Ancient Coin Stories

Byzantion and Kalchedon wage war against Bithynia and plunder it.

Birth of Bas of Bithynia.

Bas founds the independent kingdom of Bithynia.

Ariarathid dynasty is founded by Ariarathes I.

Kleopatra is listed as receiving grain from Kyrene.

Birth of Mithridates I Ctistes, who founded the Pontic Kingdom.

Death of Bas. Zipoetes I becomes King of Bithynia.

Orontes III is believed to found the Kingdom of Sophene, though it struggles for independence from the Seleukids.

Seleukos I Nikator gains control of Babylon, founding the Seleukid Empire and beginning Babylon’s decline as a center of power as Seleukos establishes Seleukeia on the Tigris.

Antigonos declares himself king, thus beginning the Antigonid dynasty.

Seleukos I Nikator proclaims himself king along with the other Diadochi, thus founding the Seleukid Kingdom.

Ptolemy I declares himself Pharaoh and moves his capital to Alexandria, thus beginning the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Agathokles formally adopts the title of King of Sicily, consolidating his rule and securing recognition from other Hellenistic rulers. He strengthens his alliances, including with Ptolemaic Egypt and other Greek states.

Mithridates I is slain in Kios after appearing to shift his allegiance from Antigonos Monophthalmos to Kassander. He had also ruled Myrleia.

The Battle of Ipsos. Demetrios Poliorketes and Antigonos Monophthalmos are defeated by Seleukos I Nikator, Kassander (commanded by Pleistarchos), and Lysimachos. Antigonos is killed. Demetrios continues the Antigonid dynasty.

Ariarathes II kills the Macedonian satrap and continues the Ariarathid dynasty, but is forced to accept Seleukid suzerainty.

Amaseia and Amisos are incorporated into the Kingdom of Pontus when Mithridates I Ktistes establishes the Pontic Kingdom. Amaseia is chosen as the capital, due to its strategic location in a defensible valley along the Iris River.

Following the victory in the Battle of Ipsos, Cilicia comes under Seleukid control with Seleukos I Nikator. This included Aigai.Tarsos, Soloi, Issos, and Mallos.

Tralleis comes under Seleukid control.

Antioch founded by Seleukos I Nikator of the Seleukid dynasty.

Amathos, Soloi, and Salamis become part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt under Ptolemy I Soter. They are incorporated into the Ptolemaic administrative system, as Cyprus becomes a strategic naval and commercial hub for the Ptolemies.

Birth of Antiochos II Theos to Stratonike and Antiochos I Soter.

Demetrios Poliorketes dies while imprisoned by Seleukos I Nikator. Antigonos II Gonatas continues the Antigonid dynasty.

Philetairos deserts Lysimachos and offers Pergamon to Seleukos I Nikator. This begins the Kingdom of Pergamon.

Death of Ptolemy I Soter. Ptolemy II Philadelphos becomes the sole king of Egypt.

Nikaia comes under control of the Kingdom of Bithynia.

Mithridates I Ctistes declares himself king of the Pontic Kingdom.

Lysimachos defeated at the Battle of Coropedion. Adramytteion, Ainos, and Abydos come under control of the Seleukid Empire. Ephesos returns to its original name.

Zipoetes, the first ruler in the Bithynian dynasty, lays waste to the territory around Herakleia Pontika.

Seleukos I Nikator is murdered by Ptolemy Keraunos while praying. Antiochos I Soter becomes king of the Seleukid Empire.

Death of Ariarathes II. His son Ariaramnes continues the Ariarathid dynasty.

Bagadates I founds the Frataraka dynasty of Persis.

Nikomedes I obtains the throne of Bithynia from his father Zipoetes I.

The Gauls invade the Seleukid Empire under Antiochos I Soter.

Foundation of the Kingdom of Tylis.

Possible beginning of reign of Kavaros whose capital was Odessos.

Death of Mithridates I Ctistes of the Pontic Kingdom. Ariobarzanes of Pontos becomes king.

Eumenes I becomes ruler of the Kingdom of Pergamon after the death of Philetairos.

Antiochos I Soter is defeated while attempting to retake Pergamon by the Attalid Eumenes I in a battle near Sardis.

Death of Antiochos I Soter. Antiochos II Theos becomes king of the Seleukid Empire.

Arsames I takes control of Commagene, Sophene and Armenia.

Murder of Orontes III of Sophene. His son Sames continues to rule.

Believed coronation of Arsames I of Sophene. He may have co-ruled initially with his father Sames.

Approximate foundation of Laodikeia ad Lycon by Antiochos II in honor of his wife, Laodike.

Arados removes its royalty and becomes a free city in the Seleukid Empire.

Antiochos II Theos of the Seleukid Empire fights the Second Syrian War against Ptolemy II Philadelphos of Egypt. Arados takes the side of Antiochos.

