THRACE
Incorporating
the Bisaltes, Bistones, Cicones, Edones, & Triballi :
Thrace
had a heritage which matched that of its south-westerly neighbours,
the Mycenaeans - Thracians were apparently allied to Troy during
the Trojan War in the twelfth century BC, although Homeric Thrace
was only vaguely defined and may only have just been starting to
form. Climate-induced drought in the preceding century seems to
have been the main cause for the Thracians and their neighbours
to force their way south-eastwards through the Balkans from the
Danubian home that had been forged by their South-West Indo-European
ancestors, over a thousand years before. The Phrygians may have
pioneered this particular route, as they seem to have begun entering
Anatolia up to two hundred years before the main migrations.
The
territory formed by these new arrivals - Thrace - soon encompassed
a wide swathe of territory to the north of Greece 'proper', stretching
from the River Axios in the west, to the Hellespont and the Black
Sea in the east, and the Balkan Mountains in the north. Sometimes
Thrace could be used to define literally all the territory to the
north of Thessaly, incorporating areas of Scythia and even Macedonia.
As with Epirus, though, the claim of Homerian kings during the Trojan
War period would seem to suggest Mycenaeans rather than Thracians,
governing minor states across a wider area than is usually ascribed
to the Mycenaeans. Theoretically the new migrants could have pushed
out or assimilated Thracian Mycenaeans and then adopted their already-established
name for the region - after all, it is highly likely that the immigrants
spoke a language that had diverged very little from early Mycenaean.
In
addition to the tribe that Homer called Thracians (in reality several
tribes, all very warlike), ancient Thrace was home to numerous other
Indo-European tribes, all non-Greek speakers, such as the Bisaltes,
Bistones, Cicones, Edones, and Triballi, and all of them managed
to remain rural peoples, usually living in fortified hilltops. The
Triballi were for a time dominated by the Illyrian Autariatae tribe.
These Thracians may also have shared many Indo-European cultural
similarities with related groups at the other end of the Black Sea,
especially the Cimmerians. By around 900 BC these two groups appear
to use the same style of horse bits and cheek pieces, if not more,
with an umbrella 'Thraco-Cimmerian' label being applied to them
by archaeologists. Like the Cimmerians and Scythians, the Thracians
were renowned for their horses and their skill as mounted warriors.
Indications
are that the Cimmerians became associated with the Thracians around
a large swathe of the western coast of the Black Sea, and eventually
merged with them (following their final defeat and break-up). Carl
Ferdinand Friedrich Lehmann-Haupt stated that the language of the
Cimmerians could have been a 'missing link' between Thracian and
Iranian. Both of these were of Indo-European ancestry, so there
was likely some basic similarities between the languages. Tying
archaeological evidence to the Thraco-Cimmerians and their perceived
migratory offshoots that headed up the Danube towards the Alpine
region can sometimes be dismissed by scholars (although not all
of them). When studying the hypothesis that is based around this
idea, Anne Kristiansen has focussed on a shift in production centres
from Hungary to Italy and the Alpine region. The weight of evidence
shows that there was a warrior culture of the horse/wagon complex
in the eighth century BC (such horse and wagon peoples were typical
of Pontic-Caspian steppe cultures, and they persisted in the region
for a surprisingly long time). From a Central European perspective,
this particular culture followed the Danube to the Hallstatt regions
of the east - Austria, and perhaps Bavaria, these being the eastern
limits of the core Celtic homeland. In successive waves from the
ninth to the sixth centuries BC they pushed further west before
veering off to the north.
Ultimately,
one branch followed the course of the River Elbe and a second backtracked
west from the headwaters of the Rhine, heading north-east to the
Elbe and then north into Jutland (where it theoretically formed,
or merged with the ancestors of, the Cimbri). The entire Hallstatt
C complex was altered with new male prestige weapons and specialised
horse tack and wagons that were new to the region, and these were
associated with new ruling elites, especially in eastern central
Europe. Kristiansen considers the influences to be not only Thraco-Cimmerian
but also Scythian (another nomadic horse-based group from the Pontic-Caspian
steppe, some of whom ventured into the Transoxiana region of Central
Asia to become better known as the Sakas). Further support and expansion
of this theory is shown on the Cimmerian page.
There
is little specific order for the kings mentioned here, except by
reference to outside events, such as the Trojan War. Thracian unification
was not achieved until the fifth century BC and records are very
sparse until that time. Much of what was originally thought of as
Thrace is now within Bulgaria, and Thracian influence was known
to have extended into modern Romania too, but the south-western
coastal districts still remain in modern Greek hands while the large
south-eastern corner which includes Gallipoli and Constantinople
(Istanbul) is part of Turkey.
![](Albania_BalkansMountains01_long.jpg)
(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Edward
Dawson, from The Civilisation of the East, Fritz Hommel (Translated
by J H Loewe, Elibron Classic Series, 2005), from Europe Before
History, Kristian Kristiansen, from Who were the Cimmerians, and
where did they come from? Anne Katrine Gade Kristensen (Royal Danish
Academy of Sciences and Letters, Hist-fil. Medd 57), from Celts
and the Classical World, David Rankin (1996), from The Persian Empire,
J M Cook (1983), from The Histories, Herodotus (Penguin, 1996),
from The Iliad, Homer (Translated by E V Rieu, Penguin Books, 1963),
from The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from
the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World, David W Anthony, and
from The Greek Settlements in Thrace until the Macedonian Conquest,
Benjamin H Isaac.)
Thrax
: Eponymous founder, and mythical son of the war-god Ares.
Tegyrios
: Greek mythological king of Thrace.
In
Greek myth, the undatable Tegyrios of Thrace welcomes the exiled
Eumolpus to his kingdom. The king's daughter is married to Ismarus,
the son of Eumolpus, but Eumolpus subsequently plans to usurp the
throne and is banished. Following the death of Ismarus, Tegyrios
forgives his friend and makes Eumolpus his successor.
Eumolpus
: Successor king of Thrace.
fl
c.1500 BC :
Phineas
/ Phinehas : Son of Agenor of Tyre. King of Thrace.
c.1500
BC :
According to Greek legend, Phineas is the son of Agenor, king of
Tyre. He and his four brothers, Cadmus, Cilix, Phoenix, and Thasus
have all departed their Phoenician home in search of their sister,
Europa, who had been abducted by Zeus. Phineas gives up his search
in eastern Thrace, where he settles on the western shores of the
Black Sea and rules a city state of his own.
Phineas becomes the father to Bithynus, Mariandynus, Paphlagonus,
and Thynus (Bithynus and Thynus are adopted from one Odrysus, the
eponymous namesake of the later Thracian kingdom). The four each
found kingdoms along the shores of the Black Sea; Bithynia, Mariandyne,
Paphlagonia, and Thynia.
![Phineas and the harpies](Thrace_PhineasHarpies01_full.jpg)
There
are two kings of early Thrace named Phineas, the first of whom was
a Phoenician while the second was rescued by Jason from harpies,
and it is the latter who is shown here
12th
century BC :
There are various tribes in Thrace at this time, and many of them
take part in the Trojan War, almost exclusively on the side
of their near neighbour, Troy. While many of them are given specific
tribal names or locations by Homer and later Classical authors,
others are simply 'of Thrace' and may represent a more powerful
and influential element in Thracian tribal society. For the purposes
of this list, in order to aid clarity, general Thracian kings are
shown primarily, while specifically named tribes or kingdoms are
shown as sub-kings. The Cicones are in green
while the Edones are in >red.
fl
c.1220 BC :
Phineas
: King of Thrace. Rescued from harpies by Jason of Iolkos.
c.1220
BC :
Jason
of Iolkos is sent by his uncle, Pelias, to recover the Golden Fleece.
Jason himself is roughly datable as he is of the generation that
precedes the participants of the Trojan War. He gathers together
the Argonauts, the crew of his ship, the Argo, and makes
the heroic voyage to Kolkis to secure the fleece. Along the way
he and his crew experience various adventures, including rescuing
King Phineas from harpies.
Cisseus
: Father-in-law to the Trojan elder Antenor.
fl
c.1200 BC :
Poltys : King of Aenus.
c.1200
BC :
Poltys
appears to be a creation of post-Homeric authors. A son of Poseidon,
he rules the city of Poltyobria when Heracles pays him and his brother
Sarpedon a visit. The king welcomes him but Sarpedon does not, and
Heracles slays him on the beach. No relationship is given between
Poltys and his apparent successor, Acamas, but within two decades
it is the latter who is king of the city, which is renamed Aenus.
![Map of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Greece 1200 BC](Map_EasternEurope1200BC_full.jpg)
Climate-induced
drought in the thirteenth century BC created great instability in
the entire eastern Mediterranean region, resulting in mass migration
in the Balkans, as well as the fall of city states and kingdoms
further east
Troezenus
of the Cicones : Father of Euphemus. King of Ismara.
fl
c.1183 BC :
Polymestor : A Thracian king. Executed by Agamemnon.
c.1193
- 1183 BC :
Polymestor
is married to Ilione, eldest daughter of Priam of Troy. He betrays
Priam's trust after the fall of Troy by murdering the king's young
son when the boy has been placed in his care along with an amount
of treasure. He is denounced by the boy's mother, Hecuba, and tried
by Agamemnon. Found guilty, his sons are killed by Trojan women
and Hecuba scratches out his eyes before he is led away by Agamemnon's
men.
fl
c.1183 BC :
Acamas
/ Akamas : Son of Eussorus. From Aenus in Thrace. Killed
by Ajax.
c.1193
- 1183 BC :
Acamas
leads a contingent of Thracian warriors to the Trojan War
on the side of Troy. He is the mythical founder of the city of Aenus
on the south-eastern coastline near the mouth of the Hebrus. He
is joined by his comrade Peiros, son of Imbrasus, and Asius, along
with Euphemus, son of King Troezenus son of Ceas, and Rhesus, each
with their own contingents which represent some of the various tribes
in Thrace. Asius is from the city of Sestus, on the Thracian (northern)
side of the Hellespont and is therefore a member of the Hyrtacidae,
who may indeed be Thracians.
fl
c.1183 BC :
Pylaemenes
of the Eneti : From the Eneti tribe of Thracians. Killed
at Troy.
c.1193
- 1183 BC :
Pylaemenes
of the shaggy breast leads the Paphlagonian force to the Trojan
War on the side of Troy, which includes contingents from Aegialus,
Cromna, Cytorus, Erythini, Sesamus, and from along the River Parthenius.
A contingent of Halizones which also fights for Troy could be from
Paphlagonia. Homer calls Odius the chief of the Paphlagonians, placing
them in north-eastern Anatolia. It seems likely that the Halizones
move into the region at the same time that Paphlagonia emerges,
displacing or subsuming the Kaskans.
fl
c.1183 BC :
Peiros
/ Peirous : Son of Imbrasus. Comrade of Acamas.
fl
c.1183 BC :
Rhesus
: Son of Eioneus. Joined the Trojan War later but did not
fight.
fl
c.1183 BC :
Euphemus
of the Cicones : From the city of Ismara, Ismarus,
on southern Thracian coast.
fl
c.1183 BC :
Lycurgus
of the Edones : From between rivers Nestus and Strymon
in southern Thrace.
Based
in the region of Mygdonia, Lycurgus dies violently, either by going
insane, killing his son, and then being executed by his people,
or by accidentally removing his own foot when attempting to cut
down an ivy vine. Charops is selected as his successor. He is the
father of Oeagrus, although sources are divided over this, with
some claiming him as the son of King Pierus of Pieria to the west.
fl
c.1170s BC :
Charops
of the Edones : Selected
as the successor to the dead Lycurgus.
Oeagrus
of the Edones :Son
of Charops or King Pierus of Pieria.
fl
c.1170s BC :
Orpheus : Son.
Musician, poet and prophet in Greek myth.
fl
c.1170s BC :
Tereus : A Thracian king. Son of the war-god Ares.
Zalmoxis :
c.1170s
BC :
Mycenaean-era Thrace fades from history as the Mycenaeans themselves
are eclipsed by the invading Dorians. A dark age grips Greece for
about four centuries until the rise of the Classical city states.
Thrace at this time is still viewed as a wild, mountainous terrain
populated by barbarous tribes.
c.900
BC :
From around this date, rich, well-organised 'kingdoms' or 'chiefdoms'
develop in the Caucuses. They interact with civilisations to their
south, in Anatolia and Mesopotamia, usually by raiding into their
territory. Typical horse bits and cheek-pieces of an early Thraco-Cimmerian
type are found by archaeologists in the same region of the Caucuses.
c.800
- 700 BC :
The
Thracians are driven out of the region of Mygdonia by the newly
arriving Macedonians, although they are not the only ones suffering
from population expansion. The kingdom of Kolkis is also overrun
by Cimmerians and Scythians in this century, and it disintegrates.
![Cimmerian warriors](Cimmerians_Warriors01_full.jpg)
This
image shows Cimmerians battling early Greeks - prior to the advent
of accepted 'Classical' Greece - with the mounted Cimmerians warriors
apparently being accompanied by their dogs
It
seems to be around this time that the window for the 'Thraco-Cimmerian
Hypothesis' first opens. The Cimmerians and Scythians have suddenly
positioned themselves as a more powerful collection of tribes which
are not afraid of thundering around the Black Sea coast (on either
side of the sea itself) and waging war against established kingdoms.
It is known that Cimmerians later settle amongst the Thracian tribes,
so to be that welcome they must share some common points of interest,
such as language or culture. The common points would seem to be
old Urnfield traditions in metalwork mixed with new Cimmerian influences
from the Caucuses. Could they already be mixing with Thracians now,
with some groups beginning to explore further along the River Danube
to enter regions that are controlled by the Celts of the Hallstatt
C culture? The weight of evidence shows that there is indeed a warrior
culture of the horse/wagon complex in the eighth century BC and
also a shift in production centres from Hungary to Italy and the
Alpine region. This would match well with a Thraco-Cimmerian migration
along the Danube (whether in person or by osmosis through neighbouring
migratory groups).
In successive waves from the ninth to the sixth centuries BC these
migrating warrior groups push west towards the headwaters of the
Danube before veering off to the north. Ultimately, one branch follows
the course of the River Elbe and a second backtracks west from the
headwaters of the Rhine, heading north-east to the Elbe and then
north into Jutland (where it theoretically forms, or merges with
the ancestors of, the Cimbri).
7th
century BC :
During this century the Cimmerians and Scythians seem to be wandering
over vast distances as warring groups and mercenaries. During the
early seventh century they also attack Lydia and Greek coastal cities
on the Aegean, and Herodotus states that they are later expelled
from there. Place names in Scythia show that Cimmerians are also
present in this region at some point. Further involvement, this
time when they are allied to the Thracian tribes of the Edoni and
Threres, supports a close social and cultural relationship with
at least some Thracians, which is confirmed by archaeological discoveries.
The Cimmerian presence in Anatolia is archaeologically much more
tenuous, probably revealing the briefness of their presence here.
c.660
BC :
Fritz Hommel has stated that one Tugdamme of the Cimmerians must
be an ancestor of the later Cimmerian ruler, Sandakhshatra. He identifies
this ruler as Cyaxares of the Medians, implying that Tugdamme is
Phraortes, which seems far less likely than the Sandakhshatra connection.
Instead, the name Tugdamme strikes Edward Dawson as being Celtic,
with an automatically reconfiguration to the Celtic 'Togodumnos'
being an easy leap. Given the possibility that it may be Thraco-Cimmerians
who influence the Celtic progression from Hallstatt to La Tène culture
during the proposed migration west from the Black Sea, Tugdamme
could be a name type that is adopted by the Celts from the Cimmerian
warrior elite and is afterwards rendered as Togodumnos (or variants).
Persian
Satraps of Skudra (Thracia) :
Incorporating the Minor Satrapies of Akaufachiya, Doriskos
& Eion
The attempt in 547 BC by the kingdom of Lydia to invade Anatolian
lands which now belonged to the Persian empire saw an appropriate
Persian response. Cyrus the Great invaded Lydia and crushed it,
and then proceeded to capture the rest of Anatolia too. Following
that, a Persian layer of administration was introduced to replace
the lost kingships. It also went further, entering into the lower
Balkans so that, from 542 BC, there was a period of Persian overlordship
of Macedonia, although the Macedonian King Amyntas was still able
to enter into an alliance of his own with Hippias, tyrant of Athens.
Macedonia was attached to a minor satrapy, seemingly the one known
as Skudra. This fell under the overall authority of the great satrapy
of Sparda in Anatolia which also controlled Katpatuka, the territory
whose Lydian invasion sparked the conquest of Anatolia. More specifically,
Sparda consisted of the central minor satrapy of Lydia around its
capital of Sardis, and the more peripheral minor satrapies of Hellespontine
Phrygia (with its capital at Daskyleion), Greater Phrygia, Karkâ,
and Skudra between 512-479 BC. Macedonia remained a vassal until
it managed to break free under the rule of Alexander I who forced
the Persians out of his lands. Thrace south of the Danube was also
part of Skudra during this period, being held for about fifty years
and quite possibly being freed by the actions of Alexander I in
Macedonia.
The source of the name 'Skudra' is 'Saka' or 'Scythian', both themselves
variations of the same thing. These were Indo-Iranian tribesmen
of the Pontic-Caspian steppe. The 'x' in the name Xanthii, possibly
Sakas themselves, has a 'ks' sound which is interchangeable with
'sk' in place of the 'x', possibly providing 'skanth' which can
also be seen in the name 'Skudra'.
Xerxes I of Persia apparently added two new regions to the empire
during his reign, neither of which were described very well or even
clearly located by Persian records. One was Akaufachiya,
meaning 'mountain men'. Other than being placed in the north-west
of the empire, nothing more is known about this, but tying the north-west
with 'mountain men' would strongly intimate Thracians of the mountainous
Balkans. Whether it was in fact Xerxes or his father who conquered
these regions - this is uncertain - they are not retained in the
lists of territories of subsequent Persian kings. The inference
is that they were only briefly held, possibly only in 479 BC, with
the Persian defeat at the hands of the Greeks most probably accounting
for their loss.
Doriskos
and Eion were both former Greek colony cities on the Thracian
shore of the Aegean. Doriskos had only recently been founded in
the sixth century when it was captured by Persia. Darius I installed
a minor governor (satrap) in Doriskos in 513 BC, presumably immediately
after it was captured. Unfortunately his name seems not to have
survived, but it is known that he was removed from office by Xerxes
in 479 BC. Eion probably underwent the same change of authority
in the same year, but records only seem to show the fall of the
Persian satrap there (in 475 BC), not his appointment or that of
a probable predecessor (thirty-eight years for one man in the same
office is quite a stretch, after all). Both were probably under
the regional authority of Amyntas I of Macedonia, who would have
answered to the more senior satrap of Sparda.
