Overview of All Rulers of Commagene

This page presents a chronological overview of the kings of Commagene, highlighting their role as a bridge between Anatolia and the Near East. Each reign is annotated with concise context on Iranian-Hellenic court culture, monumental cult sites such as Mount Nemrut, shifting allegiances between Parthia and Rome, and phases of annexation and restoration.

Title	Date	Excerpt
Ptolemaeus of Commagene: Founder of an Independent Kingdom and Orontid Prince	163–130 BC	Ptolemaeus of Commagene established an independent kingdom in 163 BC, transforming a Seleucid satrapy into a monarchy with a royal lineage linking Armenian, Persian, and Hellenistic heritage.
Sames II Theosebes Dikaios: King of Commagene and His Historical Legacy	130–109 BC	Sames II Theosebes Dikaios was the second king of Commagene, known for his building projects and establishing dynastic traditions that influenced his successors.
Mithridates I Callinicus: King of Commagene from the Orontid Dynasty	109–70 BC	Mithridates I Callinicus ruled Commagene around 100–70 BC, establishing an independent kingdom through Hellenistic cultural adoption and strategic marriage ties to the Seleucid dynasty.
Antiochus I of Commagene: King and Cultural Innovator on the Historical Frontier	70–38 BC	Antiochus I ruled the Greco-Iranian kingdom of Commagene from 70 to 31 BC, blending Hellenic and Iranian traditions and leaving a lasting cultural and political legacy, notably through the Mount Nemrut sanctuary.
Mithridates II of Commagene: King and Diplomatic Figure in the 1st Century BC	38–20 BC	Mithridates II ruled Commagene during a pivotal era, navigating alliances with Roman leaders and managing internal family conflicts that shaped the kingdom's history.
Mithridates III Antiochus Epiphanes: King of Commagene in the 1st Century BC	20–12 BC	Mithridates III Antiochus Epiphanes ruled Commagene from 20 BC to 12 BC, continuing the dynasty of Iranian and Greek heritage and fathering successors who influenced regional alliances.
Antiochus III Epiphanes and Commagene: History on Rome’s Eastern Frontier	12 BC – 17 AD	Antiochus III Epiphanes ruled Commagene from 12 BC to 17 AD, a kingdom blending diverse ancestries and later absorbed into the Roman province of Syria after his death.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes and Commagene: Navigating Client Kingship under Roman Rule	38–72 AD	Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled Commagene as a Roman client king from 38 to 72 CE, blending Hellenistic and local traditions while maintaining close ties to Rome. His reign illustrates the complexities of client kingship, including military cooperation, urban development, and dynastic symbolism, before his deposition ended Commagene's autonomy.