Orophernes of Cappadocia
King of Capadocia
193 BCE to 150 BCE
Orophernes Nicephorus is one of the two false sons whom Antiochus imposes upon her husband, Ariarathes IV, king of Cappadocia.
On the birth, however, of a real son, named Mithradates (afterwards Ariarathes V), Orophernes, so that he might not set up pretensions to the throne, is sent away into Ionia.
When Ariarathes V refuses to marry the sister of Demetrius I Soter, king of Syria, the king supports the claims of Orophernes to the crown of Cappadocia.
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Demetrius also dethrones Ariarathes, king of Cappadocia.
The Seleucid empire is temporarily united again.
Demetrius may had married his sister Laodice V, by whom he had three sons Demetrius II Nicator, Antiochus VII Sidetes and Antigonus.
Ariarathes V, king of Capadocia, is distinguished by the excellence of his character and his cultivation of philosophy and the liberal arts.
According to Livy, he had been educated at Rome; but this account may perhaps refer to another Ariarathes, while Ariarathes Eusebes had probably studied in his youth in Athens, where he seems to have become a friend of the future
Pergamene king Attalus II Philadelphus.
In consequence of rejecting, at the wish of the Romans, a marriage with Laodice V the sister of Demetrius I Soter, the latter makes war upon him, and brings forward Orophernes of Cappadocia, his brother and one of the supposititious sons of the late king, as a claimant of the throne.
Ariarathes is deprived of his kingdom, and flees to Rome about 157 BCE.
He is restored by the Romans, who, however, allow Orophernes to reign jointly with him (as is expressly stated by Appian, and implied by Polybius).
Orophernes will not long hold the Kingdom of Cappadocia, and it is alleged that his reign was signalized by a departure from the more simple customs of his ancestors and by the introduction of systematic debauchery.
To supply his lavish extravagance, he oppresses and pillages his subjects, putting many to death and confiscating their property.
He deposits four hundred talents with the citizens of Priene as a resource in case of a reversal of fortune, but the Priennians later return the money.
Orophernes' business affairs are on the decline.
Fearing that his soldiers might mutiny over unpaid wages, he plunders an ancient temple of Zeus to pay them off.
Orophernes is forced at the end to return to Syria, where he enters into a conspiracy with the people of Antioch to dethrone Demetrius.
Demetrius throws Orophernes into chains, but spares his life that he might still keep Ariarathes in alarm with his pretensions.