Commagene

• Commagene was a Roman Client Kingdom which is now located in eastern Turkey.

1. History

• Pre-Roman history:
  • 201-163 BCE Ptolemaus of Commagene became Satrap of Commagene under the Greek Seleucid Empire.
  • 63 BCE He declared himself King of Commagene and independent of the Seleucid Empire.
  • 64 BCE Pompey signed a Treaty recognising Antiochus I (86-36 BCE) as King of Commagene.
  • 59 BCE The Roman Senate recognised Antiochus I as a Roman Client Kingdom.
  • From then on the Commagene Kings were mostly loyal Client Kings to Rome, sending troops when requested.
• Acquisition by Rome:
  • 17 CE Tiberius made Commagene a Roman Province, controlled from Syria, after the death of King Antiochus III.
  • 38 CE Caligula restored Commagene as a Roman Client Kingdom to the son of Antochus III, Antiochus IV, who are both honoured on the Philopappos Monument in Athens with an inscription: ‘King Antiocus son of King Antiochus’. Antiochus IV was the last client King.
  • 72 CE Vespasian made Commagene permanently part of the Roman Province of Syria, with the Legio XVI Flavia Firma at Saramosata.
• Timeline of this Client Kingdom:
  • 63 BCE-17 CE Commagene a Roman Client Kingdom.
  • 17-38 CE Commagene a Roman Province.
  • 59-72 CE Commagene returned briefly to being a Roman Client Kingdom.
  • 72 CE, Commagene was permanently absorbed into Syria.
• Famous Persons from this Client Kingdom:
• Chief archeological Finds:
  • Mausoleum of Antiochus I (69-34 BCE)
    • Located at Mount Nemrut Archeological Site, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Geography

• Capital City:
  • Samosata
• Chief Cities:
• Location Today:
  • Southeastern Turkey
• Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Cappadocia, Cilicia, Sophene, Osrhoene.
• Climate and Temperature Today:
• Main Rivers
  • Euphrates
• Mountain Ranges:
• Islands: None.

3. Political Organisation

• Imperial/ Senatorial Province
  • Imperial, under Syria.
• Praefect/ Procurator/ Legate List:
• Tribes and Population:
• Language:

4. Military Organisation

• Legions:
  • Legio XVI Flavia Firma
    • based at Samosata
• Navy:
• Defensive Works:
• Main Threats:
  • Persian Empire.

5. Economy

• Chief Exports:
• Agriculture and Fishing:
• Manufacturing:
• Mines:
• Mints:

6. Transport

• Roads:
• Waterways:
• Ports:
• Ancient Trade Routes:
• Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

• Buffer State between the Roman and Parthian Empires.
  • Roman Client Kingdom until 72 CE.
  • After 72 CE, it formally became part of the Province of Syria.
  • The Legio XVI Flavia Firma were based at Samosata, which controlled a strategic crossing of the Euphrates.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

Commagene (Samosata (Samsat), Turkey)