Sames of Commagene |Satrap of Commagene| |Reign||circa 260 BC|
War between the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Kingdom seems
to have allowed Sames an opportunity of independence. What side
he took in the Syrian Wars is unknown as most of the records of
that era have been lost, though it would make sense that he
would have supported the Ptolemaic Kingdom against his large and
powerful neighbour, the Seleucid Empire. Most sources give
Orontes III as his father. After Orontes III died in 260 BC,
there is no record for when Sames began his rule, only his year
of death, in 260 BC as well. This seems to be blundered,
chronogically. It may be that Sames was meant to succeed Orontes
IV, but died the same year. That they both died in the same year
looks suspicious, and may have been a Seleucid plot to take
control, however it seems Arsames I took control of Commagene,
Sophene and Armenia after 260 AD, and even that makes him look
suspect. Commagene was outside the boundary of historic Armenia,
yet the Armenian Satra