Pontian kingdom: history, coins, ruler, army. Pontic kingdom and its role in the history of the Black Sea region

The ancient Pontic kingdom, located in the east of Asia Minor, was one of the most outstanding Hellenistic states of its time. It had a great influence on neighboring countries and the subsequent development of the Black Sea region. All the ancient states in the south of modern Russia somehow adopted something from this power. The Pontian kingdom is known to modern science much more than other similar countries. This is due to the fact that his sovereigns fought for a long time with Rome. Undoubtedly, the threat posed by the Pontic kingdom was reflected in the internal political system of the republic.

Territory

Throughout its existence in the III - I century. BC. The Pontian kingdom changed borders many times, mainly due to its own expansion. The center of the state was Northern Cappadocia on the south-eastern coast of the Black Sea. In the ancient times it was known as Pontus Euxine, and that's why the kingdom began to be called the Pontic, or simply Pontus.

The character of the state was largely determined by its favorable geographical position. What territories are part of the Pontian kingdom? These were the lands between Central and the Near East, the Balkans and the Black Sea Coast. Consequently, Pontus had trade relations with all these regions, which made his rulers rich and influential. Merchants came to them from northern Mesopotamia, the Iranian highlands and Transcaucasia. Rare Oriental goods brought a lot of money. Coins of the Pontian kingdom were minted from gold and had a unique appearance. Archaeologists continue to find them in Turkey and Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus.

Society

In the Pontian state, the traditions of many peoples were mixed. In this kingdom, Asian, Anatolian, Iranian and Hellenic customs took root. The population for the most part was engaged in agriculture, which was favored by a mild climate. Cities in Ponte was relatively small. They were located mainly on the Black Sea coast. These were policies that were founded by the ancient Greek colonialists.

According to ethnicity, the population belonged to Cappadocians, Macrones, Calibs, Colchis, Kataonians. Lived here, and all kinds of aliens, for example the Phrygian tribes. In the Pontian kingdom there have always been many Persian-speaking Persians. All this kaleidoscope was a dangerous powder keg. Different nations were united due to the great Hellenic (Greek) culture. The more the tribe lived, the weaker this influence. The population of the Black Sea coast policies remained the most Hellenized.

Base of Pontus

The Pontian state was founded by King Mithridates I in 302 BC. By origin, he was a Persian who served the Macedonian king Antigone. For unclear reasons, the prince fell into disgrace with his monarch and fled to distant Cappadocia, where he founded a new power. In his name, the entire subsequent dynasty of the Kings of Pontus began to be called Mithridatids.

It should be noted that the conditions against which this state appeared. The Pontian kingdom, whose history began at the end of the IV century BC. E., Arose on the wreckage of a great power, created by Alexander the Great. This commander first conquered Greece, and then spread the Hellenistic culture to most of the Middle East. His power was short-lived. It split into many principalities immediately after Alexander's death in 323 BC.

Flowering

The descendants of Mithridates I continued to strengthen and develop the Pontian state. They were helped by the political fragmentation of neighbors and the struggle of potential competitors for influence in the region. Its heyday, this ancient power reached under Mithridates VI Evpator, who ruled in 117 - 63 years. BC.

At a young age, he had to flee his native country. After the death of his father, the mother of Mithridates VI opposed the son taking his proper throne. The deprivation in exile undoubtedly strengthened the future tsar. When he finally managed to return to power, the monarch embarked on wars with his neighbors.

Small princedoms and satrapies quickly submitted to Mithridates. Contemporaries have deservedly called him the Great. He added Colchis (modern Georgia), as well as Tavrida (Crimea). However, the king had the most important test ahead - several campaigns against Rome. The republic at that time was expanding its expansion to the East. She had already annexed Greece and now she claimed to be in Asia Minor, where the Pontic kingdom was located. Endless wars began between the two powers.

Relations with the provinces

Having created a huge state that was already like an empire, Mithridates faced a natural problem - how to retain all his acquisitions. He tried to find a balance in relations with the new provinces, giving them a different status. For example, some small tribes of the south formally became its allies, while Colchis and Tavrida turned into a material and raw material base for the state economy.

