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Laodice of Cappadocia
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Laodice of Cappadocia
Berenice or Laodice of Cappadocia, also known as Laodice (Ancient Greek: Λαοδίκη Laodíkē; flourished from the mid-120s BC to the 90s BC) was a princess from the Kingdom of Pontus and a queen of the Kingdom of Cappadocia by marriage to Ariarathes VI, and queen of Bithynia by marriage to Nicomedes III. She was regent of Cappadocia in 116 BC during the minority of her son Ariarathes VII.
Laodice was of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. She was the first born child of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Pontus, Laodice VI and Mithridates V. One of the siblings was Mithridates, who became Mithridates VI, and reigned 120–63 BC. She was born and raised in Pontus.
Between 130 and 126 BC, her aunt, the sister of Mithridates V, queen of Cappadocia and regent of her son Ariarathes VI, Nysa of Cappadocia, died. She had been the wife and later the widow of the previous Cappadocian King Ariarathes V.
Mithridates V was aware of the turbulent political situation in Cappadocia, which ended in the death of his sister, Nysa. In the mid 120s BC, he became interested in Cappadocia and wanted to expand Pontian foreign policy in that country. He decided to invade Cappadocia.
To fend off any Pontian invasion, Ariarathes VI arranged with Mithridates V to marry Laodice, his paternal cousin. There is a possibility that the invasion of Mithridates V was in fact friendly on behalf of Ariarathes VI to settle internal Cappadocian strife and help him to establish himself as a ruler. The marriage between Ariarathes VI and Laodice marked a cessation of hostilities between Cappadocia and Pontus. Through this arranged marriage, Mithridates V was able to keep a close check on Ariarathes VI and control Cappadocia indirectly. Laodice presumably could act in her father's interests. As queen she wielded considerable power. She bore Ariarathes VI three children: Nysa, who married King Nicomedes III and two sons, both called Ariarathes, who became Ariarathes VII Philometor and Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes.
Mithridates V died in 120 BC and Laodice's first brother, Mithridates VI, succeeded their father as King of Pontus. Ten years later Laodice may have found it much harder to exert control over Ariarathes VI. There could be a possibility that Pontian political influence in Cappadocian affairs may have declined as Ariarathes VI became independent minded and began to assert himself.
Mithridates VI continued the Pontian foreign policy in Cappadocia where his father had left off. He plotted with Gordius, a Greek nobleman who was a member of the court of Ariarathes VI and a good friend of Mithridates VI, to assassinate Ariarathes VI between 116 BC-111 BC. Laodice was probably not involved in this murder.
After the death of Ariarathes VI, Laodice became the queen regent of her first son, the young Ariarathes VII. Laodice's former son-in-law and a widower, King Nicomedes III Euergetes, wanted to take advantage of the political situation in Cappadocia. Without informing anyone, he suddenly invaded Cappadocia as Ariarathes VII was underage.
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Laodice of Cappadocia
Berenice or Laodice of Cappadocia, also known as Laodice (Ancient Greek: Λαοδίκη Laodíkē; flourished from the mid-120s BC to the 90s BC) was a princess from the Kingdom of Pontus and a queen of the Kingdom of Cappadocia by marriage to Ariarathes VI, and queen of Bithynia by marriage to Nicomedes III. She was regent of Cappadocia in 116 BC during the minority of her son Ariarathes VII.
Laodice was of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. She was the first born child of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Pontus, Laodice VI and Mithridates V. One of the siblings was Mithridates, who became Mithridates VI, and reigned 120–63 BC. She was born and raised in Pontus.
Between 130 and 126 BC, her aunt, the sister of Mithridates V, queen of Cappadocia and regent of her son Ariarathes VI, Nysa of Cappadocia, died. She had been the wife and later the widow of the previous Cappadocian King Ariarathes V.
Mithridates V was aware of the turbulent political situation in Cappadocia, which ended in the death of his sister, Nysa. In the mid 120s BC, he became interested in Cappadocia and wanted to expand Pontian foreign policy in that country. He decided to invade Cappadocia.
To fend off any Pontian invasion, Ariarathes VI arranged with Mithridates V to marry Laodice, his paternal cousin. There is a possibility that the invasion of Mithridates V was in fact friendly on behalf of Ariarathes VI to settle internal Cappadocian strife and help him to establish himself as a ruler. The marriage between Ariarathes VI and Laodice marked a cessation of hostilities between Cappadocia and Pontus. Through this arranged marriage, Mithridates V was able to keep a close check on Ariarathes VI and control Cappadocia indirectly. Laodice presumably could act in her father's interests. As queen she wielded considerable power. She bore Ariarathes VI three children: Nysa, who married King Nicomedes III and two sons, both called Ariarathes, who became Ariarathes VII Philometor and Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes.
Mithridates V died in 120 BC and Laodice's first brother, Mithridates VI, succeeded their father as King of Pontus. Ten years later Laodice may have found it much harder to exert control over Ariarathes VI. There could be a possibility that Pontian political influence in Cappadocian affairs may have declined as Ariarathes VI became independent minded and began to assert himself.
Mithridates VI continued the Pontian foreign policy in Cappadocia where his father had left off. He plotted with Gordius, a Greek nobleman who was a member of the court of Ariarathes VI and a good friend of Mithridates VI, to assassinate Ariarathes VI between 116 BC-111 BC. Laodice was probably not involved in this murder.
After the death of Ariarathes VI, Laodice became the queen regent of her first son, the young Ariarathes VII. Laodice's former son-in-law and a widower, King Nicomedes III Euergetes, wanted to take advantage of the political situation in Cappadocia. Without informing anyone, he suddenly invaded Cappadocia as Ariarathes VII was underage.
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