Pontus was originally a term used by the Greeks to loosely denote various parts of the shores of the Euxine. The kingdom of Pontus itself was established during the troubled period following the death of Alexander the Great, shortly after 302 BC, by Mithradates I Ktistes, son of Mithridates II of Kios (Mysia) a Persian ruler in the service of Antigonus, one of Alexander's successors. The kingdom of Pontus was henceforth ruled by a succession of kings, mostly bearing the same name, till 64 BC when it was subjugated by Pompey and the seaboard half of the kingdom was annexed to the Roman Empire, being united with Bithynia in a double province called Pontus et Bithynia.

302-266 Mithridates I
266-256 Ariobarzanes
256-220 Mithridates II
220-185 Mithridates III
185-159 Pharnaces I
159-150 Mithridates IV Philopator Philadelphus
150-120 Mithridates V Euergetes
120-63 Mithridates VI Eupator
63-47 Pharnaces II