Most of the money went to the salary and food of the army. This is not surprising, because the Pontine kingdom under Mithridates forgot about what the world is. The Emperor made the north-western Black Sea region the main grain supplier region. Unending bread needed an army for long raids in the Roman provinces.

External and social contradictions

Mithradates VI tried to increase the Pontian state with the help of the policy of Hellenization. He declared himself a defender and patron of ancient Greek culture. But this course could not but lead to a conflict with another ancient power in the person of Rome. The Republic on its eastern borders did not need a powerful Pontic kingdom.

Mithridates, moreover, tried to strengthen his country by increasing the privileges of policies. By this he attracted the urban class to his side. But against such domestic policy was a powerful aristocracy. Its representatives did not want to share wealth and influence with the policies.

Domestic policy of Mithradates VI

Ultimately, the aristocracy delivered an ultimatum to the ruler. He had to support her interests or suppress a major riot, sponsored by the thick wallets of the elite. The king, who was constantly at war with Rome, could not substitute himself in the back. He had to make concessions to the aristocracy. They resulted in the birth of a tyrannical class that exploited the ordinary population.

Because of this contradiction, the Pontic kingdom, whose army was built according to the ancient Greek model, in fact could not get rid of the traits of eastern despots in its state structure. It is also important that this great power existed only thanks to the charismatic and powerful figure of the great king. After the death of Mithradates VI, she must have collapsed.

Empowerment of the kingdom

Today the Pontic kingdom and its role in the history of the Black Sea region are studied by researchers from different countries. But regardless of who is talking about, every specialist pays attention to the era of Mithridates VI, since with him the state reached its peak of development.

But even this great monarch had his own mistakes and difficulties, which he could not overcome. In addition to the internal problems described above, the tsar had to face the absence of any serious allies in the struggle against Rome. Behind the republic there were numerous provinces of the Mediterranean - Greece, Italy, Gallia, Spain, Carthage, etc. Whatever effective ruler Mithridates was, he could not resist Roman expansion for his objective possibilities.

Death of Mithridates

In the autumn of 64 BC. King Ponta was able to collect a colossal for those times army of 36 thousand people and conquer Bosporus. However, his multinational army did not want to continue the campaign and go to Italy, where Mithridates wanted to go to strike directly into the heart of Rome. The monarch's position was shaky, and he retreated.

Meanwhile, the conspiracy was ripe in the army. The soldiers were unhappy with the war, and in addition, there was a man who wanted to encroach on power in the Portean kingdom. This scoundrel was the son of Mithridates VI Pharnac. They uncovered the plot, but caught his son. The king wanted to execute him for treason, but the people around him talked him out and advised him to let him go home. My father agreed.

But this act did not help to avoid a riot in the army. When Mithridates realized that he was surrounded by enemies, he took poison. He did not act. Then the monarch persuaded his bodyguard to kill him with the sword, which was done. The tragedy took place in 63 BC. The Romans, after learning of the death of Mithridates, celebrated for several days. Now they rightly believed that the Pontian kingdom would soon submit to the republic.

Decline and fall

After the death of Mithridates VI, Pontus fell into decay. The Roman Republic, having won a war with a neighbor, made the western part of the kingdom its province. In the east, the nominal power of the Pontian monarchs was preserved, but in fact they became dependent on Rome. The son of Mithradates, Pharnaces II, tried to revive his father's power. He took advantage of the outbreak of civil war in Rome and attacked the republic. Farnac managed to return Cappadocia and Lesser Armenia.

However, his success was short-lived. When Caesar was freed from internal turmoil, he went east to punish Pharnaces. In the decisive battle of Zela, the Romans won an unconditional victory. It was then that the Latin wing phrase "Veni vidi vici" appeared - "came, saw, won".

Julius Caesar, however, left a formal royal title in the hands of the heirs of Mithridates. In return, they recognized themselves as vassals of Rome. Finally, the title was abolished by Emperor Nero in 62 AD. The last ruler of the Pontian kingdom, Polemon II, abdicated without any resistance, since he had no resources to fight against Rome.