Mithradates of Iberia 36-38, 42-51 AD No known coins

Mithradates of Iberia was an Iberian (Georgian) prince of the Arsacid line who became King of Armenia with Rome’s support. His reign came in two phases, reflecting the tumult of the era. In 36 AD, after the removal of Arsaces, Mithradates – brother of Iberia’s King Pharasmanes – was put forward by Rome as the new Armenian king. Backed by legions and with his brother’s armies, Mithradates invaded Armenia, defeating the remaining followers of Arsaces. He took the throne and was welcomed by pro-Roman factions. As an outsider with Arsacid blood, Mithradates sought legitimacy by emphasizing common Iranian heritage with the Armenians and by enforcing just rule.

In his first short reign (36–38 AD), Mithradates stabilized the kingdom, but court intrigues soon intervened. The new Roman Emperor Caligula, in 37 AD, grew suspicious of client kings’ loyalties. By 38 AD, Caligula capriciously summoned Mithradates to Rome (perhaps under accusations or simply to assert dominance). Mithradates was deposed and kept in semi-captivity, while Armenia was left without a clear ruler, sliding partly into anarchy and partly under the sway of local nobles or perhaps brief Parthian influence.

After Caligula’s assassination, Emperor Claudius sought to restore order in the east. In 42 AD, Claudius released Mithradates and reinstalled him as king of Armenia. The Armenian nobility, weary of chaos, largely accepted his return. Mithradates II’s second reign (42–51 AD) was more firmly established. He proved a stern but effective ruler, quelling rebellious vassals and defending the frontiers. Crucially, he maintained a strong alliance with his brother Pharasmanes of Iberia. This proved decisive in 51 AD when Pharasmanes’s own son, Rhadamistus, betrayed and murdered Mithradates during a familial visit. Rhadamistus seized the Armenian throne, ending Mithradates’ life and reign in a bloody coup.