He left the kingdom to the joint rule of MithridatesвЂ™ mother, Laodice VI, Mithridates, and his younger brother, Mithridates Chrestus. Mithridates V was assassinated in about 120 BC in Sinope, poisoned by unknown persons at a lavish banquet which he held. His mother, Laodice VI, was a Seleucid Princess and the daughter of the Seleucid Monarchs Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his wife-sister Laodice IV. His father, Mithridates V, was a prince and the son of the former Pontic Monarchs Pharnaces I of Pontus and his wife-cousin Nysa. He was the first son among the children born to Laodice VI and Mithridates V of Pontus (reigned 150вЂ“120 BC).

Mithridates was born in the Pontic city of Sinope, and was raised in the Kingdom of Pontus. He claimed descent from Cyrus the Great, the family of Darius the Great, the Regent Antipater, the generals of Alexander the Great as well as the later kings Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Seleucus I Nicator. Mithridates VI was a prince of Persian and Greek ancestry. He is often considered the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus. Mithridates is remembered as one of the Roman RepublicвЂ™s most formidable and successful enemies, who engaged three of the prominent generals from the late Roman Republic in the Mithridatic Wars: Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Lucius Licinius Lucullus and Gnaeus Pompey Magnus.

Mithridates VI or Mithradates VI from Old Persian MiОёradДЃta, вЂњgift of MithraвЂќ 135вЂ“63 BC, also known as Mithradates the Great (Megas) and Eupator Dionysius, was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia (now Turkey) from about 120вЂ“63 BC. Text #9503 'Mithridates VI of Pontus', in Wikipedia.

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