Antiochos II signs an agreement with Antigonos II against Ptolemy II and the Second Syrian War begins.

Miletos is taken by Antiochos II Theos and its tyrant Timarchos is killed. The rebellion with Ptolemy Epigonos against Ptolemy II Philadelphos ends.

Ziailas of Bithynia takes refuge with Arsames I.

After the death of his father Nikomedes I, Ziailas returns to take over Bithynia after taking refuge with Arsames I.

Ariarathes III becomes a joint king with Ariaramnes of Cappadocia.

The Second Syrian War ends. Ptolemy II cedes land to Antiiochos II and Antigonos II remains in mastery of Greece. Antiochos II takes control over Ephesos, Samos, and Miletos.

The navy of Ptolemy II Philadelphos is defeated by Antiochos II Theos at Ephesos.

Antiochos II Theos marries Berenike, the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphos.

Diodotos I, the Seleukid satrap of Baktria, declares independence from the Seleukid Empire, establishing the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom.

Approximate death of Bagadates I. Ardaxšir I becomes the King of Persis.

Approximate death year of Ariobarzanes of Pontos, who had taken the city of Amisos. He is succeeded by Mithridates II of Pontos.

Attalos attacks the forces of the usurper Adaios and defeats him, then engages in friendly negotiations with Lampsakos, Alexandria Troas, and Ilion, all of which had remained loyal to him.

Berenike II marries Ptolemy III, bringing control of Kyrene back to the Ptolemies.

Seleukeia Piera is captured by Ptolemy III Euergetes.

Antiochos III besieges Kypsela until the locals join his army.

Death of Ptolemy II Philadelphos. Ptolemy III becomes king.

Antiochos II Theos dies, potentially by poisoning. Seleukos II Kallinikos becomes King of the Seleukid Empire.

Possibly the end of the rule of Sames of Sophene, though it may have ended earlier. Arsames I likely continues his rule.

Abydos and Ephesos conquered by Ptolemy III of Egypt.

Andragoras declares his independence from the Seleukid King Seleukos II.

Assos comes under the control of the Attalid Kingdom.

Death of Eumenes I. Attalos I becomes king of the Attalid Kingdom of Pergamon.

The Ptolemaic Kingdom takes vast territories as a result of the Third Syrian War against the Seleukids. Tyre, Byblos, Sidon, Mallos, Soloi, Tarsos, and Aigai come under Ptolemaic control.

Arsames I founds Arsamosata in Sophene.

Antioch becomes the capital of the Seleukid Empire.

Antigonos II dies. Demetrios II becomes king of Macedon and continues the Antigonid dynasty.

Arsames I supports Antiochos Hierax over his brother Seleukos II Kallinikos for the Seleukid throne.

Death of Diodotos I, probably due to natural causes. His son Diodotos II becomes king of the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom.

Arsames I founds Arsameia in Commagene.

Arsames I founds the cities of Arsamosata and Arsameia in Sophene.

Death of Ariaramnes, king of Cappadocia. His son Ariarathes III continues the Ariarathid dynasty.

Death of Demetrios II of Macedon. Antigonos III Doson continues the Antigonid dynasty.

Death of Arsames I. His eldest son Xerxes becomes king of Commagene, Sophene and Armenia.

Ziailas is killed by Galatians. His son Prusias I becomes king of Bithynia.

Death of Arsames I of Sophene. His son Xerxes becomes king.

Euthydemos I defeats Diodotos II and becomes king of the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom.

Seleukos II Kallinikos dies after falling from his horse. Seleukos III Keraunos becomes king of the Seleukid Empire.

Mantineia is sacked by Antigonos III Doson. The city is handed over to Aratos of Sikyon, who repopulates it and renames it to Antigonia.

Seleukos III Keraunos is assassinated by members of his own army. Antiochos III the Great becomes king of the Seleukid Empire.

Tegea is taken by Antigonos II Doson and annexed to the Achaian League.

Death of Ptolemy III. Ptolemy IV becomes King of Egypt.

Death of Ardaxšir I, who had strengthened local autonomy of Persis. Vahbarz becomes king.

Death of Antigonos III Doson. Philip V continues the Antigonid dynasty.

The Social War begins, pitting members of the Achaian League, including Aegira, Patrai, Dyme, Bura, Sikyon, Corinth, Megalopolis, Messenia, Argos, Elis, and Macedon, against Sparta under King Kleomenes III, who were supported by the Aetolian League and Athens.

Death of Ariarathes III. His son Ariarathes IV continues the Ariarathid dynasty as King of Cappadocia.

Mithridates II unsuccessfully attempts to take Sinope, which is helped by Rhodes.

Achaios declares himself king of the region including Laodikeia ad Lykon.

