Eumenes II Soter was a ruler of Pergamon, and a son of Attalus I Soter and queen Apollonis and a member of the Attalid dynasty of Pergamon.
12 Facts About Eumenes II
2.
The eldest son of king Attalus I and queen Apollonis, Eumenes was presumably born prior to 220 BC and was the eldest of four sons to Attalus I Eumenes followed in his father's footsteps upon becoming king and collaborated with the Romans to oppose first Macedonian, then Seleucid expansion towards the Aegean, leading to the defeat of Antiochus the Great at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC.
3.
Eumenes II had refused to marry a daughter of Antiochus III upon noticing that he was about to engage in a war against the Romans.
4.
Eumenes II then had married Stratonice of Pergamon, daughter of Ariarathes IV and his wife Antiochis, and their son was named Attalus III.
5.
Eumenes had followed his father's footsteps and aided the Romans whenever he could, firstly in the Syrian War, where he both informed them by sending his brother Attalus II and sided with the Romans, successfully aiding Rome in defeating Antiochus III in the Battle of Magnesia.
6.
Eumenes II then aided the Romans in the War against Nabis where he aided both the Aetolian and Achaean leagues to defeat the Spartan tyrant Nabis, and lastly in the Third Macedonian War where he aided the Romans in defeating the Macedonian and Thracian army in the Battle of Pydna against Perseus of Macedon.
7.
Eumenes II was then at war with the Bithynian king Prusias I in 183 BC, although being defeated, he received Roman support which ended in his victory.
8.
Eumenes II later fell out of favour with the Romans after they suspected him of conspiring with Perseus of Macedon.
9.
Eumenes II warred with Pharnaces I, who attempted to enlist the aid of the Seleucids, under Seleucus IV but due to the peace of Apamea, denied siding with him.
10.
When Eumenes II' health began to weaken his brother Attalus II ascended to the throne as a co-ruler in 160 BC.
11.
Eumenes II was a shrewd ruler and politician, who raised his state to a powerful monarchy.
12.
Eumenes II adorned the city with splendid buildings, amongst them the great altar with the frieze representing the Battle of the Giants.