Mithridates II (in
Greek Mιθριδάτης; lived
3rd century BC), third king of
Pontus and son of
Ariobarzanes, whom he succeeded on the throne. He was a minor when his father died, but the period of his accession cannot be determined. It seems probable that it must be placed considerably before
240 BC, as
Memnon tells us that he was a child at his father's death, and he had a daughter of marriageable age in
222 BC. Shortly after his accession, his kingdom was invaded by the
Gauls, who were eventually repulsed. After he attained manhood, he married
Laodice, a sister of
Seleucus II Callinicus, with whom he is said to have received the province of
Phrygia as a dowry. But notwithstanding this alliance, we find Mithridates II fighting against Seleucus during a war between Seleucus and
Antiochus Hierax. Eventually, Mithridates defeated Seleucus in a great battle whereby Seleucus lost twenty thousand of his troops and narrowly escaped with his own life. In
222 BC, Mithridates gave his daughter
Laodice in marriage to the
Seleucid king
Antiochus III: another of his daughters, also named
Laodice, was married about the same time to
Achaeus, the cousin of Antiochus. In
220 BC, Mithridates declared war upon the wealthy and powerful city of
Sinope. However, he was unable to weaken it and the city did not fall into the power of the kings of Pontus until
183 BC. At an earlier period, we find Mithridates II vying with the other monarchs of Asia in sending magnificent presents to the
Rhodians, after the subversion of their city by an earthquake in
227 BC. The date of his death is utterly unknown. He was succeeded by his son
Mithridates III. 
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