Ambrakia is besieged by Philip V of Macedon, Phytia taken, and Metropolis is burned during the Social War between the Achaean League and the Aetolian League, of which Ambrakia is a member.

Psophis is taken by Philip V.

Antiochos III recaptures Seleukeia Pieria.

Philip V attempts to take Pale, but finds it too difficult and leaves.

Philip V attempts to push Stratos to fight against him, but is unsuccessful.

Aigai recaptured by Attalos I of Pergamon.

Philip V attempts to take Melitaia but fails because his scaling-ladders are too short.

Philip V takes Thebai, renames it to Philipoppolis, and enslaves the inhabitants.

Antiochos III besieges Sardis but fails to take its akropolis.

Achaios, who ruled over the territory including Laodikeia ad Lykon, is defeated by Antiochos III.

Antiochos III defeats Xerxes of Sophene, then marries him to his sister, who assassinates Xerxes. Zariadres is installed in Sophene.

Antiochos III transports 2000 Jewish families from Babylon to Laodikeia ad Lykon.

Tylis is destroyed by Thracians.

Death of Vahbarz of Persis. Bagadates II is believed to have succeeded him.

Death of Mithridates II of Pontos. He is succeeded by his son Mithridates III.

A Roman army under Sulpicius Puplius and the Aetolian League ravages Sikyon before being pushed out by Philip V.

Antiochos III of the Seleukid Empire campaigns in Baktria but eventually agrees to a peace with Euthydemos I, the Greco-Baktrian king, recognizing the kingdom’s independence.

Kios and Myrleia destroyed by Philip V, which enrages the Aetolian League.

Philip V convinces Hierapytna and Olous to declare war on Rhodes.

Philip V persuades Kalchedon and Lysimachia to break from the Aetolian League.

Philip V tricks Thasos into subjugation, promising to not install a garrison and then enslaving the entire city.

Ptolemy IV dies, maybe from a fire at the palace. Ptolemy V becomes King of Egypt.

Myrleia is fortified by Prusias I of Bithynia and renamed to Apamea in Bithynia.

Philip V of Macedon winters his fleet at Bargylia while blockaded by the fleets of Pergamon and Rhodes.

Philip V takes Alabanda.

Troops the Athamanes and the Aetolian League camp near Pharkadon, but are attacked by troops of Philip V and pushed away.

Philip V destroys Skiathos.

Andros captured by a fleet of Rome, Pergamon, and Rhodes. It becomes part of the Attalid Kingdom.

Death of Bagadates II of Persis. Autophradates I succeeds him.

Byblos, Arados, Tyre, and Sidon fall under Seleukid control after the Battle of Panium, as the Seleukids gain dominance in the region.

Akanthos attacked by a fleet of Romans and the Pergamene Kingdom in the Second Macedonian War.

Attalos sails from Andros to Kythnos and attempts to take it, but is thwarted by the Macedonian garrison there.

Philip V destroys Phakion.

After the Battle of Cynoscephalae, the treaty between the Romans and Philip V is signed at Larissa.

Philip V is defeated by Titus Quinctius Flamininus at the Battle of Skotussa.

Death of Attalos I of Pergamon. Eumenes II becomes king.

Smyrna creates a cult of Rome in order to foster closer ties to Rome and break with the Kingdom of Pergamon.

Nagidos and the rest of Cilicia come under Seleukid control.

Lycia, including Phaselis, is overrun by Antiochos III.

Philip V is forced to remove his garrisons from Iasos, Euromos, Pedasa, Bargylia, Abydos, Thasos, Myrina, and Perinthos.

Abydos, Madytos, and Ephesos seized by Antiochos III of the Seleukid Empire.

Antiochos III rebuilds Lysimachia.

Sestos surrenders to Antiochos III.

Death of Euthydemos I of the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Demetrios I becomes king.

Antiochos III, desiring to meet Rome in battle, is detained by the cities of Alexandria Troas, Smyrna, and Lampsakos, which refused entreaties.

Chalkis used as a base by Antiochos III for invading Greece.

Metropolis and Kierion are taken by Antiochos III in the Roman-Seleukid War.

Control of Demetrias returns to Philip V. The Romans arrive at Gonnos.

The Athamanes take Pelinna, Gomphi, Trikka, Meliboia, and Phaloria from Philip V.

Antiochos III takes Atrax, by then a Roman stronghold, and Medeion.

Antiochos III refortifies Sestos in preparation for a Roman attack.

Artaxias founds the Artaxiad dynasty.

Antiochos III is defeated by Scipio Asiaticus at the Battle of Magnesia. Through treaty, Ephesos comes under the Attalids. Alabanda comes under Roman control.

Tralleis is taken by the Kingdom of Pergamon.

