List of rulers of Bithynia
This is alist of kings ofBithynia,an ancient kingdom in northwesternAnatolia.
BeforeZipoetes I of Bithyniaassumed the Greek title ofBasileus( "king" ) in 297 BCE,[1]the positions of him and his predecessors are variously described as "prince",[2]"chieftain",[1]"ruler",[3]and "king".[4]One of the primary sources for the monarchs of Bithynia isAbout Hericlea(Ancient Greek:Περί Ηρακλείας,romanized:Peri Herakleias) ofMemnon of Heraclea.[3]
List[edit]
- Doedalsus (Ancient Greek:Δοιδαλσοῦ or Δυδαλσοῦ). Memnon of Heraclea wrote about him: "[Astacus] achieved great glory and strength, when Dudalsos had the dominion of the Bithynians. "(Ancient Greek:Δυδαλσοῦ τηνικαῦτα τὴν Βιθυνῶν ἀρχὴν ἔχοντος·). Andrew Smith (2004) translated this as "when Doedalsus was the ruler of the Bithynians."[3]The only other mention of this person is found inStrabo'sGeographica12.4.2,[5]where his name is spelt as ̇Δοιδαλσοῦ, but he is not identified with the Bithynians, only with the city of Astacus.[5]Slavova (2015) called him a "Bithynian king".[5]According to Olmstead (2022), he was "the first-known semi-independent king of Bithynia".[4]
- Boteirasd.c.376 BCE. He is mentioned only by Memnon as a successor of Dudalsos.[3]
- Basc.376–326 BCE. Memnon wrote: "The life of this [Bas] became 71 years, of which he reigned as king[a]50. "(Ancient Greek:Τούτου βίος μὲν ἐγεγόνει ἐτῶν αʹ καὶ οʹ, ὧν ἐβασίλευσε νʹ..Smith (2004) translated this passage as: "He lived for 71 years, and was king for 50 years."[3]
- Zipoetes Ic.326–278 BCE. Memnon of Heraclea called him "Zipoites theeparchof the Bithynians "(Ancient Greek:Ζιποίτης δὲ ὁ Βιθυνῶν ἐπάρχων). Andrew Smith (2004) translated this as "Zipoetes, the ruler of the Bithynians".[3]According to Williams (1990), Zipoetes was a "chieftain" before he assumed the Greek title ofbasileus( "king" ) in 297 BCE.[1]Memnon of Heraclea appeared not to make such a distinction when he described Zipoetes' entire reign: "The life of this one [Zipoites] was 76 years, and he ruled the dominion[b]48. "(Ancient Greek:Οὗτος βιοὺς μὲν ἔτη Ϛʹ καὶ οʹ, κρατήσας δὲ τῆς ἀρχῆς ηʹ καὶ μ,). Smith (2004) translated the passage as "Zipoetes lived for 76 years and ruled the kingdom for 48 years."[3]Slavova (2015) called him a "Bithynian king".[5]
- Zipoetes II278–276 BC
- Nicomedes I278–255 BC. Memnon described him as "...the Bithynians, whosebasileusNicomedes... "(Ancient Greek:...Βιθυνῶν, ὁ τούτων βασιλεὺς Νικομήδης...) and "thebasileusof Bithynia Nicomedes "(Ancient Greek:ὁ τῆς Βιθυνίας βασιλεὺς Νικομήδης); Smith (2004) renderedbasileusas "king".[3]
- Etazeta(regent) 255–254 BC
- Ziaelas254–228 BC
- Prusias I Cholus228–182 BC
- Prusias II Cynegus182–149 BC
- Nicomedes II Epiphanes149–127 BC
- Nicomedes III Euergetes127–94 BC
- Nicomedes IV Philopator94–74 BC
- Socrates Chrestuswho ruled briefly in about 90 BC
The coinage of these kings show their regal portraits, which tend to be engraved in an extremely accomplished Hellenistic style.[6]
Family tree of kings of Bithynia[edit]
| Boteiras | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bas king of Bithynia c.376–326 BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zipoetes I king of Bithynia c.326–276 BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicomedes I king of Bithynia c.276–255 BC | Zipoetes II king of Bithynia c.279–276 BC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ziaelas king of Bithynia c.254–228 BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Philip V king of Macedonia | Apama III Antigonids | Prusias Ithe Lame king of Bithynia c.228–182 BC | daughter ∞Antiochus Hierax Seleucids | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apame IV | Prusias IIthe Hunter king of Bithynia c.182–149 BC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicomedes IIEpiphanes king of Bithynia c.149–127 BC | Apama ∞ Dyegilos son ofCotys IVof Thrace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nyssa of Cappadocia daughter of Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia | Nicomedes IIIEuergetes king of Bithynia c.127–94 BC | Laodice daughter of Mithridates V of Pontus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicomedes IVPhilopator king of Bithynia c.94–74 BC | Socrates Chrestus usurper | Nyssa of Bithynia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcWilliams 1990,p. 10.
- ^The Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge: Bassantin - Bloemaart, Volume 4Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge Knight, 1835 p. 470
- ^abcdefghSmith 2004,Chapters 1–21.
- ^abOlmstead 2022,p. 344.
- ^abcdSlavova, Mirena (2015)."The Thracian Diphthong /oi/ Revisited".Studia classica Serdicensia:144–145.Retrieved14 March2023.
- ^Asia Minor Coins - regal Bithynian coins
Bibliography[edit]
- Williams, Wynne, ed. (1990).Correspondence with Trajan from Bythinia (Epistles X, 15–121).Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 159.ISBN9780856684081.Retrieved14 March2023.
- Olmstead, A. T. (2022).History of the Persian Empire.Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 600.ISBN9780226826332.Retrieved14 March2023.
- "Memnon: History of Heracleia".attalus.org.Translated by Smith, Andrew. 2004.Retrieved14 March2023.
GreekWikisourcehas original text related to this article: