The Cappadocian Kingdom was established after the death of Alexander. The Ariarathes dynasty used political alliances to maintain rule, however, Cappadocia eventually became a battleground for the conflicts between the Kingdom of Pontus and the Roman Empire. When Mithridates placed his own candidate on the throne, the Roman Senate declared that the administration of Cappadocia should be placed in the hands of the people, and removed him. It seems, however, the Senate didn't actually mean the Cappadocian people. In 17 A.D., Rome established the Provincia Cappadocia, ruled by a Roman procurator.