Death of Autophradates I of Persis, who demonstrated increasing independence from the Seleukid Empire. Ardaxšir II becomes king.

Approximate death of Mithridates III of Pontos. He is succeeded by Pharnakes I of Pontos.

Antiochos III orders the inhabitants of Lysimachia to abandon their city.

Samos is given by the Romans to the Attalids.

Treaty of Apamea. Euromos, Laodikeia ad Lykon, Sestos, and Abydos returned to the Kingdom of Pergamon.

Estimated end date of the rule of Zariadres of Sophene. His son Mithrobouzanes takes over.

Antiochos III the Great is killed while pillaging at temple of Bel at Elymais. Seleukos IV Philopator rules the Seleukid Kingdom.

Pessinos is made a sanctuary by the Attalid kings.

Priansos and other cities in Crete sign an alliance with Eumenes II of Pergamon.

Mithridates V Euergetes is born in Amaseia. He later becomes a key ruler of Pontus and expands the kingdom’s influence.

Pharnakes I takes Sinope, which then becomes the capital of the Pontic Kingdom.

Prusias I, King of Bithynia, dies. He is succeeded by his son Prusias II.

Suggested end of reign of Demetrios I of the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Euthydemos II becomes king.

Pharnakeia is founded by Pharnakes I of Pontos.

Ptolemy V is believed to have been poisoned by his courtiers. Ptolemy VI becomes King of Egypt.

Death of Philip V, King of Macedon. Perseus continues the Antigonid dynasty.

Mallos and Tarsos ally against Antiochos IV Epiphanes.

Seleukos IV Philopator is killed by a bureaucratic Helidoros. Antiochos becomes king of the Seleukid Kingdom.

Possible end of the reign of Euthydemos II of the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I becomes king.

Menander I succeeds in expanding Greco-Baktrian control into northwestern India, reaching the peak of Greco-Baktrian influence.

Armies of Eumenes II and the Romans sack Abdera.

Death of Ardaxšir II of Persis, which becomes part of the Sasanian Empire.

Death of Antiochos of the Seleukid Kingdom. Antiochos IV becomes king.

Stratos makes an alliance with the Romans against Perseus of Macedon.

Aretas I is king of the Nabataeans.

The Romans defeat Philip V at the Battle of Pydna. Many cities, including Demetrias, fall under Roman rule. Perseus, King of Macedon, is imprisoned, thus ending the Antigonid dynasty.

Philip of Macedon, after being defeated at the Battle of Pydna, stops briefly at Galepsos before heading to Samothrace.

During the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleukids, tensions increase between the Jewish population and Idumeans, who are caught between the Seleukids and the Hasmoneans.

Death of Mattathias, who started the Maccabean Revolt of Judea against the Seleukid Empire. Judas Maccabee continues the revolt.

Ptolemy VI and Kleopatra II are expelled from the Egyptian throne by Ptolemy VIII.

Antiochos IV dies at Isfahan while on the way home from an unsuccessful campaign. Antiochos V Eupator becomes king of the Seleukid Kingdom.

Death of Ariarathes IV, King of Cappadocia. His son Ariarathes V continues the Ariarathid dynasty.

Ptolemaios, initially the satrap of Commagene, declares its independence.

Last recorded confirmation of the rule of Mithrobouzanes of Sophene, though it’s believed his rule lasted longer. This is believed the end of the Kingdom of Sophene.

The people of Egypt riot against Ptolemy VIII and reinstate Ptolemy VI.

Antiochos V Eupator is put to death. Demetrios I Soter becomes king of the Seleukid Kingdom.

Death of Artaxias I. His son Artavasdes I continues the Artaxiad line.

Attalos II ascends the throne of Pergamon.

Judah Maccabee is killed in the Battle of Elasa. His brother Jonathan continues the revolt.

Prusias II of Bithynia ravages the territory of Methymna.

Approximate death of Pharnakes I of Pontos. Mithridates IV of Pontos becomes king.

Alexander Balas gives Tyre the right to asylum.

Attalaia is founded by Attalos II.

Death of Mithridates IV of Pontos. Mithridates V becomes king.

Demetrios I is killed by Alexander Balas, who becomes the Seleukid king.

Prusias II is killed by his son Nikomedes II, who becomes King of Bithynia.

Death of Kamnaskires I, founder of the Kingdom of Elymais. We do not know when he founded it. Kamnaskires II becomes king.

Susa breaks free from the Seleukid Empire.

Eukratides I is murdered by his son while on the way back from India. Eukratides II becomes king of the Greco-Baktrian kingdom. Heliokles I becomes king.

Ptolemy VI dies from wounds in battle in Syria. Ptolemy VIII is invited to take the throne of Egypt.

Alexander Balas is defeated by Ptolemy VI and Demetrios II, who becomes the Seleukid king.

