He was the second son and among the children born to the Pontian monarchs Mithridates V of Pontus and Laodice VI.
[citation needed] His father was assassinated in about 120 BC in Sinope poisoned by unknown persons at a lavish banquet which he held.
As Chrestus and his brother were underage and thus unable to rule, their mother retained all the power as regent.
[citation needed] In 116 BC/115 BC, Chrestus and his brother were honored by Dionysius, the gymnasiarch on the Greek island of Delos.
It is unclear whether Chrestus also died in prison from natural causes or was later tried for treason and then executed on the orders of Mithridates VI.