Darius of Pontus

Who is Darius of Pontus?

Darius of Pontus was a Prince from the Kingdom of Pontus. He was a monarch of Iranian and Greek Macedonian ancestry.

Darius was the first child born to King Pharnaces II of Pontus and his Sarmatian wife. He had two younger siblings: a sister called Dynamis and a brother called Arsaces. His paternal grandparents were the Pontian Monarchs Mithridates VI and his first wife, his sister Laodice. Darius was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus and the Bosporan Kingdom.

According to Strabo, Darius and Arsaces were guarded by a chief rebel called Arsaces for a time when he held a fortress that was besieged by Polemon I and Lycomedes of Comana. Darius was made Pontian King by Roman Triumvir Mark Antony in 39 BC. His reign as King was short as he died in 37 BC. After Darius died, his brother Arsaces succeeded him. On the other hand Anthony removed Darius from Cilicia, granting it to Polemon I in 37 BC.