CAPPADOCIA was, in ancient times, a province of Lydia in Asia, extending from Mount Taurus to the Euxine Sca ; but was divided first by the Persians, and afterwards by the Macedonians, into two dynasties. The northei:n division, which, from its situation, received the appellation of Cappadocia ad Pontum, was soon denomi nated Pontes, and under this title its history will more properly appear. The southern division , which we are now to describe, was at first culled Cappadocia ad Tau rum, or Cappadocia illagna; but when tile otner envision took the name of Pealus, it claimed to itself the name of Cappadocia. 'I'nis country, hounded on the east by the Euphrates and Armenia Minor ; on the south by Lycao nia and Armenia Major; on t .e west by GJIatia ; and on the north by Point's ; stretch( a from the 38th to the 41st degree of north latitude. T, e nanny of this region, ac cording to Pliny, was derived from the river Cappadox ; according to Wroth:in, from Cappadocus. who is said to have been the founder of this dy nasty. but whose exis tence is more than doubtful. Besides Mazaca, the me tropolis of this kingdom, which was afterwards called Cx.saria by Tiberius, in honour of Augustus, Cappado ci• could boast of the following cities; Comilla. Diocx saria. Neoexsaria, 'Tana, Sebastia, and Sebastopol's. The principal rivers which fertilize this region, are the Melas, the Iris, now Casalmx, and the Ifylas. The dis trict on tat- south-east, which lies around the Antitaurus, is mcw.tainous and barren. The other parts are fer tile, abounding with fruits of every kind; enriched with mines of silver, brass, iron, and alum ; and producing alabn.ster, crystal, jasper, and onyx. The horses which w.: re reared in this country were so excellent, that they were pun chased by 14 e sun rounding nations, and became at last so famous at Rome, that lime but the emperor was permitted to possess tnetn.
From The feeble light of anc.A nt history, we find that this country was a province of Lydia in the Crcesus. When that kingdom yielded to the destiny of Persia, Cappadocia bowed to the conqueror, and the annual tribute of 1500 horses, 2000 mules, and 5000 sheep, stamped its subjection till the time of Cyrus. When that monarch was engaged in hunting, Pharnaces, one of his nobles, rescued him from a lion which was ready to devour him ; and the crown of Cappadocia, and the hand of Atossa, the sister of Cyrus, marked his gra titude, and the valour of his deliverer. Pharnaces fell in a war with the Hyrcanians ; and Smerdis, his son, cul tivating the friendship of Persia, joined Darius against the Scythians, and took Marsagetes, the brother of their king, prisoner. Anaphas, who succeeded him, equalled his father in military renown, and in fidelity to the Per sians. His name and kingdom descended to his son, who again was succeeded by Datames, the first of his race, who waged war with the Persians, and who atoned for his rashness on the field of battle, by the liss of his army and of his life. Ariaramnes his son, who succeeded him, suffered much from the superior power of Persia, vet, at the end of a reign of 50 years, he left his throne to his son Ariarathes I. This prince wisely courted the friend ship of Artaxerxes Ochus, and with him waged war against the Egyptians, in which he acquired the most distinguished honours. Induced by affection to his bro ther Holophcrncs, he resigned to him a share of the go vernment, and, at his death, that prince succeeded to the sovereign power. probably upon account of the youth of
his brother's children ; for at his death, he set aside his own family, and in return for his brother's kindness, re stored the kingdom to his son Ariarathes II. This prince signalized his fidelity to the Persians, by setting at de fiance the fame and the power of Alexander ; but though the king of Macedon, by engaging in nobler conquests, was prevented from inflicting upon him signal vengeance, yet, at his death, Perdiccas conducted into Cappadocia a powerful army, and having routed the forces of Aria rathes, whom he took prisoner, and barbarously cruci fied, with all his nobles who fell into his hands, placed upon the throne his brother Eumenes, to whom that country had been assigned by the division of Alexander's dominions, which then took place. Ariarathes III. es caping from the slaughter of his father and brethren, wandered as an exile in Armenia till the death of Eu menes and Perdiccas, and the war between Antigonns and Selcucus occupied the whole attention of the :Mace donians, and inspired hint with the hope of recovering his paternal dominions. At the head of an army which he received from the friendship of Ardoates, king of Ar menia, he entered Cappadocia, defeated Amyntas the Macedonian governor, and ascended the throne which his valour had purchased, and which his wisdom taught him to enjoy during a long and a happy reign. A via rainnes II. his son, succeeded him ; and cultivating the friendship of Antiochus Theos, king of Syria, obtained Stratonicc, the (laughter of that monarch, in marriage to his son, whom he associated with himself in the govern ment, and advanced the prosperity of his country by a wise and peaceful administration. His son Ariarathes IV. inherited the dominions, but not the peaceful dispo sition of his father. 'marling the territories of Arsaces, the founder of the Parthian dynasty, he overcame that monarch in a bloody engagement, and, as t he fruit of that victory, took poi,( ssion of pail of his kingdom. At his dead , Ari:tratla•s V. assumed the sceptre of his father ; married Antiochis, daughter of Antioehus the Great; joined that prince in a war against the Romans ; beheld the confitdcmted armies scattered by superior discipline and bravery ; purchased the peace and friendship of the Romans by promising them 200 talents, which were mi tigated to 100 at the intercession of the king of Perga mus ; assisted his new allies against Perseus king of Ma cedon ; and as the reward of his services, was stiled by the senate the friend and ally of the Roman people. His queen being at first barren, imposed upon his credulity, by persuading him that she had two sons, who were called Ariarathes and Holophernes ; but afterwards, when she really became pregnant, she confessed the im posture, and bore to her husband two daughters,*and a son who was called Mithridates. When this son arrived at manhood, his dutiful conduct inspired his father with such affection, as to induce him to resign the sceptre into his hand; but the son proved that he was worthy of his father's virtue, by declafing, that the only instance of disobedience which he would ever exhibit would be, to refuse a crown which his father wore with such honour to himself, and such happiness to his people, and thus merited the sirname of Philopater.