(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Edward
Dawson, from The Persian Empire, J M Cook (1983), from The
Histories, Herodotus (Penguin, 1996), from Anabasis Alexandri,
Arrian of Nicomedia, from Panyassis of Halikarnassos: Text and
Commentary, Paníasis, from A Political History of the Achaemenid
Empire, M A Dandamaev, from Historical Atlas of the Ancient
World, 4,000,000 to 500 BC, John Haywood (Barnes & Noble,
2000), from The Ancient Near East, c.3000-330 BC (Volumes
I & II), Amélie Kuhrt (Routledge, 2000), from A History of
the Ancient Near East c.3000-323 BC, Marc van der Mieroop (Blackwell
Publishing, 2004, 2007), from A History of the Greek City States,
700-338 BC, Raphael Sealey (University of California Press,
1976), and from External Link: Encyclopaedia Iranica.)
513/12
- c.479 BC :
Thrace south of the Danube is conquered by the Persians under the
command of Darius I and is held for about fifty years, possibly
until the Persians are forced out of Macedonia by Alexander I. Until
then his father, King Amyntas of Macedon, is its local governor,
with this minor satrapy being subjoined to the great satrapy of
Sparda. Colchis is held for about the same length of time as part
of the satrapy of Armina.
![Darius the Great of Persia](Persia_DariusI_01_full.jpg)
The
central relief of the North Stairs of the Apadana in Persepolis,
now in the Archaeological Museum in Tehran, shows Darius I (the
Great) on his royal throne (External Link: Creative Commons Licence
4.0 International)
512
- 498 BC :
Amyntas
I : Satrap. King of Macedonia since 542 BC.
513
- 479 BC :
?
: Persian satrap of Doriskos (installed by Darius).
513?
- ? BC :
?
: Persian satrap of Eion (Chrysopolis).
499 - 493 BC :
The Ionian Greeks of western Anatolia and the islands of the eastern
Aegean who are under Persian hegemony now rise in the Ionian
Revolt. The Carians join in and, with the Ionians being led
by Aristagoras, tyrant of Miletus, they inflict heavy losses on
the Persians before the revolt is quelled. The end of the revolt
sees Aristagoras flee to Thrace in the hopes of setting up a colony
outside Persia's control, but he is killed in a battle against a
nearby town.
498
- c.479 BC :
Alexander
I : Satrap. King of Macedonia.
490 BC :
In response to the Athenian support of revolts by Salamis and the
Ionians, Darius I invades mainland Greece, subduing the Thracian
tribes along the way (all except the Satrai, precursors to the Bessoi).
Athens is sacked, but only after its citizens withdraw safely, and
subsequently the invaders are defeated by Athens and Plataea at
the Battle of Marathon in August or September of the year.
480 BC :
Invading
Greece in 480 BC, the Persians subdue the recalcitrant Macedonians
and the Thracian tribes along the way. Then the vast army of Xerxes
makes its way southwards and is swiftly engaged by Athens and Sparta
in the Vale of Tempe. The Persians are subsequently stymied at Thermopylae
by a mixed force of Greeks - which includes Athenians, Corinthians,
Helots, Mycenaeans, Thebans, and Thespians - led by Sparta under
King Leonidas. (These events are depicted somewhat colourfully -
but no less impressively for that - in the 2007 film, 300.)
The Persian army is held up long enough for the Athenians to prepare
their navy for a seaborne engagement with the Persian fleet.
![Battle of Thermopylae](Sparta_Thermopylae01_full.jpg)
The
Spartan stand at Thermopylae in 480 BC, along with some Greek allies,
stopped the Persian advance in its tracks and provided a rallying
call for the rest of the free Greek cities to oppose the Persians
479 BC :
Having suffered ignominious defeat, the Persian forces retreat back
into Asia Minor, but Colchis has probably also been lost to them
by now, along with the Persian fleet and Lykia. Many of the Persian
survivors of the Battle of Plataea are killed by the forces of Alexander
I of Macedonia as they retreat to Asia Minor by land. This defeat
also allows the Macedonians to fully regain a freedom that they
may have established in 490 BC. In the same year, 479 BC, Xerxes
removes the governor of the former Greek colony of Doriskos
in Thrace, a man who had been installed by his father, Darius. He
is replaced with his own man, Maskames, son of Megadostes.
?
- 475 BC :
Boges
: Persian satrap of Eion (Chrysopolis).
479
- 465? BC :
Maskames
/ Mascames : Persian satrap of Doriskos (installed by Xerxes).
479
- 460s? BC :
Following the evacuation of Xerxes and his great army, many of the
Persian governors of the north-western imperial provinces are defeated
by Greeks and expelled. One exception is Maskames. He holds out
bravely, resisting all attempts to dislodge him. The only other
local governor to do so is Boges of Eion, but he faces his
eventual defeat in 475 BC by killing his family and then walking
into the flames of his burning command.
Just
how long Doriskos holds out is open to interpretation. Herodotus
records 'many attempts' by the Greeks to reclaim it, which must
cover several years, but some opinion goes so far as to say that
the Greeks never recover the city. There is the possibility that
the Persian garrison is recalled in 465 BC, possibly upon the death
of Xerxes, while the city is eventually taken over by Thracians.
The Thracians themselves could have been forced to an extent to
unify under Persian occupation of the region. By the middle of the
century they have formed the Odrysian kingdom. Other tribes do still
exist, and probably in independence, notably the Bessoi, but they
are little-known hill tribes that play no real part in the main
history of the region.
Odrysian
Kingdom of Thrace :
The Odrysian (Odrysae or Odrusai) kingdom was a union of over forty
Thracian tribes that endured between the fifth and third centuries
BC. It consisted largely of territory within the traditional boundaries
of ancient Thrace, incorporating present-day Bulgaria, and at times
spreading into parts of Romania, northern Greece and the European
part of Turkey. Its former capital was Uscudama or Odrysia which
is now the city of Edirne, in European Turkey. It was the first
true Thracian state under a single ruler, adopting Greek language
and customs, although not encompassing all Thracian tribes. However,
the remaining tribes may have submitted as sub-kingdoms to Thrace's
possible high king. It would certainly explain the proliferation
of multiple rulers during the kingdom's existence.
The former fortified residence of the Odrysian high kings was uncovered
by archaeologists in 2010. It is located on the Kozi Gramadi mount
on the Sredna Gora mountain, in the village of Starosel, close to
the resort town of Hissar in central Bulgaria. It is the only Odrysian
royal residence to be discovered to date. It is generally assumed
that the Thracians lived a relatively rough and ready lifestyle,
although this discovery is causing something of a rethink.
(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from
External Link: Zopyrion’s Scythian Expedition (Battles of
the Ancients).)
450
- 431 BC :
Teres
/ Tires I : Son of Odryses? Founded the kingdom. Died on
campaign.
431
BC :
Under Teres, responsible for first uniting many of Thrace's tribes
to create the kingdom, and Sitalces, who reinforces the allegiance
of some of the tribes to him as king (or high king), the kingdom
reaches its height. It stretches from the coast of the Black Sea
in the east to the Danube in the north (homeland of the Tribali
tribe), and the River Strymon basin to the west. Relations between
the tribes that make up the kingdom are regularly shifting, making
controlling them an uncertain process that ebbs and flows over time,
but this seems to be one rare point of almost total Thracian unification
(with even the Bessoi being subjugated).
The
Triballi, a tribe occupying a large swathe of territory in
the north of Thrace, prove to be particularly troublesome, and it
may be this tribe that Teres is campaigning against when he dies.
The tribe is also responsible for the death of his son, Sitalces.
431
- 424 BC :
Sitalces / Sitalkes : Son. Forced defecting tribes to acknowledge
him.
c.450
- 430 BC :
Sitalces gradually enlarges his subordinate territories on the Maritsa
river valley and transforms the region of the Bessoi plains into
a territory that is controlled by him. He also shelters Scyles of
the Scythians - his nephew - after the king is chased out of his
homeland by his own people.
c.431
- c.430 BC :
Sporadokos
: Brother. Sub-king.
429
BC :
Against the backdrop of the Second Peloponnesian War, the
Macedonian king, Perdiccas, is opposed by the future Amyntas II.
Amyntas seeks the support of Sitalces in Thrace, but Perdiccas mediates
with Seuthes, his son, to obtain peace between the Thracians and
Macedonia. Amyntas is forced to wait for his accession in Macedonia.
425
- 424 BC :
Sadokos : Son of Sitalces.
424
- 396 BC :
Seuthes I : Nephew, son of Sporadakos. Died due to illness.
405
- 391 BC :
Seuthes
II : Grandson of Teres. Self-proclaimed king. Recognised
in 396.
c.420
- 380 BC :
The kingdom appears to fragment to an extent due to internal conflict,
probably on a tribal basis. Central authority is weakened and at
least one sub-kingdom is formed, although this is probably more
a recognition of an existing division that may otherwise threaten
to break up the kingdom completely. As a result, the ability of
the Odrysians to present a unified fighting force is diminished,
and the succeeding king, Amadocus, can do little to prevent the
loss of several territories and severe trouble being caused by the
Triballi tribe in the north.
396
- 390 BC :
Amadocus I / Amatokos I / Medokos? : Son of Teres. Lost
many territories.
396
BC :
Amadocus recognises Seuthes II as his sub-king, allowing him to
rule the southern coastal districts along the shore of the Aegean.
How much this recognition is due to a situation that has already
been established is unclear, and the two are recorded as being frequently
at odds with one another until they are reconciled by Athenian General
Thrasybulus.
390
- 384 BC :
Hebryzelmis / Euryzelmes? : Brother. Killed by
Cotys.
390
- 384 BC :
Maesades
: Father of Seuthes II. Sub-king? Successor to Seuthes
II?
