Commagene, ancient district of N Syria, on the Euphrates River and S of the Taurus range, now in SE Asian Turkey. Its metropolis, Samosata, was founded by Samos, the king of Commagene, c.150 B.C. The fertile agricultural district was made part of the Assyrian Empire and later of the Persian Empire. In the period after Alexander the Great, it gradually assumed independence under the Seleucid kings of Syria, and its governor, Ptolemy, revolted in 162 B.C., declaring absolute independence. The ruling dynasty of independent Commagene was related to the Seleucids. In 64 B.C., King Antiochus I, a Roman ally, had his territory enlarged by Pompey, but when he aided the Parthians he was deposed in 38 B.C. by Antony. The spectacular ruins of Antiochus's tomb and its colossal statues are on Mt. Nemrut. Commagene was annexed by Tiberius (A.D. 17) but a new king, Antiochus IV, was instated by Caligula (A.D. 38), was soon deposed, and then reinstated (A.D. 41) by Claudius. Finally Vespasian permanently annexed Commagene (A.D. 72) to the Roman province of Syria. The territory was invaded by Khosrow I of Persia in 542, but he withdrew the same year when his campaign was checked by Belisarius.

For the kingdom, please see Kingdom of Commagene.

Commagene or Kommagene (Greek:Kομμαγηνή, Kommagênê Կոմմագենէ) is a region of ancient Armenia which is located in modern south eastern Turkey on the border with Syria. Initially a part of the Armenian province of Sophene, it was detached from Armenia along with Sophene by the Seleucids, forming part of the Kingdom of Sophene.

Later, in about 163 B.C. the Seleucids detached Commagene from Sophene. The local satrap Ptolemaeus of Commagene established himself as ruler of the Kingdom of Commagene in this year. The kingdom maintained independence until 72 A.D. when it became part of the Roman province of Syria.

Historical evidence suggests that the population of the region was linguistically and ethnically Armenian until the end of the 1st century B.C.

See also

• List of rulers of Commagene
• Roman province
• Mount Nemrut

References