Jonathan is killed by Diodotos Tryphon. His brother Simon continues the Hasmonean Dynasty.

Hyspaosines declares independence from the Seleukids and founds the Characene Kingdom.

End of reign of Kamnaskires II of Elymais. The kingdom comes under control of the Parthians, but a possible usurper Okkonaspes takes the throne.

Death of Attalos II of Pergamon. Attalos III ascends the throne.

Diodotos Tryphon is either killed or commits suicide. Antiochos VII Euergetes takes the Seleukid throne.

Demetrios II Nikator is taken prisoner by the Parthians. Diodotos Tryphon becomes the Seleukid king.

Tigraios succeeds or takes the throne of Elymais.

Simon and two of his sons are assassinated at a banquet. John Hyrkanos continues the Hasmonean Dynasty.

Adramytteion, Smyrna, Sestos, Synnada, Laodikeia ad Lykon, Attalaia, Erythrai, Ephesos, Perge, and Assos come under Roman control after Attalos III, the last Attalid king, leaves it to Rome in his will.

End of reign of Tigraios of Elymais, leading into a period of uncertainty.

The Roman consul Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus is killed by Eumenes III, pretender to the throne of Pergamon, at Leukai.

Yuezhi tribes (future Kushans) conquer Baktria, ending the Greco-Baktrian Kingdom and beginning the era of Kushan dominance in the region.

Death of Ariarathes V, King of Cappadocia. His wife Nysa had killed five of her six children so she may become queen, but the remaining son, Ariarathes VI, kills her and continues the Ariarathid line.

Death of Ptolemaios of Commagene. He is succeeded by his son Sames II Theosebes Dikaios.

The Kingdom of Pergamon is fully incorporated into the Roman Empire, bringing Aigai, Pergamon, Ephesos, Smyrna, Thyateira, Sardis, Magnesia, Kyzikos, Miletos, and Kolophon under its domain.

Darius Soter is king of Elymais.

Antiochos VII Euergetes is killed in the Battle of Ekbatana by Phraates II. Demetrios II Nikator retakes the Seleukid throne.

Death of Nikomedes II. His son Nikomedes III becomes King of Bithynia.

Demetrios II Nikator is defeated at the Battle of Damaskos by Alexander II Zabinas. He is then captured and killed on a ship near Tyre. Alexander II takes the Seleukid throne.

Tyre obtains its independence from the Seleukids.

Pittit, possibly a usurper against the Parthians, is attested as King of Elymais.

John Hyrcanus I, the Hasmonean ruler of Judea, conquers Idumea and forcibly converts the Idumeans to Judaism. Idumea is formally integrated into the Hasmonean kingdom.

Death of Hyspaosines. His queen’s juvenile son Apodakos continues the Characene Kingdom.

Alexander II Zabinas is defeated and killed by Antiochos VIII, who takes the Seleukid throne.

Tigranes I is named co-regent of Armenia in the Artaxiad dynasty.

Death of Mithridates V of Pontos. Mithridates VI becomes king.

Ariarathes VI is murdered by Mithridates VI. Cappadocia is then seized by Nikomedes III of Bithynia. Mithridates then takes the kingdom back and installs Ariarathes VII, this ends the Ariarathid line.

Death of Ptolemy VIII. He is succeeded in Egypt by Ptolemy IX.

Death of Artavasdes I of Armenia. He is succeeded by his brother Tigranes I in the Artaxiad line.

Death of Samos II Theosebes Dikaios, who had constructed the fortress at Samosata. He is succeeded on the throne of Commagene by his son Mithridates I Kallinikos.

John Hyrcanus destroys Samaria.

Odessos places itself under Mithridates VI.

Birth of Deiotaros of Galatia.

Death of John Hyrkanos. Aristobolos I continues the Judean Kingdom.

Last Characene coinage attributed to Apodakos. We don’t know what happened in terms of succession.

Death of Aristobolos I. Alexander Jannaios becomes the ruler of Judea.

Aretas II becomes King of the Nabataeans.

Mithridates VI executes Ariarathes VII, King of Cappadocia, and installs his own nine-year-old son, Ariarathes IX, as King of Cappadocia.

Possible year that Maues founds the Indo-Skythian Kingdom.

Alexander Jannaios besieges Gaza for a year, then kills all the inhabitants and destroys it.

End of the reign of Aretas II. Obodas I becomes the Nabataean King.

Antiochos VIII Grypos is killed by his minister Heraklaion. His brother Antiochos IX becomes the Seleukid king.

Antiochos IX Kyzikos is killed by Seleukos VI, who becomes the Seleukid king.

Death of Tigranes I of Armenia in a snowstorm. His son Tigranes II becomes king and continues the Artaxiad line.