384
BC :
It is possible that the accession of Cotys I ends the divisions
within the Odrysian kingdom. Maesades disappears and there seems
to be no successor to him as sub-king, suggesting a once-more unified
state.
384
- 359 BC :
Cotys
I / Kotys I : Son of Seuthes II. Murdered by students of
Plato.
c.384
- 380 BC :
Amyntas III of Macedonia establishes good relations with Cotys,
something which presages even closer relations with Philip II of
Macedonia during the later years of Cotys' own reign.
375
BC :
The
ever-troublesome Triballi rebel again, despite Cotys having helped
their king, Hales, against Abdera. One of the causes is the lack
of luxury goods from the more prosperous south. The rebellion is
ended by Cotys rebuilding the city of Pistiros.
c.370s
BC :
Construction of a royal fortified residence is believed to begin
during the reign of Cotys I, located on the Kozi Gramadi mount in
the Sredna Gora mountain, in the village of Starosel (later to form
part of Bulgaria).
![Kozi Gramadi](Thrace_OdrysianPalace01_full.jpg)
The
remains of the tower that guarded the fourth century BC royal residence
of the Odrysian kings at Kozi Gramadi, uncovered by Bulgaria's National
History Museum in 2011
359
BC :
Cotys
makes an alliance with Philip II of Macedonia shortly before he
is murdered. His successor, Cersobleptes (Kersouleptes, or even
Kersebleptes), rules a Thrace that still appears to be very tribal,
with multiple kings now again ruling alongside him, perhaps as sub-kings,
with him performing the role of high king. Cersobleptes is frequently
found to be in opposition to his sub-kings and relatives, and attempts
more then once to reunify the kingdom.
Chersonese
is today known as the Gallipoli Peninsula, while Maroneia is a village
and a region in lower eastern Thrace on the Aegean coast. This corner
of the Thracian kingdom appears to become semi-independent under
Amadocus II.
359
- 341 BC :
Cersobleptes / Kersouleptes : Son. Young king who was advised
by Charidemus.
359
- ? BC :
Charidemus
: Euboean adventurer who was the brains behind the throne.
359
- 352 BC :
Berisades
/ Thirisades? : Probable brother of Cersobleptes. In Strimos.
Died.
359
- 351 BC :
Amadocus
II / Amatokos II : Probable brother of Cersobleptes. In
Chersonese & Maroneia.
358
- 347? BC :
Cetriporis
/ Ketriporis : Son of Berisades. In Strimos.
c.356 BC :
Athens forms an alliance with Cetriporis son of Berisades of the
Thracians, Grabus of the Illyrian Grabaei, and Lyppeius of the Paeonians,
with Philip II of Macedonia as their common enemy. Unfortunately,
a few months later and with the Athenians engaged in the Aegean,
Philip's general defeats all three of the northern allies.
352
- 346 BC :
Philip II of Macedonia makes a successful expedition into Thrace,
gaining ascendancy until about 346 BC. Over the course of the following
three years the long-reigning Cersobleptes throws off Macedonian
control. It seems that he still either shares power with multiple
minor kings (such as the Bessoi, who refuse to submit), or is over-king
of the entire region, which is still highly tribal.
351
- 342 BC :
Teres
/ Tires II : Son of Amadocus. In Chersonese & Maroneia.
351
- ? BC :
Skostodokos
: Son of Berisades. In Strimos?
340s
BC :
During the reign of Teres II, work on the royal fortified residence
on the Kozi Gramadi mount is completed.
343
- 341 BC :
Having lost control of Thrace to Cersobleptes between 346-343 BC,
Philip II of Macedonia marches again on the kingdom and reduces
Cersobleptes to the status of a vassal. He also ends the reign of
Teres II in the south-eastern corner of Thrace. Demosthenes says
that Philip spends eleven nightmarish months in the winter of 342
BC fighting the Thracians who inhabit the mountains. Southern Thrace
is completely conquered by 341 BC.
c.341
- 300 BC :
Seuthes III : Direct descendant of Teres I. Odrysian client
king.
336
BC :
Alexander the Great puts down the Thracian rebellion, gaining submission
from all the tribes, and they become part of the Greek empire. The
traditional Thracian border with Macedonia is shifted from the River
Struma to the River Mesta. Thracian troops accompany Alexander when
he crosses the Hellespont which links Thrace to Asia Minor. Seuthes
III appears to retain his throne but probably only as a client king
under Macedonian domination.
331
BC :
During the period of Argead overlordship of Thrace, a Greek satrap
is appointed by the name of Zopyrion (perhaps in 332 BC). Wanting
to make his mark with a conquest of some kind, Zopyrion assembles
30,000 men and marches into Scythia. He besieges Olbia, which is
a colony of Miletus (itself already in Alexander's hands since 334
BC). The siege fails after the Olbians free their slaves to aid
with the defence, and Zopyrion's navy forces may also be battered
by a great storm. He retreats in disorder and his forces are picked
off by Scythian raids and then destroyed by the Danubian Getae and
Thracian Triballi. Zopyrion himself is killed.
To
an extent the Greeks retain control of Thrace following this disaster,
but perhaps only along the Aegean coastal strip. Seuthes would seem
to restore a good deal of his kingdom's former independence, although
he does also seem to agree a peaceful co-existence with Lysimachus
from after 323 BC until 300 BC (despite some apparent fighting to
the contrary).
325
- 313 BC :
Within this period, Seuthes founds an Hellenistic city called Seuthopolis
on the site of an existing settlement which serves as his new capital.
It is located near Kazanlak, in the Stara Zagora Province of what
is now central Bulgaria. It is the only city built in Thrace by
the natives, aside from the royal palace on the Sredna Gora mountain.
Unfortunately, the ruins of Seuthopolis are now at the bottom of
the Koprinka reservoir.
323
BC :
Following Alexander the Great's death and the seizure of Thrace
by Lysimachus, Seuthes continues to rule in parallel with him (and
largely in opposition to him). Sole Thracian rule is re-established
in 214 BC following the destruction of the Celtic kingdom and the
restoration of an Odrysian kingdom.
Argead
Dynasty in Thrace :
The Argead were the ruling family and founders of Macedonia who
reached their greatest extent under Alexander the Great and his
two successors before the kingdom broke up into several Hellenic
sections. Following Alexander's conquest of central and eastern
Persia in 331-328 BC, the Greek empire ruled the region until Alexander's
death in 323 BC and the subsequent regency period which ended in
310 BC. Alexander's successors held no real power, being mere figureheads
for the generals who really held control of Alexander's empire.
Following that latter period and during the course of several wars,
Thrace was left in the hands of the Lysimachian empire from 305
BC, with a native (restored, but in fact continuous) Odrysian kingdom
still in place.
Thrace, or at least those areas of it that were closest to Macedonia
(and therefore to the south of the Danube), had been subdued by
the Persians around 513 or 512 BC. Subsequently organised into a
minor satrapy known as Skudra, it and similarly-dominated Macedonia
fell under the overall authority of the great satrapy of Sparda
in Anatolia. Macedonia remained a vassal until it managed to break
free under the rule of Alexander I who forced the Persians out of
his lands. Skudra would seem to have been terminated at about the
same time, leaving the Thracians to organise the first of their
kingdoms that was known to history, the Odrysian kingdom.
In 336 BC, Alexander the Great put down a Thracian rebellion, gaining
submission from all the tribes and integrating their lands into
his new Greek empire. Thracian troops accompanied Alexander when
he crossed the Hellespont into Asia Minor (Anatolia) to begin his
conquest of the Persian empire. An Odrysian king seemingly managed
to retain his throne at this time, but probably only as a client
king under Macedonian domination.
(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from
The Persian Empire, J M Cook (1983), from The Histories,
Herodotus (Penguin, 1996), from Alexander the Great, Krzysztof
Nawotka (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009), and from External
Links: Encyclopaedia Iranica, and Lives of Eminent Commanders,
Cornelius Nepos (1886 Edition), and The Government of Syria under
Alexander the Great, A B Bosworth (The Classical Quarterly
Vol 24, No 1, May, 1974, pp 46-64, Cambridge University Press on
behalf of The Classical Association (available at JSTOR)), and Livius,
and Zopyrion’s Scythian Expedition (Battles of the Ancients).)
336
- 323 BC :
Alexander III the Great : King of Macedonia. Conquered
Persia.
323 - 317 BC :
Philip III Arrhidaeus : Feeble-minded half-brother of Alexander
the Great.
317 - 310 BC :
Alexander IV of Macedonia : Infant son of Alexander the
Great and Roxana.
336?
- 332? BC :
?
: Greek satrap in place?
332?
- 331 BC :
Zopyrion
/ Zopirion : Greek satrap of Thrace or Pontus. Killed.
331 BC :
Wanting to make his mark with a conquest of some kind, Zopyrion
assembles 30,000 men and marches into Scythia. He besieges Olbia,
which is a colony of Miletus (itself already in Alexander's hands
since 334 BC). The siege fails after the Olbians free their slaves
to aid with the defence, and Zopyrion's navy forces may also be
battered by a great storm. He retreats in disorder and his forces
are picked off by Scythian raids and then destroyed by the Danubian
Getae and Thracian Triballi. Zopyrion himself is killed.
![Map of Central Asia & Eastern Mediterranean 334-323 BC](Map_Bactria-&-India-334-324BC_full.jpg)
The
route of Alexander's ongoing campaigns are shown in this map, with
them leading him from Europe to Egypt, into Persia, and across the
vastness of eastern Iran as far as the Pamir mountain range
331
- 323 BC :
?
: Unknown Greek satrap(s).
