Mithridates V Euergetes

Mithridates V Euergetes, a son of Pharnaces I, was king of Pontus, in northern Turkey, between 152/151 and 120. He was allied to Rome, which he supported during the Third Punic War (149-146). With this alliance, Euergetes could expand the power of Pontus from the shores of the Black Sea to central Anatolia, where he fought against king Ariarathes VI Epiphanes of Cappadocia and forced the Paphlagonian ruler Pylaemenes to bequeath his realm to Pontus.

He created a hellenistic court, presenting himself to the Greek world as champion of Greek civilization in Anatolia. In 120, he was murdered in Sinope, and left his kingdom to his wife, the Seleucid princess Laodice, and their two sons, Mithridates VI Eupator and Mithridates Chrestus.