After a brief kingship of the brother of Ariarathes VI, Ariarathes VIII, Rome orders Ariarathes IX deposed, then lets the citizens choose Ariobarzanes I as king of Cappadocia.

Coinage commences from Tiraios I of Characene. We only know him from coins.

Death of Nikomedes III of Bithynia. His son Nikomedes IV succeeds him.

Seleukos VI Ephiphanes, a Seleukid king, is killed during riots.

Straton’s Tower (later named Caesaria Maritima) is captured by the Judean king Alexander Jannaios.

Termination of coinage of Tiarios I. We know nothing of the Characene succession.

Adramytteion, Ephesos, Pergamon, Magnesia, Tralles, Apamea, Samos, Kolophon, Smyrna, and Sardis occupied by Mithridates VI as part of the Mithridatic Wars against Rome.

Chalkis is used by Mithridates VI for invading Greece.

Mithridates VI‘s troops take Delos and ransack it.

With the help of Mithridates VI, the inhabitants of Kaunos kill all Romans in their city.

Kos is plundered by Mithridates VI of Pontus during his campaigns against Rome.

Patara is besieged by Mithridates VI.

Mithridates VI makes Pergamon his headquarters of his war against Rome.

Mithridates VI stays for some time at Stratonikeia and marries one of its citizens.

During the First Mithridatic War, the Roman general Sulla sacks Aegina as he attempts to defeat Mithridates VI of Pontus.

Taxiles, a general of Mithridates VI, attempts to take Elataia but the city successfully resists. The Romans declare Elataia a free city in gratitude.

Ptolemy son of Mennaios becomes tetrarch of Iturea and Chalcis.

End of the Nabataean reign of Obodas I. Rabbel I possibly rules for one year.

Aretas III becomes King of the Nabataeans.

Sulla defeats Mithridates VI and ends the Mithridatic Wars with the Treaty of Dardanos. Adramytteion, Ephesos, Pergamon, Smyrna, Sardis, Tralles, Kolophon, Apamea, and Magnesia return to Roman control.

Sulla uses Kypsela as a base while Mithridates uses Pergamon, and between these places they meet.

Soloi is sacked by Tigranes the Great.

The Kingdom of Elymais is restored by the Parthians. Kamnaskires III becomes king with Anzaze.

Berenike III is promoted by Ptolemy IX to co-regent of Egypt.

Julius Caesar spends time in Bithynia and is a guest of Nikomedes IV.

Death of Ptolemy IX. Berenike III rules Egypt alone.

Berenike III installs Ptolemy XI as co-regent of Egypt. He then murders Berenike III and is subsequently lynched in Alexandria. Ptolemy XII becomes king.

Sulla uses the Olympic Games at Olympia to celebrate his victory over Mithridates VI.

Beginning of Characene coinage of Tiraios II, who is known only from his coins.

Elymais under Kamnaskires III is defeated by the Parthian Orodes I. Kamnaskires is allowed to remain king.

Death of Alexander Jannaios at the Siege of Ragaba. Queen Salome continues in Judea.

Death of Kamnaskires III of Elymais. An unknown successor takes over.

Deiotaros of Galatia assists the Romans against Mithridates VI.

Vonones I becomes the ruler of Sakastan.

Nikomedes IV bequeaths Bithynia to Rome. Kalchedon and Kios thus become part of the Roman Empire.

Ilion sides with the Roman general Lucullus against Mithridates VI.

Kyzikos is defended by the Romans against a siege by Mithridates VI.

Death of Mithirdates I Kallinkos, King of Commagene. His son Antiochos I Theos succeeds him.

King from Adiabene participated in the Battle of Tigranocerta on the side of Tigranes the Great.

Delos destroyed again by pirates under Athenodoros, an ally of Mithridates VI.

Death of Salome, who had led Judea into prosperity. Her son Hyrkanos II becomes ruler.

Tigranes II surrenders his kingdom to Pompey the Great, who allows him to remain king.

Phanagoria, Nymphaion, Chersonesos, and Theodosia revolt against Mithridates VI.

Ariobarzanes I abdicates as King of Cappadocia. His son Ariobarzanes II becomes king.

Approximate year when Pompey rewards Deiotaros for his assistance against Mithridates VI by making him King of Galatia. Pessinos loses its sacred status.

Following the defeat of Mithridates VI by Pompey the Great, Amastris, Amisos, and Amaseia are integrated into the Roman province of Bithynia et Pontus.

Mithridates VI attempts suicide but fails because he has built up a tolerance. He then requests his body guard to kill him by sword. Pharnakes II becomes king of the Pontic Kingdom.

Kamnaskires IV becomes king of Elymais.

Aretas III dies and is entombed in the Treasury at Petra. Obodas II becomes king of the Nabataeans.

End of the short rule of Obodas II over the Nabataeans. Malichos I becomes king.