323
- 305 BC :
Lysimachus
: Greek satrap of Phrygia & Thrace.
323 - 305 BC :
Upon the death of Alexander, Thrace remains assigned to Lysimachus.
During the Wars of the Diadochi, the diadochi generals
- Alexander's 'Successors' - proclaim themselves king of their respective
domains in 305 BC, following a similar proclamation by Antigonus
the year before. Lysimachus remains relatively untroubled in Thrace,
which becomes the core of his soon-to-be-expanded territories within
his own Lysimachian empire.
300
BC :
Odrysian opposition to Lysimachus possibly comes to an end, probably
upon the death of Seuthes III although perhaps following the death
of his son, Cotys II. The Odrysian throne may remain vacant for
another two decades or so while the Lysimachian empire controls
at least part of the region directly. An alternative possibility
is that Odrysian sub-rule continues, dividing in two under Macedonian
domination.
Odrysian
Kingdom of Thrace (Restored) :
The Odrysian kingdom originally started out as a union of Thracian
tribes that endured between the fifth and third centuries BC. It
consisted largely of present-day Bulgaria, and parts of Romania,
northern Greece and Turkey. Its capital was Uscudama or Odrysia
(modern Edirne, in European Turkey). The kingdom was subdued by
the Macedonians in 341 BC, and remained a subject of the subsequent
Lysimachian empire.
Some sources give a break of around twenty years between the death
of the last of the Odrysian kings and the kingdom's restoration
under Odroes around 280 BC. By that time the Lysimachian empire
had merged with the kingdom of Macedonia, and Greek rule was far
less immediate. This allowed the Thracians to regain an element
of independence, although they may still have had to pay nominal
allegiance to the Macedonian kings, and they had lost sections of
eastern Thrace to the Celtic kingdom of Tilis.
Other versions maintain continuity from Seuthes III (c.341-300 BC)
and supply a completely different series of names. As this sequence
is obviously a continuation of the kingdom, the names are shown
here in black, while the alternative sequence begun by Odroes is
shown in >red. The latter may be due to the existence of a rival
Thracian kingdom, but it is hard to tell. Details about the whole
of Thrace are very sparse for this period.
Reignal numbering continues from the previous Odrysian kingdom.
To make the list more easy to understand, the two competing lines
have been split into two columns here.
300
- 280 BC :
Cotys
II / Kotys II : Son of Seuthes III. Ruled a continuous
Odrysian kingdom.
292
BC :
The son of Lysimachus, Agathocles, is captured by Thracians, perhaps
now more openly hostile towards Macedonians of the Lysimachian empire
than they seem to have been under Seuthes III. Some time later Lysimachus
himself is also taken prisoner, possibly while trying to mount a
rescue. He is forced to cede land in return for release.
280
BC :
Although no details appear to be available for the death of Cotys
II, his death may spark a crisis for Thrace. A separate line of
rulers now appears (shown here in >red), suggesting either legal
a division of the kingdom or a rebellion that founds a new Thracian
state.
280
- ? BC :
Raizdos : Son?
c.280
- 273 BC :
Odroes
:
First king of a rival, splinter, or vassal Thracian kingdom?
c.280
- 273 BC :
Adaeus
: Co-ruler
or sub-king?
278
- 277 BC :
Greece is still suffering from the invasion by Celts. They are defeated
by a force led by the Aetolians at Thermopylae and Delphi in 278
BC, and then suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of the Antigonid
King Antigonus II in 277 BC. The Celts retreat from Greece and pass
through Thrace to enter into Asia Minor to found the Galatian kingdom.
Antigonus II is able to claim the throne of Macedonia, combining
Thrace with the kingdom, which he is able to pass onto his son when
he dies at the grand old age of eighty.
![Seltse Maglij, Bulgaria](Thrace_SeltseMaglij01_full.jpg)
The
kingdom of Tilis was formed in eastern Thrace, now Tulovo in Bulgaria,
in a river valley surrounded by mountains
In
the east of Thrace, the Galatian kingdom of Tilis is formed by Celts,
while large areas of Thrace are drawn into the (reformed) Odrysian
kingdom. Although probably still subject to Macedonia to an extent,
the region recovers a certain level of its former independence in
terms of internal affairs.
fl
c.275 BC :
Skostodos
: Co-ruler or sub-king?
273
BC :
The Celts invade Thrace again, savaging the Thracian kingdom and
forcing the aristocracy to escape to the Greek colonies bordering
the Black Sea, which include Pontus. The kingdom of Galatia
is created in Anatolia by the victorious Celts.
fl
c.265 BC :
Orsoaltios
fl
c.260 BC :
Kersivaulos
fl
c.260 BC :
Cotys
III / Kotys III : Son of Raizdos.
fl
c.250 BC :
Tires
III
240 - 215 BC :
Rascouporis
I / Rhescuporis I : Son of Cotys III.
fl
c.235 BC :
Adeos
/ Adaeus
230
BC :
The Thracians lose any remaining control of Pergamon that they might
possess (although true authority probably still rests with Macedonia),
when the former Lysimachian governor there proclaims himself king.
214
BC :
The Thracians eject the Celtic kingdom from Greece and fully restore
Thracian rule. Thrace appears to be all but independent in every
sense at this time, although there seems to be a short break in
the rule of the main Thracian kingdom. This may give Pleuratus the
opportunity to proclaim himself, or be proclaimed, king, perhaps
in opposition to Seuthes IV.
213
- 175 BC :
Seuthes
IV : Son of Rascouporis I or Tires III. Or 215-190 BC.
213
- 208 BC
Pleuratus
: Thracian king who attacked Tilis.
212
BC :
Pleuratus attacks the city of Tilis, destroying it and ejecting
the last of the Celts of Galatia from Greece (today the Bulgarian
village of Tulovo, in Stara Zagora Province, stands on the site).
206
- 205 BC :
Both
Scerdilaidas of the Ardiaei and his son, Pleuratus, are witnesses
to a peace treaty signed between Philip of Macedonia and the Romans.
This follows the signing of a separate treaty in 206 BC between
Philip and the Aetolians as he attempts to reduce the number of
fronts on which he has to fight. Now he can concentrate on pacifying
the enemies to his north: Illyrians, Dardani, and Thracians.
202
BC :
Philip V of Macedonia conquers the kingdom and permanently appends
it to his own kingdom. It remains subject to Macedonia until the
final fall of that kingdom.
c.200
- 172 BC :
Abrupolis
: Perhaps regarded as a king of the Sapaei.
?
- 184 BC :
Amadokos
III
c.183
- 172 BC :
Tires
IV
183
- 180 BC :
Further
expansion of the Pergamon kingdom takes place when the Thracians
are occupied. However, this tough mountainous terrain is too difficult
to hold, and within three years, Macedonian supremacy has been restored.
Two
successor kingdoms appear to form at this time, the Canites and
Odrissae. Both seem to be more tribal than the Odysian kingdom has
become, suggesting that Pergamon's short period of occupation destroys
or damages Thracian organisation to the extent that the kingdom
fragments. However, the first king of the Odrissae is Cotys IV,
probable son of Seuthes IV, suggesting that the kingdom is divided
amongst offspring, or that the Odrysian throne is usurped and Cotys
IV refuses to acknowledge it, forming his own splinter state in
the process.
179
BC :
Philip V of Macedonia invites in a massive contingent of warriors
from the tribe of the Bastarnae which resides to the north of the
Danube. Apparently they are long-time allies of his and are needed
to help him defeat the aggressive Dardanii. Unfortunately, things
go very wrong and, for a time, the Bastarnae pillage Thracian lands,
although they are checked by Thracians who are on the defensive.
172
BC :
What happens to the possible two kingdoms at this point is unknown.
The sequence of dates would suggest that the otherwise unknown,
red, line of kings shown above emerges supreme, but it may be that
Tires V ascends the throne as the successor both to Tires IV (his
possible father) and Abrupolis to form a united, single formal Thracian
kingdom (although just how united it can be with the Canites and
Odrissae existing alongside it in Thrace is unknown).
172
- 148 BC :
Tires
V : Sole, and last, king of the formal Odrysian kingdom.
168
BC :
The Third Macedonian War sees the Macedonian king, Perseus,
enjoying some initial success but then being forced to surrender
following defeat at the First Battle of Pydna on 22 June 168 BC.
Roman rule of Macedonia and Thrace follows the defeat, although
several Thracian revolts occur over subsequent years.
149
- 148 BC :
Andriscus invades Macedonia from Thrace in 149 BC and defeats an
army under the Roman praetor, Publius Juventius. Then he proclaims
himself King Philip VI of Macedonia. In the following year, his
popular uprising is put down by the legions at the Second Battle
of Pydna, and they establish a permanent residence in Greece. The
Achaean League of Greek states rises up against this presence and
is swiftly destroyed. Rome also destroys Corinth as an object lesson
and annexes Greece, including Macedonia and Thrace.
148
BC :
Roman
occupation of Thrace begins with a large production run of silver
tetradrachms. The fate of Tires V is unknown but it seems possible
that he is either killed during the uprising of Andriscus or is
subsequently removed from office. Rome assumes direct control, ending
the formal kingdom, but not the tribal states of the Canites and
Odrissae.
Tribal
Kingdom of the Odrissae :
The formal Odrysian kingdom appears to have broken up in the early
second century BC, although it survived until Roman annexation in
148 BC. The possibility is that the occupation of Thrace by Pergamon
for three years had destroyed or damaged Thracian organisation to
such an extent that the kingdom was terminally weakened. Two tribal
kingdoms appeared alongside it, probably located more to the north,
in the mountain uplands. Of the Canites and Odrissae, the former
is almost completely obscure after its first two rulers. Another
tribe, the Bessoi, had already existed for some time, but this was
a minor group and almost totally obscure.
