king of the Cappadocians. As Ariarathes I (332–322&nbsp;BC), he was a successful ruler, and he extended the borders of the Cappadocian Kingdom as far as to the [[Black Sea]]. The kingdom of Cappadocia lived in peace until the death of Alexander. The previous empire was then divided into many parts, and Cappadocia fell to [[Eumenes]]. His claims were made good in 322&nbsp;BC by the regent [[Perdiccas]], who crucified Ariarathes; but in the dissensions which brought about Eumenes's death, [[Ariarathes II of Cappadocia|Ariarathes II]], the adopted son of Ariarathes I, recovered his inheritance and left it to a line of successors, who mostly bore the name of the founder of the [[List of rulers of Cappadocia|dynasty]].{{sfn|Bunbury|Hogarth|1911|p=287}}

Persian colonists in the Cappadocian kingdom, cut off from their co-religionists in Iran proper, continued to practice [[Zoroastrianism]]. [[Strabo]], observing them in the first century BC, records (XV.3.15) that these "fire kindlers" possessed many "holy places of the Persian Gods", as well as [[fire temple]]s.<ref name="books.google.nl">Mary Boyce. [https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&dq=armenians+zoroastrianism+christianity&pg=PA84 ''Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices''] Psychology Press, 2001 {{ISBN|978-0415239028}} p. 85</ref> Strabo furthermore relates, were "noteworthy enclosures; and in their midst there is an altar, on which there is a large quantity of ashes and where the magi keep the fire ever burning."<ref name="books.google.nl"/> According to Strabo, who wrote during the time of [[Augustus]] ({{Reign|27 BC|AD 14}}), almost three hundred years after the fall of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, there remained only traces of Persians in western [[Asia Minor]]; however, he considered Cappadocia "almost a living part of Persia".{{sfn|Raditsa|1983|page=107}}

Under [[Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia|Ariarathes&nbsp;IV]], Cappadocia came into relations with [[Roman Republic|Rome]], first as a foe espousing the cause of [[Antiochus III the Great|Antiochus the Great]], then as an ally against [[Perseus of Macedon]]. The kings henceforward threw in their lot with the Republic as against the [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucids]], to whom they had been from time to time tributary. [[Ariarathes V of Cappadocia|Ariarathes&nbsp;V]] marched with the Roman [[proconsul]] [[Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus]] against [[Eumenes III|Aristonicus]], a claimant to the throne of [[Pergamon]], and their forces were annihilated (130&nbsp;BC). The imbroglio which followed his death ultimately led to interference by the rising power of [[Pontus (region)|Pontus]] and the intrigues and wars which ended in the failure of the dynasty.{{sfn|Bunbury|Hogarth|1911|p=287}}<ref>The coinage of Cappadocian kings was quite extensive and produced by highest standards of the time. See [http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=288 Asia Minor Coins – regal Cappadocian coins]</ref>