Tarcondimotus I

Summary

Tarcondimotus I (Greek: Ταρκονδίμοτος; died 31 BC) was a Roman client king of Cilicia, who played a role in the Roman civil wars of the late Roman Republic.

Bronze coin of Tarcondimotus I

Based on inscriptions relating to his family from Castabala, Tarcondimotus was the son of Straton. and had two sons called Philopator I and Laios, and a daughter called Julia.[1]

Tarcondimotus at first supported Pompey in the civil war against Julius Caesar, but after Pompey's defeat and death, he was pardoned by Caesar and confirmed in his title and possessions.[2] The name of Tarcondimotus' daughter is probably an indication that he received the Roman citizenship from Caesar as well.[1] During the Liberators' civil war, he sided with Gaius Cassius Longinus, and after that with Mark Antony, whom he followed in the opening stages of the war against Octavian,[2] adopting the royal epithet Philantonios (Antony-lover) as an expression of his devotion to Antony.[3]

Tarcondimotus was killed in a battle at sea in 31 BC, fighting under Gaius Sosius against Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.[2] His sons deserted Mark Antony's cause after Octavian's victory in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, but Octavian nevertheless deposed Philopator I in 30 BC from his kingdom. In 20 BC, Tarcondimotus' former possessions were restored to Tarcondimotus II, who is either the same person as Philopator I or a grandson of Tarcondimotus I.[4] Tarcondimotus II lived until 17 AD.[5] Shortly, after his death, the kingdom became a part of the Roman Empire.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Stein, E. (1932). "Tarcondimotus". Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft. Vol. Band IVA, Halbband 8, Symposion–Tauris. pp. 2297–2298.
  2. ^ a b c   Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Tarcondimotus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. III. p. 975.
  3. ^ Heller, Anna (2020). L'âge d'or des bienfaiteurs : titres honorifiques et sociétés civiques dans l'Asie Mineure d'époque romaine : Ier s. av. J.-C.-s. - IIIe apr. J.-C. Genève. p. 43. ISBN 978-2600057462.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Tobin, Jenner (2001). "The Tarcondimotid Dynasty in Smooth Cilicia". Actes de la Table Ronde d'Istanbul, 2-5 novembre 1999: 381–387.
  5. ^ Tacitus Annals II.42