The latter was conquered at about the same time as the formal Odrysian
kingdom, when Rome invaded Thrace, but the Odrissae also exist alongside
the formal kingdom for over thirty years. Their first king was Cotys
IV, probable son of Seuthes IV, suggesting that the kingdom was
divided amongst offspring, or that the Odrysian throne was usurped
and Cotys IV refused to acknowledge it, forming his own splinter
state in the process. Reignal numbering continues from the previous
Odrysian kingdom.
(Information by Peter Kessler and Edward Dawson, with additional
information from Continuity and Innovation in Religion in the
Roman West, R Haeussler, Anthony C King & Phil Andrews,
from Liber Prodigiorum, Julius Obsequens, from Periocha,
Livy, from Res Gestae, Ammianus Marcellinus, from Valerius
Maximus, Pseudo-Quintilian, and Paulus Orosius, from Epitome
of Roman History, Florus, from Historia Romana, Cassius
Dio, from Flavius Eutropius, from Strategemata, Frontinius,
from 'Breviary', Sextus Festus, from St Jerome Emiliani (Hieronymus),
from Getica, Jordanes, from The Celts in Macedonia and
Thrace, G Kazarov, from The Origin of the Gundestrup Cauldron,
Antiquity, Vol 61, 1987, A K Bergquist & T Taylor, from
The Getae in Southern Dobruja in the Period of the Roman Domination:
Archaeological Aspects, S Torbatov, and from External Links:
Journal of Celtic Studies in Eastern Europe and Asia-Minor, and
Scordisci Swords From Northwestern Bulgaria.)
300
- 280 BC :
Cotys
II / Kotys II : Son of Seuthes III. Ruled a continuous
Odrysian kingdom.
292
BC :
The son of Lysimachus, Agathocles, is captured by Thracians, perhaps
now more openly hostile towards Macedonians of the Lysimachian empire
than they seem to have been under Seuthes III. Some time later Lysimachus
himself is also taken prisoner, possibly while trying to mount a
rescue. He is forced to cede land in return for release.
280
BC :
Although no details appear to be available for the death of Cotys
II, his death may spark a crisis for Thrace. A separate line of
rulers now appears (shown here in >red), suggesting either legal
a division of the kingdom or a rebellion that founds a new Thracian
state.
280
- ? BC :
Raizdos : Son?
c.280
- 273 BC :
Odroes
: First
king of a rival, splinter, or vassal Thracian kingdom?
c.280
- 273 BC :
Adaeus
: Co-ruler
or sub-king?
278
- 277 BC :
Greece is still suffering from the invasion by Celts. They are defeated
by a force led by the Aetolians at Thermopylae and Delphi in 278
BC, and then suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of the Antigonid
King Antigonus II in 277 BC. The Celts retreat from Greece and pass
through Thrace to enter into Asia Minor to found the Galatian kingdom.
Antigonus II is able to claim the throne of Macedonia, combining
Thrace with the kingdom, which he is able to pass onto his son when
he dies at the grand old age of eighty.
![Seltse Maglij, Bulgaria](Thrace_SeltseMaglij01_full.jpg)
The
kingdom of Tilis was formed in eastern Thrace, now Tulovo in Bulgaria,
in a river valley surrounded by mountains
In
the east of Thrace, the Galatian kingdom of Tilis is formed by Celts,
while large areas of Thrace are drawn into the (reformed) Odrysian
kingdom. Although probably still subject to Macedonia to an extent,
the region recovers a certain level of its former independence in
terms of internal affairs.
fl
c.275 BC :
Skostodos
: Co-ruler or sub-king?
273
BC :
The Celts invade Thrace again, savaging the Thracian kingdom and
forcing the aristocracy to escape to the Greek colonies bordering
the Black Sea, which include Pontus. The kingdom of Galatia
is created in Anatolia by the victorious Celts.
fl
c.265 BC :
Orsoaltios
fl
c.260 BC :
Kersivaulos
fl
c.260 BC :
Cotys
III / Kotys III : Son of Raizdos.
fl
c.250 BC :
Tires
III
240 - 215 BC :
Rascouporis
I / Rhescuporis I : Son of Cotys III.
fl
c.235 BC :
Adeos
/ Adaeus
230
BC :
The Thracians lose any remaining control of Pergamon that they might
possess (although true authority probably still rests with Macedonia),
when the former Lysimachian governor there proclaims himself king.
214
BC :
The Thracians eject the Celtic kingdom from Greece and fully restore
Thracian rule. Thrace appears to be all but independent in every
sense at this time, although there seems to be a short break in
the rule of the main Thracian kingdom. This may give Pleuratus the
opportunity to proclaim himself, or be proclaimed, king, perhaps
in opposition to Seuthes IV.
213
- 175 BC :
Seuthes
IV : Son of Rascouporis I or Tires III. Or 215-190 BC.
213
- 208 BC :
Pleuratus
: Thracian king who attacked Tilis.
212
BC :
Pleuratus attacks the city of Tilis, destroying it and ejecting
the last of the Celts of Galatia from Greece (today the Bulgarian
village of Tulovo, in Stara Zagora Province, stands on the site).
206
- 205 BC :
Both
Scerdilaidas of the Ardiaei and his son, Pleuratus, are witnesses
to a peace treaty signed between Philip of Macedonia and the Romans.
This follows the signing of a separate treaty in 206 BC between
Philip and the Aetolians as he attempts to reduce the number of
fronts on which he has to fight. Now he can concentrate on pacifying
the enemies to his north: Illyrians, Dardani, and Thracians.
202
BC :
Philip V of Macedonia conquers the kingdom and permanently appends
it to his own kingdom. It remains subject to Macedonia until the
final fall of that kingdom.
c.200
- 172 BC :
Abrupolis
: Perhaps regarded as a king of the Sapaei.
?
- 184 BC :
Amadokos
III
c.183
- 172 BC :
Tires
IV
183
- 180 BC :
Further expansion of the Pergamon kingdom takes place when the Thracians
are occupied. However, this tough mountainous terrain is too difficult
to hold, and within three years, Macedonian supremacy has been restored.
Two
successor kingdoms appear to form at this time, the Canites and
Odrissae. Both seem to be more tribal than the Odysian kingdom has
become, suggesting that Pergamon's short period of occupation destroys
or damages Thracian organisation to the extent that the kingdom
fragments. However, the first king of the Odrissae is Cotys IV,
probable son of Seuthes IV, suggesting that the kingdom is divided
amongst offspring, or that the Odrysian throne is usurped and Cotys
IV refuses to acknowledge it, forming his own splinter state in
the process.
179
BC :
Philip V of Macedonia invites in a massive contingent of warriors
from the tribe of the Bastarnae which resides to the north of the
Danube. Apparently they are long-time allies of his and are needed
to help him defeat the aggressive Dardanii. Unfortunately, things
go very wrong and, for a time, the Bastarnae pillage Thracian lands,
although they are checked by Thracians who are on the defensive.
172
BC :
What happens to the possible two kingdoms at this point is unknown.
The sequence of dates would suggest that the otherwise unknown,
red, line of kings shown above emerges supreme, but it may be that
Tires V ascends the throne as the successor both to Tires IV (his
possible father) and Abrupolis to form a united, single formal Thracian
kingdom (although just how united it can be with the Canites and
Odrissae existing alongside it in Thrace is unknown).
172
- 148 BC :
Tires
V : Sole, and last, king of the formal Odrysian kingdom.
168
BC :
The Third Macedonian War sees the Macedonian king, Perseus,
enjoying some initial success but then being forced to surrender
following defeat at the First Battle of Pydna on 22 June 168 BC.
Roman rule of Macedonia and Thrace follows the defeat, although
several Thracian revolts occur over subsequent years.
149
- 148 BC :
Andriscus invades Macedonia from Thrace in 149 BC and defeats an
army under the Roman praetor, Publius Juventius. Then he proclaims
himself King Philip VI of Macedonia. In the following year, his
popular uprising is put down by the legions at the Second Battle
of Pydna, and they establish a permanent residence in Greece. The
Achaean League of Greek states rises up against this presence and
is swiftly destroyed. Rome also destroys Corinth as an object lesson
and annexes Greece, including Macedonia and Thrace.
148
BC :
Roman occupation of Thrace begins with a large production run of
silver tetradrachms. The fate of Tires V is unknown but it seems
possible that he is either killed during the uprising of Andriscus
or is subsequently removed from office. Rome assumes direct control,
ending the formal kingdom, but not the tribal states of the Canites
and Odrissae.
Tribal
Kingdom of the Odrissae :
The formal Odrysian kingdom appears to have broken up in the early
second century BC, although it survived until Roman annexation in
148 BC. The possibility is that the occupation of Thrace by Pergamon
for three years had destroyed or damaged Thracian organisation to
such an extent that the kingdom was terminally weakened. Two tribal
kingdoms appeared alongside it, probably located more to the north,
in the mountain uplands. Of the Canites and Odrissae, the former
is almost completely obscure after its first two rulers. Another
tribe, the Bessoi, had already existed for some time, but this was
a minor group and almost totally obscure.
The latter was conquered at about the same time as the formal Odrysian
kingdom, when Rome invaded Thrace, but the Odrissae also exist alongside
the formal kingdom for over thirty years. Their first king was Cotys
IV, probable son of Seuthes IV, suggesting that the kingdom was
divided amongst offspring, or that the Odrysian throne was usurped
and Cotys IV refused to acknowledge it, forming his own splinter
state in the process. Reignal numbering continues from the previous
Odrysian kingdom.
