Ariarathes | |
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![]() Coin of Ariarathes I, minted in Gaziura, dated 333–322 BC | |
Satrap of Northern Cappadocia | |
In office 340s BC – 331 BC | |
Preceded by | Ariamnes I |
Succeeded by | Himself (as King of Cappadocia) |
King of Cappadocia | |
In office 331 BC – 322 BC | |
Preceded by | Himself (as Satrap of Northern Cappadocia) |
Succeeded by | Vacant (title next held by Ariarathes II |
Personal details | |
Born | 405/4 BC |
Died | 322 BC |
Relatives | Ariamnes I (father) Orophernes/Holophernes (brother) |
Dynasty | Ariarathid |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() Kingdom of Cappadocia (until 322 BC) |
Battles/wars | Battle of Gaugamela |
Ariarathes I (Old Iranian: Aryaraθa, Aramaic: Ariorath or Ariourat; Ancient Greek: Ἀριαράθης, romanized: Ariaráthēs; 405/4 BC – 322 BC) was the last Achaemenid Persian governor (satrap) of the province (satrapy) of Northern Cappadocia, serving from the 340s BC to 331 BC. He led defensive efforts against the Macedonian invasion, commanded by Alexander the Great, and later fought at the Battle of Gaugamela under Darius III, the last King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire. After the fall of the Achaemenid Empire, Ariarathes continued his resistance against the Macedonians, ruling concomitantly as an Achaemenid remnant and a precursor to the Kingdom of Cappadocia. He is regarded as the founder of the Iranian Ariarathid dynasty.
Ariarathes was eventually captured and executed in 322 BC by the Macedonian Perdiccas. His territory was seized, whereafter it was contested between several of Alexander's successors and former generals. However, Ariarathes's dynastic successors regained control over Cappadocia in 301 BC and ruled over the kingdom until 96 BC when they were deposed by the Roman Republic.