Overview of All Rulers of Pontus

This page lists the kings of Pontus in order, from the early Mithridatid rulers to the reign of Mithridates VI and the kingdom’s absorption by Rome. Reign periods are accompanied by brief notes on coastal expansion, conflicts with Cappadocia and Bithynia, Black Sea diplomacy, and the Mithridatic Wars.

Title	Date	Excerpt
Mithridates I Ctistes: Founder of the Kingdom of Pontus – Historical and Archaeological Insights	281 - 266 BCE	Mithridates I Ctistes established the kingdom of Pontus in the early Hellenistic period, creating a lasting dynastic state that blended Greek and Anatolian-Iranian traditions and shaped regional politics for generations.
Ariobarzanes of Pontus: King and Founder of a Hellenistic Kingdom	266 - c. 250 BCE	Ariobarzanes, second king of Pontus, expanded his realm by securing the Black Sea city of Amastris and navigating complex relations with Gallic tribes in Anatolia during the mid-third century BC.
Mithridates II of Pontus: Architect of a Hellenistic Kingdom	c. 250 - c. 220 BCE	Mithridates II of Pontus was a mid-third century BCE ruler who strengthened the Pontic kingdom through strategic marriages, military actions, and diplomatic alliances, establishing lasting ties with the Seleucid dynasty and elevating Pontus's role in Anatolian politics.
Mithridates III of Pontus: Early Hellenistic King and Dynastic Figure	c. 220 - c. 185 BCE	Mithridates III of Pontus was an early Hellenistic ruler known for his dynastic ties to the Seleucid empire and for issuing some of the earliest Pontic coins bearing a royal portrait, reflecting his role in asserting royal authority during a period of limited historical records.
Pharnaces I of Pontus: A Hellenistic King Shaping Anatolian Politics	c. 185 - c. 170 BCE	Pharnaces I transformed Pontus from a regional power into a key player in Anatolian affairs through territorial expansion, diplomatic ties with Greek cities, and dynastic alliances, despite facing military setbacks against Pergamon and Cappadocia.
Mithridates IV Philopator Philadelphus: King of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Pontus	c. 170 - c. 150 BCE	Mithridates IV Philopator Philadelphus ruled Pontus in the mid-2nd century BC, noted for his pro-Roman and pro-Hellenic policies, diplomatic efforts, and distinctive coinage reflecting Persian and Greek influences.
Laodice of Pontus: Queen and Numismatic Figure of the Mithridatic Dynasty	c. 170 - c. 150 BCE	Laodice was a 2nd-century BC queen of Pontus known through coins, a statue, and inscriptions that reveal her role as a joint ruler with Mithridates IV and her unique royal status.
Mithridates V Euergetes: King of Pontus and His Historical Legacy	150 - 120 BCE	Mithridates V Euergetes ruled Pontus circa 150–120 BC, fostering Greek culture and maintaining pro-Roman alliances that shaped the kingdom's political and cultural landscape.
Mithridates VI Eupator and the Kingdom of Pontus: History and Legacy	120 - 63 BCE	Mithridates VI Eupator ruled Pontus from c. 120 to 63 BC, transforming it into a powerful kingdom that challenged Rome and influenced military, cultural, and medical traditions in the eastern Mediterranean.
Pharnaces II of Pontus: A Transitional King in the Black Sea Region	63 - 47 BCE	Pharnaces II ruled the Bosporan Kingdom after Mithridates VI, maintaining a client state amid Roman civil wars and briefly reclaiming parts of his father's realm before his defeat by Julius Caesar.
Darius of Pontus: A Brief Client King in Anatolia	39 - 37 BCE	Darius of Pontus, a member of the Mithridatic dynasty, ruled briefly as a client king under Mark Antony in 37–36 BC, with his reign marked by political appointments and subsequent conflict over Pontic authority.
Arsaces of Pontus: A Brief Hellenistic King in the Kingdom of Pontus – Historical and Archaeological Insights	37 BCE	Arsaces of Pontus was a 1st century BC Hellenistic prince and king whose brief reign challenged Roman authority in the Kingdom of Pontus, reflecting the complex dynamics of power in the region.
Polemon I Pythodoros: Roman Client King Shaping the Black Sea and Anatolia	37 - 8 BCE	Polemon I Pythodoros ruled parts of Pontus, the Bosporan kingdom, and Colchis in the late first century BCE, illustrating Rome's strategy of managing eastern frontiers through local dynasts. His reign combined military action, marriage alliances, and Roman patronage to maintain authority amid regional political shifts.
Pythodoris of Pontus: Roman Client Queen and Regional Ruler	8 BCE - 38 CE	Pythodoris of Pontus was a Roman client queen who governed parts of the Black Sea region and Anatolia in the early first century, overseeing Pontus and neighboring realms through strategic marriages and capable administration.
Polemon II of Pontus: Client King under Roman Rule	38 - 62 CE	Polemon II of Pontus was a first-century CE client king who ruled Pontus, Colchis, and Cilicia under Roman authority, illustrating the complex dynamics between local dynasts and the Roman Empire through cultural patronage, dynastic alliances, and political challenges.