Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia

Who is Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia?

Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator, King of Cappadocia, was the youngest son of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and Nysa of Cappadocia.

He reigned about 14 years. He was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother who acted as his regent. At some point her mother seems to have poisoned all Ariarathes’ five brothers; but the infant king was saved by people loyal to the dynasty and had Nysa killed. These facts were a good pretext for his maternal uncle King Mithridates V Euergetes of Pontus, for trying to assert control over the country. For this he married Ariarathes to his maternal cousin Laodice of Cappadocia, his first daughter. Laodice bore Ariarathes one daughter and two sons: Nysa who married King Nicomedes III Euergetes of Bithynia; Ariarathes VII Philometor and Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes.

Since this wasn't deemed enough to transform Cappadocia in a satellite of Pontus, Mithridates V Euergetes' son, Mithridates VI, murdered Ariarathes using Gordius, a Cappadocian nobleman. On his death the kingdom was briefly ruled by Ariarathes' widow and then seized by King Nicomedes III of Bithynia, who married Laodice, the king's widow. Nicomedes III was soon expelled by Mithridates VI, who placed upon the throne Ariarathes VII.