| Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator | |
|---|---|
 Drachm of Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia struck in regnal year 13 or 15 (88/7 or 86/5 BC), showing idealized features of his fatherMithridates VI of Pontus. | |
| King ofCappadocia | |
| Reign | c. 100–85 BC (In opposition toAriarathes VIII of Cappadocia 100-95 BC andAriobarzanes I of Cappadocia 95-85 BC) |
| Predecessor | Ariarathes VII of CappadociaAriarathes VIII of Cappadocia |
| Successor | Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia |
| Born | c. 108 BC |
| Died | c. 85 BC Northern Greece |
| Dynasty | Mithridatic dynasty |
| Father | Mithridates VI of Pontus |
Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator (Ancient Greek:Ἀριαράθης Εὐσεβής Φιλοπάτωρ, Ariaráthēs Eusebḗs Philopátōr; reigned c. 100–85 BC), was made king ofCappadocia by his fatherMithridates VI of Pontus after the assassination ofAriarathes VII of Cappadocia in c. 100 BC. Since he was only eight years old, he was put under the regency of theCappadocianGordius.[1]
Early in his reign Cappadocian nobility quickly drove him from power in favor of a son ofAriarathes VI of Cappadocia, namedAriarathes VIII of Cappadocia. In 95 BCMithridates VI of Pontus entered Cappadocia with an army deposingAriarathes VIII of Cappadocia and restoring his son to the throne. After a short period ofPontic rule, theRoman Senate intervened and forced him to return the throne toAriarathes VIII of Cappadocia, after a brief restoration and an attempt of creation of a republic, theRoman Senate directed the Cappadocians to vote by who they wanted to be ruled, and thus the kingdom passed toAriobarzanes I Philoromaios.[2]
Nevertheless, due to invasions of Cappadocia byTigranes II of Armenia, the brother-in-law of Ariarathes IX,Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia was deposed and Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia was again restored to power on separate occasions in 93 BC and 92 BC.[3] However, as soon asTigranes II of Armenia and his army returned home, Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia was deposed again by order of the Senate. Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia was restored to the throne for the last time at the outbreak of theFirst Mithridatic War (89-85 BC).[1] He remained king of Cappadocia during the war but was forced toabdicate after his fatherMithridates VI of Pontus was defeated by the Romans in 85 BC. His lastdrachms minted inCappadocia showed the symbol for regnal year 15, which corresponds to 86/5 BC.[4]
According toPlutarch, Ariarathes IX was poisoned by his father (presumably while serving as a commander of his father's troops in northern Greece during theFirst Mithridatic War):
In the fortress of Caenum,Pompey found also private documents belonging toMithridates, and read them with no little satisfaction, since they shed much light upon the king's character. For there were memoranda among them from which it was discovered that, besides many others, he had poisoned to death his son Ariarathes, and also Alcaeus of Sardis, because Alcaeus had surpassed him in driving race-horses.[5]
The first coinage of Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia show the portrait of the young king with features that are reminiscent of earlier Cappadocian kings. The coins are of typical Cappadocian style, with Athena on the reverse and his title Eusebes, from his full title Eusebes Philopater. Soon after the coins started to bear a portrait which was much closer to that of his fatherMithridates VI of Pontus, Dr. Imhoof-Blumer suggests that this portrait is actually the head ofMithridates VI of Pontus himself, and not that of his son Ariarathes IX.[6]
The reason for this change is uncertain, but Mørkholm believes that when a group of Cappadocian nationalists revolted and promotedAriarathes VIII of Cappadocia as king,Mithridates VI of Pontus suppressed the revolt ca. 95 BC, and placed his portrait on the coinage pronouncing his rule over the Cappadocians.[4] In regnal year 13 and 15, which is 88/7 and 86/5 BC the drachms of Ariarathes IX show again a portrait of his fatherMithridates VI of Pontus, during that time, theFirst Mithridatic War had started, and by placing his portrait on his son's coins he made their relationship perfectly clear to all beholders.
| Preceded by | King of Cappadocia c. 100 BC – 85 BC | Succeeded by |
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