Machares
Who was Machares?
Son of Mithridates VI
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Machares (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Machares was a Pontic prince who ruled the Bosporan Kingdom in the first century BCE under his father, Mithridates VI of Pontus. Born to King Mithridates VI and Queen Laodice, Machares had both Greek and Persian cultural influences, with his name meaning 'warrior' in Persian. Around 80 BCE, after Mithridates defeated the Roman general Murena and took the Bosporan Kingdom, Machares became ruler of this important area on the Black Sea's northern shores.
At first, Machares supported his father's fight against Rome. When Mithridates was defeated by the Romans at Cyzicus in 73 BCE, he asked his son for help. Machares provided the support needed to continue the war. However, as his father kept losing battles, Machares started to doubt the wisdom of aligning with his father's failing cause.
By 71 BCE, after seeing his father's repeated failures, Machares decided to change sides. He sent an envoy to the Roman general Lucullus, offering a golden crown as a sign of submission and asking for an alliance with Rome. Lucullus accepted, valuing the advantage of having a friendly ruler in the Bosporan Kingdom. To show his loyalty, Machares helped Lucullus with key supplies during the siege of Sinope, aiding Roman efforts against his father.
Machares' switch ultimately led to his downfall in 65 BCE. After being defeated by Pompey, Mithridates planned to use the Bosporus as a base to renew his war against Rome. When Machares learned of his father's approach, he feared the consequences of his betrayal. He fled to Chersonesus and chose to commit suicide rather than face his father's fury. However, historian Cassius Dio offers a different version, suggesting Mithridates tricked Machares back with fake assurances of safety and then had him killed. Machares died in Panticapaeum, the capital of the Bosporan Kingdom, where he had ruled for fifteen years.
Before Fame
Machares grew up during one of the most turbulent times in the eastern Mediterranean, as his father Mithridates VI became Rome's most challenging rival in the area. The young prince saw his father's spread of Pontic influence across Asia Minor and the Black Sea region, learning about governance amidst constant wars and diplomatic dealings. His role as ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom was both a reward for family loyalty and a strategic move, as Mithridates needed trusted leaders to manage his widespread lands.
The Bosporan Kingdom was a wealthy and strategically important territory, controlling the grain trade from the fertile lands of southern Russia to the Mediterranean. This area had long been fought over by different powers, and controlling it was crucial for anyone seeking to dominate the Black Sea region. Machares' role put him at the heart of the ongoing conflict between the growing Roman Republic and the remaining major Hellenistic kingdoms.
Key Achievements
- Successfully governed the Bosporan Kingdom for fifteen years as a client ruler
- Negotiated a strategic alliance with Rome through Lucullus in 71 BCE
- Provided crucial military support to his father during the early stages of the Third Mithridatic War
- Maintained control over the vital Black Sea grain trade routes
- Successfully managed the transition from Pontic to Roman sphere of influence
Did You Know?
- 01.His name Machares derives from Persian meaning 'warrior', reflecting the mixed Greek and Persian cultural heritage of the Pontic royal family
- 02.He provided supplies to Roman forces during the siege of Sinope, directly supporting military operations against his own father
- 03.The golden crown he presented to Lucullus was a traditional symbol of submission used by eastern rulers when seeking Roman protection
- 04.He ruled the Bosporan Kingdom for approximately fifteen years, from 80 BCE until his death in 65 BCE
- 05.Historical sources disagree on whether he committed suicide or was executed by his father, with both Appian and Cassius Dio providing different accounts