Laodice VI

Who is Laodice VI?

Laodice VI was a Greek Seleucid Princess and through marriage was a Queen of the Kingdom of Pontus.

Laodice was the daughter born from the full blooded sibling union of the Seleucid Monarchs Antiochus IV Epiphanes and Laodice IV. Her grandparents were the Seleucid Monarchs Antiochus III the Great and Laodice III. Through her mother’s previous marriages, she had various maternal half-brothers and sisters and two full blooded brothers who served as Seleucid Kings Antiochus V Eupator and Alexander Balas. In 152 BC, Laodice became one of the supporters for her brother Alexander Balas, who revolted and overthrew the Seleucid King Demetrius I Soter, who was their maternal half-brother/cousin.

After 152 BC, Laodice married King Mithridates V of Pontus, who reigned from 150–120 BC. Mithridates V and Laodice VI were related, as her husband had lineage from the Seleucid dynasty. Little is known regarding her relationship with her husband or her reign as Pontian Queen. During their marriage, Laodice bore Mithridates V seven children: Laodice of Cappadocia, Mithridates VI of Pontus, Mithridates Chrestus, Laodice, Nysa, Roxana and Statira. Nysa, Roxana and Statira were put to death after the fall of the Kingdom of Pontus in 63 BC.