The Role of the Polemon Kingdom in the Eastern Policy of the Roman Empire

Year 2023, , 715 - 735, 29.09.2023

Osman Emir

https://doi.org/10.33469/oannes.1335469

Abstract

In antiquity, the Pontic region was located at a strategic point connecting the Caucasus in the east and Anatolia in the west. In the historical process, the region has been a very active geography in the military and political field due to its strategic location. This geography, which was at the center of the Mithradates Kingdom in the Hellenistic Period, served as a supply base and even an advanced garrison in the military activities of the empire in the east during the Roman rule. In fact, due to its geographical location, structure and distance from the Roman dominion, Rome usually ruled the Pontos Region, which was of strategic importance for Rome, with vassal kingdoms. The Kingdom of Polemon was the most important vassal kingdoms to which Rome gave the administration of the Pontus Region. The members of the dynasty of this kingdom ruled the Pontos Region for about a century as a kingdom dependent on Rome. During this administration, the kingdom maintained a stable policy in the region, and due to these successes, it was rewarded with new lands by Rome from time to time. The last member of the dynasty II. During the Polemon period, the borders of the kingdom started from Pontos and extended to Bopsoros lands in the north and Armenia Minor in the south. While the main task of the Kingdom of Polmeon in this region was to establish Roman dominance in the region, on the other hand, it was to supply and support the Roman armies in the eastern expeditions of Rome. In this study, attention will be drawn to the Kingdom of Polomon, the role of the kingdom in the eastern policy of Rome, and the strategic importance of the Pontos Region for both the Kingdom of Polemon and Rome.

Keywords

Kingdom of Polemon, Pontos, Rome, Pythodoris, Bosporos

Roma İmparatorluğu’nun Doğu Politikasında Polemon Krallığı’nın Rolü

Abstract

Antik çağda Pontos Bölgesi, doğuda Kafkas Coğrafyası ile batıda Anadolu’yu birbirine bağlayan stratejik bir noktada yer alır. Tarihsel süreçte bölge, bulunduğu stratejik konumdan ötürü askerî ve siyasi alanda oldukça hareketli bir coğrafya olmuştur. Hellenistik Dönem’de Mithradates Krallığı’nın merkezinde yer alan bu coğrafya, Roma hâkimiyeti döneminde imparatorluğun doğuda yürüttüğü askerî faaliyetlerde ikmal üssü, hatta ileri bir garnizon görevi üstlenmiştir. Öyle ki Roma, kendisi için stratejik önem arz eden Pontos Bölgesi’ni coğrafi konumu, dağlık yapısı ve Roma hâkimiyet sahasına olan uzaklığından dolayı genellikle vassal krallıklarla yönetme yoluna gitmiştir. Roma’nın Pontos Bölgesi’nin yönetimini verdiği bu vassal krallıların başında ise Polemon Krallığı gelmektedir. Bu krallığın hanedanı üyeleri yaklaşık bir asır Pontos Bölgesi’ni Roma’ya bağlı bir krallık olarak yönetmiştir. Bu yönetim süresince krallık bölgede istikrarlı bir politika sürdürmüş, bu başarılarından dolayı da dönem dönem Roma tarafından yeni topraklarla ödüllendirilmiştir. Hanedanın son üyesi II. Polemon döneminde krallığın sınırları Pontos’dan başlayarak kuzeyde Bopsoros toprakları güneyde ise Armenia Minor’a kadar uzanmıştır. Polmeon Krallığı’nın bu bölgedeki başlıca görevi bir taraftan Roma hâkimiyetini bölgede tesis etmek iken, diğer taraftan Roma’nın doğu seferlerinde Roma ordularına ikmal ve asker desteğinde bulunmaktı. Bu çalışmada Polomon Krallığı’nın Pontos Bölgesi’ndeki faaliyetleri, krallığın Roma’nın doğu politikasında oynadığı rolü ve bölgenin Polemon Krallığı’nın güçlenmesindeki stratejik önemi incelenecektir.

Keywords

Polemon Krallığı, Pontos, Roma, Pythodoris, Bosporos

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