Ptolemy XII is forced to exile in Rome. Berenike IV and Kleopatra VI rule Egypt.

Latest end date for Maues’ reign as the king of the Indo-Skythian Kingdom.

King Ptolemy XII Auletes retires to Ephesos when the Roman Senate refuses to reinstate him to the throne.

Death of Vonones I of Sakastan. Spalahores becomes ruler.

Death of Tigranes II, King of Armenia. His son Artavasdes II becomes king.

End of reign of Kamnaskires IV of Elymais.

Ptolemy XII is restored to the throne of Egypt.

Kleopatra VII, the daughter of Ptolemy XII, is installed by him as co-regent of Egypt.

Ariobarzanes II is assassinated by Parthians. His elder son Ariobarzanes III becomes king of Cappadocia.

Latest date for the death of Ptolemy XII of Egypt. Kleopatra VII now rules alone.

Deiotaros of Galatia allies with Pompey over Julius Caesar.

Cessation of Characene coinage of Tiraios II.

Julius Caesar starts an affair with Kleopatra.

Rule of Artabazos of Characene for one year. Attambelos I then becomes king.

Julius Caesar pardons Deiotaros for siding with Pompey.

Julius Caesar and Kleopatra are besieged in Alexandria by Ptolemy XIII and Arsinoe IV.

Cyprus, including Kourion, Amathos, Paphos, Lapethos, Salamis, Soloi, and Kition, goes to Marc Antony and Kleopatra VII.

Julius Caesar quickly defeats Pharnakes II of the Kingdom of Pontus at Zela, leading to the famous phrase “veni, vidi, vici.”

Pharnakes II retreats north and takes Pantikapaion and Theodosia.

Pharnakes II, king of the Pontic kingdom, dies in battle against Asander. His daughter Dynamis becomes queen.

Birth of son Caesarion to Kleopatra and Julius Caesar.

Deiotaros accused by his grandson of trying to kill Julius Caesar while he was staying in Galatia. Cicero defends him.

Marc Antony seizes 200,000 scrolls from the Library at Pergamon and gifts them to Kleopatra for the Library at Alexandria.

The Roman Cassius Longinus has Ariobarzanes III executed. His brother Ariarathes X becomes King of Cappadocia.

Deiotaros of Galatia switches his support to the triumvirs.

Kleopatra and Marc Antony meet and have lavish feasts at Tarsos.

Death of Ptolemy son of Mennaios. His son Lysanias becomes tetrarch of Iturea and Chalcis.

Hyrkanos II has his ears removed and is then led as a captive to Babylon. Antigonos II Mattatias is installed as ruler of Judea.

Sagalassos given to the Galatian king Amyntas.

Herod the Great, of Idumean descent, is installed as king of Judea by the Romans. His rule brings stability and extensive building projects in the region, including in Idumea.

Antigonos II Mattatias is taken to Antioch and executed. This ends the Hasmonean line.

Rome removes Ariarathes X, King of Cappadocia, and replaces him with Archelaos.

Pessinos becomes the capital of the Galatian tribe of theTolistobogii.

Death of Spalahores of Sakastan. Spalagadames becomes ruler.

Artavasdes II is arrested by Marc Antony. His son Artaxias II becomes King of Armenia.

Lysanias, tetrarch of Iturea and Chalcis, is put to death by Marc Antony.

Artavasdes II is decapitated by Kleopatra VII after he refuses to bow to her.

Tarkondimotos is killed fighting under Sosius against Agrippa. His sons desert the cause of Marc Antony.

Antiochos I Theos, the king of Commagene, is killed by the Parthian king Phraates IV. He is succeeded by his son Mithridates II.

Malichos I has a bitter rivalry with Kleopatra VII, resulting in his failing to show up for the Battle of Actium, a victory for Octavian.

Octavian removes Philopator I, the son of Tarkondimotos, from the throne of Cilicia.

Straton’s Tower is given to Herod I, who renamed it to Caesarea Maritima in honor of Augustus.

Gaza is given to Herod I by Augustus.

Herod I rebuilds Samaria.

Octavian (later Augustus) enters Alexandria and annexes Egypt into the Roman Empire. Cleopatra VII commits suicide, ending the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Death of Malichos I of Nabataea. Obodas III becomes king.

Antony and Cleopatra commit suicide. Octavian conquers Egypt, making it a Roman province.

The Pontic Kingdom is officially annexed to the Roman Empire. Amaseia is no longer the capital because it is reorganized into the province of Galatia.

Theonesios I, likely a son of Attambelos I, ascends the throne as a co-ruler of Characene.

On the death of Amyntas, king of Galatia, Rome turns Pisidia – including Sagalassos, Side, and Kremna – into a separate province of Galatia.

Zenodoros, son of Lysander, becomes tetrarch of Iturea and Chalcis.

