Ariarathes I of Cappadocia

Ariarathes
Coin of Ariarathes I, minted in Gaziura, dated 333–322 BC
Satrap of Northern Cappadocia
In office 340s BC – 331 BC
Preceded by	Ariamnes I
Succeeded by	Himself (as King of Cappadocia)
King of Cappadocia
In office 331 BC – 322 BC
Preceded by	Himself (as Satrap of Northern Cappadocia)
Succeeded by	Vacant (title next held by Ariarathes II
Personal details
Born	405/4 BC
Died	322 BC
Relatives	Ariamnes I (father) Orophernes/Holophernes (brother)
Dynasty	Ariarathid
Military service
Allegiance	Achaemenid Empire (until 331 BC) Kingdom of Cappadocia (until 322 BC)
Battles/wars	Battle of Gaugamela

Ariarathes I (Old Iranian: Aryaraθa, Aramaic: Ariorath or Ariourat; Ancient Greek: Ἀριαράθης, romanized: Ariaráthēs; 405/4 BC – 322 BC) was the last Achaemenid Persian governor (satrap) of the province (satrapy) of Northern Cappadocia, serving from the 340s BC to 331 BC. He led defensive efforts against the Macedonian invasion, commanded by Alexander the Great, and later fought at the Battle of Gaugamela under Darius III, the last King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire. After the fall of the Achaemenid Empire, Ariarathes continued his resistance against the Macedonians, ruling concomitantly as an Achaemenid remnant and a precursor to the Kingdom of Cappadocia. He is regarded as the founder of the Iranian Ariarathid dynasty.

Ariarathes was eventually captured and executed in 322 BC by the Macedonian Perdiccas. His territory was seized, whereafter it was contested between several of Alexander's successors and former generals. However, Ariarathes's dynastic successors regained control over Cappadocia in 301 BC and ruled over the kingdom until 96 BC when they were deposed by the Roman Republic.