Kurd û Kurdistan

                        Kingdom of Commagene 

                     (Kurdish: Shahên Koma Gele)

The Kingdom of Commagene was an ancient kingdom of Kurdish Median empire. Little is known of the region of Commagene prior to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. However, it seems that, from what little evidence remains, Commagene formed part of a larger state that also included Median-Sophene.  This control lasted until c.163 BC, when the local satrap, Ptolemaeus of Commagene, established himself as independent ruler following the death of the Seleucid king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Kingdom of Commagene maintained its independence until 17 AD.

 Commagene was a  kingdom Median (Medes) empire, located in modern of nothern Kurdistan (south-central Turkey), with its capital at Samosata (modern Kurdish Samsat, near the Euphrates). It was first mentioned in Assyrian texts as Kummuhu, which was normally an ally of Assyria, but eventually annexed as province in 708 BC under Sargon II. The Persian Empire then conquered Commagene in the 6th century BC, and Alexander the Great conquered the territory in the 4th century BC. Commagene, bounded by Cilicia on the west and Cappadocia on the north, arose in 162 BC. This was the year when its governor, Ptolemy, a Satrap of the disintegrating Seleucid Empire, declared himself independent. Ptolemy's dynasty was related to the Parthian kings, but his descendant Mithridates I Callinicus (109 BC-70 BC) embraced the Hellenistic culture and married the Syrian Greek Princess Laodice VII Thea. His dynasty could thus claim ties with both Alexander the Great and the Persian kings. This marriage may also have been part of a peace alliance between Commagene and the Seleucid Empire. 

Kurdish Mithridates and Laodice’s son was king Antiochus I Theos of Kurdish Commagene (reigned 70 BC-38 BC). Antiochus was an ally to Roman general Pompey in his campaigns against  Mithridates of Pontus in 64 BC. Through skilled diplomacy, Antiochus was able to keep Commagene independent from the Romans. In 17 when Antiochus III of Commagene died, Emperor Tiberius annexed Commagene to the province of Syria, but in 38 Caligula reinstated his son Antiochus IV and also gave him the wild areas of Cilicia to govern. Antiochus IV was the only Client King of Commagene under the Roman Empire. Antiochus IV reigned until 72, when Emperor Vespasian deposed the dynasty and re-annexed the territory to Syria, acting on allegations "that Antiochus was about to revolt from the Romans... reported by the Governor Caesennius Paetus". The descendants of Antiochus IV lived prosperously and in distinction in Anatolia, Greece, Italy and the Middle East. As a testament to the descendants of Antiochus IV, was his grandson Philopappos who died in 116. The citizens of Athens in 116, erected a funeral monument in honor of Philopappos, who was a benefactor of Athens. Another descendant of Antiochus IV, was the historian Gaius Asinius Quadratus, who lived in the 3rd century.

When the Romans conquered attempted  Median-Commagene, the great royal sanctuary at Mount Nemrut was abandoned. The Romans looted the burial tumuli of their goods and the XVI legion (Legio XVI Flavia Firma) built and dedicated a bridge. The surrounding thick forests were cut down and cleared by the Romans for wood, timber and charcoal. The clearing of the surrounding forests have caused much erosion to the area. In Commagene, there is a column topped by an eagle, which has earned the mound name Teyre resh, or The Black Bird. An inscription there indicates the presence there of a royal tomb that housed three women. However, the vault of that tomb has also been looted. The main excavations on the site were carried out by Friedrich Karl Dörner of the University of Münster.

Satraps of Commagene, 290-163 BC

• Sames (Medes)290 BC-260 BC
• Arsames I (Medes) 260 BC-228 BC
• Xerxes of Median empire 228 BC-201 BC
• Ptolemaeus of Commagene (Medes) 201 BC-163 BC

Sames of Commagene 290 BC-260 BC

 Sames was Satrap of Commagene. War between the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Kingdom seems to have allowed Sames an opportunity of independence. What side he took in the Syrian Wars is unknown as most of the records of that era have been lost, though it would make sense that he would have supported the Ptolemaic Kingdom against his large and powerful neighbour, the Seleucid Empire. Most sources give Orontes III as his father. After Orontes III died in 260 BC, there is no record for when Sames began his rule, only his year of death, in 260 BC as well. This seems to be blundered, chronogically. It may be that Sames was meant to succeed Orontes IV, but died the same year. That they both died in the same year looks suspicious, and may have been a Seleucid plot to take control, however it seems Arsames I took control of Commagene- Sophene of Median empire 260 AD, and even that makes him look suspect.

