Archelaus of Cappadocia

Archelaus IV (in Greek ο Αρχέλαος, flourished 1st century BC & 1st century, died 17) was the last King of Cappadocia. He was the great-grandson of Archelaus, a general in the First and Third Mithridatic Wars.

In 36 BC, Archelaus was made king by triumvir Mark Antony, whom, however, he deserted after the Battle of Actium. Archelaus had succeeded King Ariarathes X. Roman Emperor Augustus enlarged his kingdom by the addition of parts of Cilicia and Lesser Armenia. He was not popular with his subjects, who even brought an accusation against him in Rome on which occasion he was defended by Roman Emperor Tiberius.

Archelaus from his first marriage (his wife is unknown) had two children: a son of the same name and a daughter named Glaphyra. Through his daughter, he would be the maternal grandfather of her sons Alexander and Tigranes and the great grandfather of Julius Tigranes, who would be King of Armenia under the Roman Emperor Nero. After 8 BC, Archelaus had married Queen Pythodorida of Pontus and became a step-father to her three children from her first marriage. Pythodorida remained married to Archelaus until he died and they had no children. Pythodorida then later returned to Pontus with her family.

Subsequently he was accused by Tiberius, when emperor, of endeavouring to stir up a revolution, and died in confinement in Rome. Cappadocia was then made a Roman province. Archelaus was said to have been the author of a geographical work, and to have written treatises "On Stones" and "Rivers".

References

* Cassius Dio, xlix. 32-51
* Strabo, xii. p. 540
* Suetonius, "Tiberius", 37, "Caligula", 1
* Tacitus, "Ann." ii. 42