Archelaus (flourished2nd century BC to 1st century BC) was a general and possibly a son in law of Mithridates VI of Pontus in the First Mithridatic War. In 87 BC, he was sent to Greece with a large army and fleet, and occupied the Piraeus after three days' fighting with Bruttius Sura, prefect of Macedonia, who in the previous year had defeated Mithridates' fleet under Metrophanes and captured the island of Sciathus. Here he was besieged by Sulla, compelled to withdraw into Boeotia, and completely defeated at Chaeronea (86 BC). A fresh army was sent by Mithridates, but Archelaus was again defeated at Orchomenus, after a two days' battle (85). On the conclusion of peace, Archelaus, finding that he had incurred the suspicion of Mithridates, deserted to the Romans, by whom he was well received, and went on to assist Lucullus in the Third Mithridatic War.
He was the father of:
Archelaus II, created High Priest of Comana in Cappadocia in 60 BC by Pompey, possibly made co-regent on marriage, but killed in battle against the forces of A. Gabinius, Roman Governor of Syria, in January or February 55 BC, married firstly to ..., and had a son, and married secondly to Berenice IV of Egypt:
His great-grandson, named Sisines, took the name Archelaus, in recognition of his great-grandfather upon set up as the last king of Cappadocia by Mark Antony.
