| Artoces of Iberia | |
|---|---|
| King of Iberia (more...) | |
| Reign | BC 78-63 |
| Predecessor | Artaxias I |
| Successor | Pharnavaz II |
| Dynasty | Artaxiad dynasty of Iberia |
Artoces was a king (mepe) ofIberia (Kartli, easternGeorgia) from 78 to 63 BC. He features in theClassical accounts of theThird Mithridatic War (Appian,Bell. Mithr. 103, 117;Cassius Dio 37.1-2;Eutropius 6.14 [Artaces];Festus 16;Orosius 6.4.8) and is identified with theArtag (Georgian:არტაგ),Arik (არიკ),Rok (როკ), orAderk (ადერკ), of the medieval Georgian annals.[1][2]
According to the Georgian historic tradition, he was the son and successor ofArtaxias I of theArtaxiads. The medieval Georgian account of his reign is brief and focuses on the devastation of his kingdom at the hands ofIranians while the Classical sources much closer to the period in question contain a detailed description of Artoces's war withRome on the side ofMithridates VI of Pontus andTigranes of Armenia.
Alarmed by the Roman occupation of the neighboringAlbania, Artoces promised peace and friendship; but the Roman commanderPompey, informed that he was secretly arming so as to fall upon the Romans on their march in the passes of theCaucasus,advanced in March 65 BC, before resuming the pursuit of Mithridates, to the Iberian strongholds ofHarmozica andSeusamora. Artoces, caught by surprise, hastily burnt the bridge over theCyrus and retreated further in his forested country. Pompey occupied the fortresses and crossed the river, but met a fierce resistance by the Iberian army. Artokes had lost 9 000 dead and 10 000 captured in the fight.[3] In the end, the Romans prevailed, and, when Artoces saw the Pelorus river, apparently the modernAragvi, also crossed by Pompey, he surrendered, and sent his children as hostages.[4]
| Preceded by | King of Iberia 78–63 BC | Succeeded by |