Laodice of Cappadocia
Hellenistic queen
Berenice or Laodice of Cappadocia, also known as Laodice (Ancient Greek: Λαοδίκη Laodíkē; flourished from the mid-120s BC to the 90s BC) was a princess from the Kingdom of Pontus and a queen of the Kingdom of Cappadocia by marriage to Ariarathes VI, and queen of Bithynia by marriage to Nicomedes III. She was regent of Cappadocia in 116 BC during the minority of her son Ariarathes VII.
Early life
Laodice was of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. She was the first born child of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Pontus, Laodice VI and Mithridates V. One of the siblings was Mithridates, who became Mithridates VI, and reigned 120–63 BC. She was born and raised in Pontus.
Between 130 and 126 BC, her aunt, the sister of Mithridates V, queen of Cappadocia and regent of her son Ariarathes VI, Nysa of Cappadocia, died. She had been the wife and later the widow of the previous Cappadocian King Ariarathes V.
Mithridates V was aware of the turbulent political situation in Cappadocia, which ended in the death of his sister, Nysa. In the mid 120s BC, he became interested in Cappadocia and wanted to expand Pontian foreign policy in that country. He decided to invade Cappadocia.
Queen consort
To fend off any Pontian invasion, Ariarathes VI arranged with Mithridates V to marry Laodice, his paternal cousin. There is a possibility that the invasion of Mithridates V was in fact friendly on behalf of Ariarathes VI to settle internal Cappadocian strife and help him to establish himself as a ruler. The marriage between Ariarathes VI and Laodice marked a cessation of hostilities between Cappadocia and Pontus. Through this arranged marriage, Mithridates V was able to keep a close check on Ariarathes VI and control Cappadocia indirectly.
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