Commagene was in the nothern Kurdistan. It have been that the son and heir to the Kurdish kingdom would rule another region, just as the son or heir to the Median Empire had always ruled an outlying region, such as Bactria or Hyrkania. Viewing it from this perspective it would make sense, as his father Orontes III was of the Orontid family.Sames founded the Kurdish city of Samosata (Modern Kurdish: Samsûr), which has been submerged by the Ataturk Dam since 1989. Shamash was a Babylonian god, equivalent to Mithra, it was a dramatic break from a seemingly continuous tradition of Satraps with Kurdish names. The neighbouring region of Osroene maintained a strong Kurdish culture. Although Sames had a very ancient Kurdish name, his name might have been "Mihrdat" .

Arsames I 260 BC-228 BC

Arsames I seems to have taken control of Commagene-Sophene in the year 260 BC after the death of his grandfather Orontes III, king of Armenia, and his father Sames, king of Commagene. Quite why they both died in the same year is not recorded, though it looks suspicious. It is known the Seleucid Empire was always trying to overthrow the Kurdish dynasties who still ruled the lands their forebears had in the time of the Median Empire. Ziaelas of Bithynia found refuge at the court of king Arsames, and upon the death of king Nicomedes I of Bithynia Ziaelas returned to take the kingdom in 254 BC.

Arsames also supported Antiochus Hierax against his brother, Seleucus II Callinicus, who was defeated at a battle against king Mithridates II of Pontus near Ankara in 239 BC, after which Seleucus lost control of any lands he had across the Kurdistan Taurus mountains. This was to the benefit of Arsames.

 Arsames then founded the cities of Arsamosata (Modern Kurdish: Samsûr) in Sophene in Commagene (Median empire) in 235 BC.

After his death his eldest son Xerxes, became king of Commagene, Sophene Orontes IV would succeed Xerxes whilst another son known as "Mithras" (or Mithrenes II) is recorded as being the High Priest of the Kurdish temple to the holy Sun and Moon at Armavir. 

Xerxes 228 BC-201 BC

He succeeded his father Arsames I to rule both Sophene and Commagene in 228 BC, his brother Orontes IV ruled. The Satraps of Upper Media, Lower Media and Persis Persis rebelled against king Antiochus III in 223 BC. Also in 223 BC Achaeus, the Satrap of Asia Minor, rebelled. By 220 BC he put down most of the rebellions, Achaeus was not defeated until 213 BC. All of these rebellions helps to understand the context, and motives for the subsequent actions of Antiochus III on king Xerxes. By 212 BC Antiochus III had invaded the domain of Xerxes and defeated him after laying siege to the city of Arsamosata. Shortly afterwards Antiochus III arranged for Xerxes to marry his sister, Antiochis. This move seems to show the power or influence Xerxes had in the region. However within the same year she arranged to have her new husband assassinated, thinking that Antiochus III would be able to take control of Sophene. 

Whether Xerxes had still ruled Commagene by the time of his assassination is not known. Antiochus III had many military campaigns to take command of and so rather than ruling Sophene he seems to have preferred to place Sophene under the rule of Xerxes son, Abdissares (Zareh).

 

Ptolemaeus of Commagene 201 BC-163 BC

Ptolemaeus was a man of Median empire descent who lived between the 3rd century BC and 2nd century BC, and became the first King of Commagene. He was of Orontid Medes descent, being related to the king of Sophene Arsames I. His father was King Orontes IV of Median empire, son of Arsames I.

Ptolemy was the last Satrap (Governor) of the state of Commagene, a province in the Seleucid Empire. He served under the Syrian Greek Kings Antiochus III the Great, Seleucus IV Philopator, Antiochus IV Epiphanes and Antiochus V Eupator.

 Ptolemy served as a Satrap of Commagene between 201–163 BC. When the Seleucid Empire began to disintegrate in 163 BC, Ptolemy decided to revolt and make Commagene an independent kingdom. Ptolemy also declared Samosata, which was the capital of Commagene, under Seleucid rule as the capital of the new kingdom.

Ptolemy was in fact a relative to the King Mithridates I of Parthia and related to the Parthian King dynasty. According to fragments of inscribed reliefs found at Mount Nemrut, archaeologists have discovered that Ptolemy was a descendant of Persian King Darius I of Persia. Ptolemy died in 130 BC and his wife is unknown. His son and successor was Sames II Theosebes Dikaios.

 

Kings of Commagene, 163 BC-72

• Ptolemaeus of Commagene 163 BC-130 BC
• Sames II Theosebes Dikaios 130 BC-109 BC
• Mithridates I Callinicus 109 BC-70 BC
• Antiochus I Theos of Commagene 70 BC-38 BC
• Mithridates II of Commagene 38 BC-20 BC
• Mithridates III of Commagene 20 BC-12 BC
• Antiochus III of Commagene 12 BC-17
• Ruled by Rome 17-38
• Antiochus IV of Commagene 38-72 and wife, Iotapa