(Information by Peter Kessler and Edward Dawson, with additional
information from Continuity and Innovation in Religion in the
Roman West, R Haeussler, Anthony C King & Phil Andrews,
from Liber Prodigiorum, Julius Obsequens, from Periocha,
Livy, from Res Gestae, Ammianus Marcellinus, from Valerius
Maximus, Pseudo-Quintilian, and Paulus Orosius, from Epitome
of Roman History, Florus, from Historia Romana, Cassius
Dio, from Flavius Eutropius, from Strategemata, Frontinius,
from 'Breviary', Sextus Festus, from St Jerome Emiliani (Hieronymus),
from Getica, Jordanes, from The Celts in Macedonia and
Thrace, G Kazarov, from The Origin of the Gundestrup Cauldron,
Antiquity, Vol 61, 1987, A K Bergquist & T Taylor, from
The Getae in Southern Dobruja in the Period of the Roman Domination:
Archaeological Aspects, S Torbatov, and from External Links:
Journal of Celtic Studies in Eastern Europe and Asia-Minor, and
Scordisci Swords From Northwestern Bulgaria.)
180
- 168 BC :
Cotys
IV / Kotys IV (III) : Son of Odrysian King Seuthes IV.
Or c.170-160 BC.
168
BC :
The Third Macedonian War sees the Macedonian king, Perseus,
enjoy some initial success but then is forced to surrender following
defeat at the First Battle of Pydna on 22 June 168 BC. Roman rule
of Macedonia and Thrace follows the defeat, although several Thracian
revolts occur over subsequent years.
![Odrysian treasures](Thrace_Odrysian01_full.jpg)
The
treasures of the Odrysian kingdom would in part have been inherited
by the Odrissae
fl
c.168 BC :
Diygyles
/ Diegylos / Dyegilos / Diagylis : Son? Probably m Apama
of Bithynia. Or 150-140 BC.
fl
c.168/166 BC :
Biz
/ Byzas / Byses : Or fl c.148/146 BC as Beithys.
163
- ? BC :
Sothimes
: Son of Diygyles?
c.149
BC :
Tires
VI : Last of the Odrissae kings?
149
- 148 BC :
Andriscus invades Macedonia from Thrace in 149 BC and defeats an
army under the Roman praetor, Publius Juventius. Then he proclaims
himself King Philip VI of Macedonia. In the following year, his
popular uprising is put down by the legions at the Second Battle
of Pydna, and they establish a permanent residence in Greece. The
Achaean League of Greek states rises up against this presence and
is swiftly destroyed. Rome also destroys Corinth as an object lesson
and annexes Greece, including Macedonia and Thrace.
148
BC :
Roman occupation of Thrace begins with a large production run of
silver tetradrachms. The fate of Tires V is unknown but it seems
possible that he is either killed during the uprising of Andriscus
or is subsequently removed from office. Rome assumes direct control,
ending the formal kingdom, but not the tribal states of the Canites
and Odrissae.
c.148/146
BC :
Beithys
: Ruled? Or c.168/166 BC as Biz.
146
BC :
The four Greek client republics are dissolved and officially incorporated
into the Roman province of Macedonia, which also includes Epirus,
Thessaly, and areas of Illyria, Paeonia, and Thrace. With these
regions under tighter control, Rome is free to take a tougher line
against the recalcitrant Scordisci tribe in the Balkans and the
various Thracian tribes to the east of Greece.
135
BC :
The peace is broken by the Romans who launch a fresh attack on the
Scordisci in Thrace. As Livy mentions, the Celts are defeated this
time, by Praetor Marcus Cosconius. This is painted as a Roman victory,
but it is one that should lead directly to the annexation of fresh
territory. However, Roman writers are notably silent on the aftermath,
raising the possibility that the victory is instead another stalemate.
115
BC :
Following the scare of 119 BC, former consul Quintus Fabius Maximus
Eburnus is sent to Macedonia. Eburnus has established his reputation
as a strict disciplinarian (and later goes so far as to execute
his own son for 'immorality' in 104 BC, for which he is prosecuted).
Plans are drawn up for the Roman conquest of Thrace, probably by
him (according to Orosius, Pseudo-Quintilian, and Valerius Maximus).
As part of this strategy a Roman fortress is established at Heracleae
Sintica (modern Rupite, near Petritch in south-western Bulgaria)
with a garrison of two cohorts commanded by one Lucullus. Located
on the strategic Struma river valley, and possibly already inside
Celtic territory, it is the only practical route for moving a large
military force into western Thrace. The invasion begins in 114 BC,
led by Consul Gaius Porcius Cato.
109
BC :
Retaliation is delivered by Rome when a Roman army enters Thrace
under the command of Minucius Rufus. According to several Roman
writers and also an inscription at Delphi (which is probably ordered
by Rufus himself), both the Scordisci and the Thracian Bessoi tribe
are defeated. If true it would be the first Scordisci defeat since
135 BC, or even earlier. The attack targets not only barbarian military
means but, in a change to previous encounters, targets the civilian
populations in a rather brutal manner. Rome triggers a pattern of
increasing atrocities in its war against the tribes in Thrace and
the Balkans.
Interestingly, the campaign ignores the perils of the Struma Valley
and instead proceeds along the much more open River Hebrus river
valley (the modern Maritsa), which is much more suitable for a Roman
army. It also seems to be aimed at the heart of the territory controlled
by the previously peaceful Bessoi tribe, although it happily involves
any other tribes, especially the Scordisci. As the Bessoi live along
the Hebrus they make an ideal target without the involvement of
dangerous forays away from the river valley. No territory is gained
as a result of the raid, but it lays down a marker for the future.
To take the gloss off the campaign's success, during their homeward
march a large part of the Roman army drowns when ice on the river
breaks underfoot. The attack on the Bessoi also turns them into
one of Rome's most bitter enemies in Thrace, and forces them into
forging closer links with the Celts in Thrace.
109
- 90 BC :
While
no further campaigns appear to be mounted by Rome during the closing
years of the second century BC, the Scordisci and their Thracian
allies, especially the Maedi, continue to attack Roman Macedonia.
These attacks continue into the early years of the first century
BC. Archaeology shows a dramatic increase in the levels of La Tène
militarisation during this period, as Scordisci society gears up
to face the continuing conflict.
![Scordisci weapons](Celts_ScordisciWeapons01_full.jpg)
This
photo displays material gathered from the Scordisci warrior burial
at Montana in north-western Bulgaria
The
constant warfare is also reflected in mass burials such as the one
found at Slana Voda, where a large number of Celtic battle casualties
are buried at the same time. Hoards of Hellenic and Roman plunder
are notable from the same period, especially in the form of coins,
alongside Celtic issues which often depict attacks against Roman
resources. Finds also include a dense collection of La Tène swords
in sites between the rivers Timok and Iskar in modern north-western
Bulgaria - the largest concentration of such Celtic materials in
Europe. Rome has sown the seeds of warfare and is now reaping the
whirlwind of endless attacks by the new enemies it has made.
c.100
BC :
After almost half a century of Roman rule, a new Thracian tribal
kingdom appears in the region. It is not clear if the Astean kingdom
is a vassal of Rome or is entirely independent. Its first ruler
is possibly the son of Beithys, one of the last kings of the Odrissae.
c.90
- c.80 BC :
Amodokos
IV : Rebel during the great 'barbarian' attack?
90
BC :
Rome's forces in the Balkans have increasingly been feeling the
strain of the constant attacks on them. Now the dam bursts under
the weight of yet another combined attack by the Scordisci and Maedi.
The Roman historian Florus provides a detailed description of events.
The Scordisci and Maedi, supported by the Thracian Denteletes and
by the Dardanii, swarm through Dalmatia, Macedonia, and Thessaly,
reaching as far as Epirus on the Adriatic. They vent the frustration
of years of warfare against the Romans by freely destroying and
plundering, although Florus paints a typically pro-Roman picture
of barbarian atrocities, citing the Scordisci especially as 'the
cruellest of all the Thracians... and to their strength was added
cunning as well'. The attack deprives Rome of control over many
areas of the Balkans and northern Greece.
85
- 84 BC :
Rome is finally able to respond to their ongoing disaster in the
Balkans and Greece. Sula leads an army against the Scordisci, apparently
'punishing' them according to Roman writers. Certainly prisoners
are treated cruelly, with fire and sword being used to inflict severe
cruelties upon them (so says Flores). However, Sula merely serves
to further fan the flames. As soon as he leaves for Asia, the Celts
and Thracians overrun the southern Balkans and northern Greece and
penetrate the Peloponnese. They reach Delphi by the end of 85 BC
to vandalise many of the religious sites there.
81
BC :
Cornelius
Scipio arrives to lead a fresh Roman campaign in the Balkans. Again,
the effort appears punitive, with no long-term strategy to secure
the territory. The Scordisci and Thracian tribes are undaunted by
the action.
c.80
BC :
Amodokos IV seems to be entirely obscure apart from his name. His
short 'reign', unsupported by successors, suggests that he may be
a rebel against the Roman annexation of Thrace. To survive for a
decade, he probably has his base in the mountainous north. When
his possible rebellion comes to an end, the Astean kingdom is the
only remaining Thracian state until Sapes emerges with a king who
comes from the Odrissae.
Tribal
Kingdom of Astean :
The four Greek client republics, which included both the former
Odrysian kingdom and the tribal Odrissae, were dissolved and officially
incorporated into the Roman province of Macedonia in 146 BC. This
new province also included Epirus, Thessaly, and areas of Illyria,
and Paeonia. Thrace remained under Roman control for almost half
a century before a new Thracian tribal kingdom appeared in the region.