Herod I begins construction of the harbor at Caesarea Maritima.

Artaxias II is removed as king of Armenia by Augustus, upon receiving a letter from his unhappy subjects. Tigranes III is installed as king.

Elaiussa is founded by King Archelaos of Cappadocia. Archelaus names it “Sebaste” (the Greek form of “Augustus”) in honor of the Roman Emperor Augustus.

Zenodoros suffers a ruptured intestine and dies, ending the tetrarchy of Iturea and Chalcis.

The kingdom of Cilicia is restored by Augustus to Tarkondimotos II.

Death of Mithridates II of Commagene. His son Mithridates III continues as ruler.

The rules of Attambelos I and Theonesios I of the Characene kingdom are interrupted by a foreign ruler.

Attambelos II becomes king of the Characene kingdom.

Herod I of Judea funds a stoa on Chios.

Death of Mithridates III of Commagene. Antiochos III becomes king.

The Olympic Games at Olympia are subsidized by Herod I of Judea on a request from Augustus.

Death of Obodas III of Nabataea. Aretas IV becomes king.

Death of Tigranes III of Armenia. His son Tigranes IV and daughter Erato resume the Artaxiad line.

Herod the Great dies, and his kingdom is divided among his sons. Idumea becomes part of the Tetrarchy of Judea, under the control of Herod’s son Archelaus. Gaza becomes part of Syria.

Tigranes IV is killed in battle. His sister Erato continues running Armenia.

Ariobarzanes II of Atropatene is installed as King of Armenia.

Ariobarzanes II is killed in a conspiracy. His son Artavasdes III becomes King of Armenia.

Artavasdes III is killed by his subjects. He is succeeded by his son Tigranes V and Erato, who continues running Armenia.

Judea, including Edom, becomes a Roman province. Caesarea Maritima replaces Jerusalem as the capital.

Death of Queen Dynamis, thus ending the Pontic line.

Completion of rule of Attambelos II of the Characene kingdom. Abinergaos I takes power during roughly this time.

Tigranes V and Erato are overthrown in Armenia, thus ending the Artaxiad dynasty. Augustus appoints Vonones I of Parthia as King.

King Archelaos dies, and his kingdom, including Elaiussa Sebaste, is annexed by the Roman Empire under Emperor Tiberius. This ends the Cappadocian kingdom.

Death of Tarkondimotos II. The Kingdom of Cilicia comes under Roman rule.

Death of Antiochos III of Commagene. Tiberius decides to integrate the kingdom into the Roman Empire.

Last attested mention of Abinergaos I of the Characene Kingdom.

First coins of Attambelos III of the Characene Kingdom appear.

Caligula decides to restore the Kingdom of Commagene. Antiochos IV becomes king.

Death of Aretas IV of Nabataea. He is succeeded by his son Malichos II.

End of reign of Attambelos III of the Characene Kingdom.

Theonesios II reigns for a few months in the Characene Kingdom.

Beginning of rule of Theonesios III of the Characene Kingdom.

End of rule of Theonesios III of the Characene Kingdom. Beginning of rule of Attambelos IV.

End of rule of Attambelos IV of the Characene Kingdom. Beginning of rule of Attambelos V.

Death of Malichos II of Nabataea. He is succeeded by his son Rabbel II.

Antiochos IV of Commagene is accused of conspiring with the Parthians by the Roman governor of Syria. His kingdom is taken away.

Presumed death of Attambelos V of the Characene Kingdom. Orabazes II becomes king.

End of rule of Orabazes II of the Characene Kingdom. Beginning of rule of Pakoros II, who is the first historically attested king since Apodakos I.

Trajan annexes the Nabataean Kingdom.

Trajan conquers the Nabataean Kingdom shortly after the death of Rabbel II.

Death of Pakoros II of the Characene Kingdom. His son Vologases III is now the sole king.

Hadrian suppresses the Kitos War in Judea.

Hadrian visits Judea and decides to rebuilt the ruined Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina.

Bar Kokhba Revolt breaks out in Judea during Hadrian‘s reign.

Forces under Hadrian quell the Bar Kokhba revolt in Judea, leaving roughly 580,000 Jews dead. Many of the survivors are enslaved.

Death of Vologases III of the Characene Kingdom. The son of Mithridates V, Vologases IV becomes king.

End of reign of Vologases IV of the Characene Kingdom. His son Vologases V becomes king.

Death of Vologases V of the Characene Kingdom. His son Vologases VI succeeds him.

Possible end of reign of Kavaros, whose capital was Odessos.

The Characene Kingdom is occupied by the Sasanids.

Helena begins a trip to Judea.

The author and his wife visit Masada, including the Palace of Herod I. It is extremely hot.

The author and his wife visit Petra, capital of Nabataea.