Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia vs Numerian

Ariarathes IX was installed as king of Cappadocia by his father, Mithridates VI of Pontus, after the murder of the previous king. He served as a puppet ruler, with real power exercised by Pontic officials.

Ariarathes IX was expelled from Cappadocia by a rebellion of the local nobility, who opposed Pontic control. The rebels appealed to Rome for a new king, leading to the appointment of Ariobarzanes I.

Mithridates VI restored Ariarathes IX to the Cappadocian throne after expelling the Roman-appointed king Ariobarzanes I. This act was part of Mithridates' broader campaign to challenge Roman influence in Anatolia.

Ariarathes IX was finally expelled from Cappadocia after the First Mithridatic War ended in Roman victory. He was killed shortly after, ending the Pontic puppet regime in Cappadocia.

Numerian was proclaimed emperor by the Roman army in the East following the death of his father Carus during a campaign against the Sasanians. He was co-emperor with his brother Carinus, who ruled the West. Numerian's reign was brief and marked by his mysterious illness.

Numerian died under mysterious circumstances while traveling eastward from Persia. His death was concealed by the praetorian prefect Aper, who claimed Numerian was ill and kept him in a closed litter. The body's decomposition eventually revealed the death, leading to Aper's execution by Diocletian.

After Numerian's death was discovered, the army proclaimed Diocletian as emperor at Nicomedia. Diocletian personally executed Aper for the suspected murder of Numerian. This event marked the end of the Crisis of the Third Century and the beginning of the Tetrarchy.