It is not clear if the Astean kingdom, like the tribal Bessoi, was
a vassal of Rome or was entirely independent. There is precious
little information available on the kingdom at all, not even on
its location, which was probably high up in the mountainous regions
that later became part of south-eastern Bulgaria.
This kingdom was the only possible source of Thracian independence
for a further half a century, and in some sources the reignal numbering
is continued from the Odrissae kingdom. If Kotys I of the Astean
kingdom was a descendant of one of the last of the Odrissae kings,
then this was a continuation of the senior Thracian state.
(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by I
Mladjov (University of Michigan) and Edward Dawson, from Continuity
and Innovation in Religion in the Roman West, R Haeussler, Anthony
C King, & Phil Andrews, from Liber Prodigiorum, Julius
Obsequens, from Periocha, Livy, from Res Gestae, Ammianus
Marcellinus, from Valerius Maximus, Pseudo-Quintilian, and Paulus
Orosius, from Epitome of Roman History, Florus, from Historia
Romana, Cassius Dio, from Flavius Eutropius, from Strategemata,
Frontinius, from 'Breviary', Sextus Festus, from St. Jerome
Emiliani (Hieronymus), from Getica, Jordanes, from The
Celts in Macedonia and Thrace, G Kazarov, from The Origin
of the Gundestrup Cauldron, Antiquity, Vol 61, 1987, A K Bergquist
& T Taylor, from The Getae in Southern Dobruja in the Period
of the Roman Domination: Archaeological Aspects, S Torbatov,
and from External Links: Journal of Celtic Studies in Eastern
Europe and Asia-Minor, and Scordisci Swords From Northwestern Bulgaria.)
c.100
- c.87 BC :
Kotys
I (V) : Son of Beithys of the Odrissae?
c.87
- c.80/79 BC :
Sadalas
I : Son.
c.80/79
- 45 BC :
Kotys
II (VI) : Son.
76
BC :
The
new Roman governor of Macedonia, Appius Claudius Pulcher, leads
a large army against the Scordisci confederation - the same Celts
who had destroyed Cato's army and garrison in 114 BC. This time,
however, the Scordisci employ different tactics. Pulcher's army
is probably superior to Cato's, so he is allowed to penetrate the
Thracian mountains unmolested. There, a vicious and drawn-out series
of skirmishes and small-scale battles takes place between Romans
and natives, with the Celts especially employing highly successful
guerrilla tactics to wear down the opposition. Following months
of constant alerts, illness, and defeats, Pulcher dies and the remains
of his army withdraws from western Thrace.
75
BC :
Despite
the disappointment of the campaign of 76 BC against the Scordisci,
Rome is making gradual progress in other parts of Thrace. The campaigns
of Cnaeus Scribonius Curio in western Thrace from 75 BC see Roman
forces penetrate the previously hostile Struma Valley to reach the
Danube. They take large numbers of prisoners along the way, including
a chieftain of the Maedi named Spartacus. Plutarch states that his
wife is also taken prisoner. Some ancient sources state that Spartacus
is in fact a Roman auxiliary who is later condemned to slavery,
but all generally agree on his Thracian origins.
![South Struma Valley](Bulgaria_SouthStrumaValley01_full.jpg)
The
South Struma Valley, showing the kind of territory the Romans had
to pass through during their relatively successful campaign of 75
BC
72
- 71 BC :
Another
Roman campaign, this time by Lucullus in eastern Thrace, captures
the Pontic cities along with the central Thracian Valley. The various
Balkan peoples have been united in their opposition to Roman expansion
in south-eastern Europe for over a century, but they are finding
themselves fighting an increasingly defensive war.
61
BC :
A
varying mixture of Bastarnae, Dardanii, Scordisci, and Thracians
have met each Roman campaign with a stubborn resistance. Following
one particularly successful encounter for the Balkan tribes in this
year, that unity is broken by the Thracian tribe of the Getae, who
are known to Rome as the Dacians based upon their general geographical
position. In 61 BC the Getae are part of a force that is led by
the Bastarnae. Together they inflict a humiliating defeat upon the
Roman army of the inept Gaius Antonius Hybrida (uncle to Mark Antony)
outside a Greek colony at the mouths of the Danube, at the Battle
of Histria. The entire Roman force is massacred, abruptly terminating
Roman control of the region.
60
- 59 BC :
Following
the success at Histria, relations between the Getae and their neighbours
undergoes a notable deterioration. Suddenly, under the leadership
of Burebista, who is apparently guided by a wizard called Deceneus,
the Getae launch a succession of brutal attacks on their former
allies. The Celts seem to be first on the list, although the Eravisci
escape unscathed. The territory of the Boii and Taurisci are laid
waste, with the Boii especially being almost genocidally exterminated
by Burebista's brutal onslaught. The Scordisci in Thrace follow,
their previously unassailable heartland laid open. Next to face
Burebista's onslaught are the Bastarnae in Dobruja, who are apparently
'conquered', and then the largely defenceless western Greek Pontic
cities.
Some
towns resist him, including Histros, Mesambria, and Olbia. These
are destroyed. Burebista subsequently declares himself 'King of
all Thrace'. The Dionysopolis decree confirms this, having been
dated to 48 BC. The start of this decade coincides with the end
of local coin production by the Celts and Bastarnae, showing that
the cultural and economic status quo has been fatally disrupted.
Archaeological
finds from the modern southern Dobruja region also indicates the
nature of Burebista's 'Dacian' expansion. During the previous centuries
of the Iron Age in the Balkans, around seventy settlements have
existed in modern north-eastern Bulgaria, but only twenty-nine of
these survive into the Roman period, and continuous habitation even
in these is by no means certain. Balkan unity has been destroyed
and the Getae now dominate - but for less than twenty years.
c.55
BC :
The rival Thracian tribal kingdom of Sapes is founded, and in circumstances
just as mysterious as those of the founding of the Astean kingdom.
In 57-55 BC there is unrest in Macedonia during which the Roman
governor of Macedonia, Lucius Calpurnius Piso, has to take action
to restore control over the Bessoi, and perhaps other tribes, making
this the perfect opportunity to secede from Roman control.
c.44
- 42 BC :
Sadalas
II : Son.
c.42
- 31 BC :
Sapes conquers or otherwise controls the Astean kingdom, although
no details appear to be known regarding the circumstances. It seems
highly likely that Roman interference is to blame.
c.31
BC :
Sadalas
III : Son?
31
- 18 BC :
Kotys
III (VII) : Son of Sadalas II.
29
BC :
The
Bastarnae cross the Haemus in support of the Scordisci in modern
north-western Bulgaria. They attack a Thracian tribe known as the
Dentheletae who are allies of Rome. General Marcus Licinius Crassus,
proconsul of Macedonia, goes to assist the Dentheletae with help
from the Getae under King Roles, and the Bastarnae withdraw. Crassus
follows them and eventually engages them in battle. Caught unawares,
the Bastarnae are routed and their king is killed in combat with
Crassus. According to Roman writers, thousands of Bastarnae perish
in the ensuing slaughter.
18
- 11 BC :
Raskouporis
II : Son. Killed during the Bessoi uprising.
16
BC :
The
Celts of the former Scordisci confederation have one last surprise
remaining for Rome. As imperial Rome stamps its authority on the
Balkans, Celtic tribes swoop down from the Thracian mountains. They
swarm into Macedonia and lay waste to the Roman province once again.
The attack surely comes from the Rhodope Mountains in south-western
Bulgaria, making it the last hurrah of the Scordisci and providing
Rome with a brutal reminder that although the cities and plains
may be civilised, the mountains of central and western Thrace are
still areas to be feared.
15
BC :
A Dionysian priest named Vologeses leads an uprising of his fellow
Bessoi which aims at freeing and re-conquering the sanctuary of
their god after it had been taken away by the Romans and delivered
to the Odrysians. Raskouporis, a relative of King Roimetalkas I
of Sapes, is killed by the Bessoi during the four-year uprising.
11
BC :
Kotys
IV : Last Astean king.
11
BC :
Upon
the death of Kotys IV, the last Astean king, the Roman Emperor Augustus
confers all of Thrace to his Sapaen uncle, Roimitalkes. He rules
the region as a client kingdom.
![Astean bronze coin](Thrace_AsteanCoins01_full.jpg)
Bronze
coins issued during the reign of Roimitalkes I, client Astean king
under Rome
11
BC - AD 12 :
Roimitalkes
I / Rhoemetalkes I : Uncle of Roman Emperor Augustus. Client
king. Murdered.
12
- 19 :
Kotys
III : King of Sapes.
19
- 38 :
Roimitalkes
II / Rhoemetalkes II : King of Sapes.
38
- 46 :
Roimitalkes
III / Rhoemetalkes III : King of Sapes.
AD
46 :
Roimitalkes of Sapes is murdered by his wife, and Thrace is annexed
as a province by Emperor Claudius, permanently ending its independence.
Under the third century administrative reforms of Diocletian, Thrace's
territory is divided into four smaller provinces: Europa, Haemimontus,
Rhodope and Thracia. These are overseen by the diocese of Thraciae,
which is part of the 'Prefecture of the East'. This organisation
remains in place until the Balkan peninsula is largely overrun by
the Avars and Slavs in the 640s, following which it is reorganised
as a Byzantine diocese. Today the territory forms parts of south-eastern
Romania, central and eastern Bulgaria, and Greek and Turkish Thrace.
Source
:
https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/
KingListsEurope/GreeceThrace.htm
#Argeads