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- Ariobarzanes I of Media Atropatene,[1] also known as Ariobarzanes I of Media,[2] Ariobarzanes of Atropatene,[3] Ariobarzanes I[4] and Ariobarzanes[5] (flourished 1st century BC, ruled from 65 BC til 56 BC[6]) was a Prince who served as a King of Media Atropatene.[7][8]
Ariobarzanes I was a monarch of Median and possibly of Armenian, Greek descent. According to modern genealogies, Ariobarzanes I was a son of a previous ruling King Mithridates I and his wife, an unnamed Armenian Princess from the Artaxiad Dynasty who was a daughter of the Armenian King Tigranes the Great and his wife, Cleopatra of Pontus,[9][10] which can explain the claims of Mithridates I’s descendants to the Armenian Kingship in opposition to the lasting ruling monarchs of the Artaxiad Dynasty. Another possibility in linking Ariobarzanes I as a son born to Mithridates I and his wife is through his name. The name Ariobarzanes is a name of Iranian origin.[11] There were Persian Satraps who bore this name as did some of the ancestors of Cleopatra of Pontus. Cleopatra was a Pontian Princess, who was a daughter of King Mithridates VI of Pontus from his first wife, his sister Laodice.[12]
Little is known on the life of Ariobarzanes I. Ariobarzanes I appeared to have succeeded Darius I as King of Media Atropatene in 65 BC,[13] whom appeared to have a short reign.[14] Ariobarzanes I and Darius I were related as they may have been brothers.[15] Although Ariobarzanes I ruled from 65 BC til 56 BC,[16] his reign in the time-scale would appear to preclude the short reign of Darius I and shows that he came to the throne sometime before 59 BC.[17]
Little is known on the reign of Ariobarzanes I. He appeared to have died in 56 BC, as he was succeeded by his son Artavasdes I of Media Atropatene.[18] His son from an unnamed wife, was born before 59 BC.[19]
In Rome, two Epitaph inscriptions have been found bearing the name of Artavasdes. The Epitaphs are probably of the son and the grandson of a Median Atropatenian King called Ariobarzanes.[20] However it is uncertain, if the Ariobarzanes refers to Ariobarzanes I or his grandson Ariobarzanes II.[21] Ariobarzanes I is mentioned in paragraph 33 of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti.
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