Tiberius Julius Mithridates

Mithridates III
Mithridates III
	Copper coin. Obv.: head of Tiv. Jul. Mithridates, legend: BACΙΛΕΩC ΜΙΘΡΙΔΑΤΟΥ. Rev.: Mace, leonte above it, bow and quiver (left), trident (right), IB' = 12 (nummia). 22 mm, 8.47 g.
King of the Bosporan Kingdom
Reign	39–44/45 AD
Predecessor	Gepaepyris (as Queen)
Successor	Cotys I
Died	68 AD
House	Tiberian-Julian dynasty
Father	Aspurgus
Mother	Gepaepyris
Religion	Greek Polytheism

Tiberius Julius Mithridates Philogermanicus Philopatris,^[a] also known as Mithridates III of the Bosporus (fl. 41 AD, died 68 AD), was a Roman client king of the Bosporus.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

Ancestry[edit]

Mithridates was the first son of the Roman client king Aspurgus and his consort Gepaepyris.^[7] He had a younger brother who would go on to succeed him as Cotys I. He was a prince of Greek, Iranian and Roman ancestry. He was the first grandchild and grandson of Asander and Dynamis of the Bosporus and Cotys VIII and Antonia Tryphaena of Thrace.

Through his maternal grandmother Antonia Tryphaena, he was a descendant of Roman triumvir Mark Antony. Tryphaena was the first great-granddaughter born to Antony. Through Tryphaena, Mithridates was also related to various members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Through Aspurgus, Mithridates was a descendant of the Greek Macedonian kings: Antigonus I Monophthalmus, Seleucus I Nicator and the general and statesman Antipater. These three men served under Alexander the Great. Tiberius Julius Mithridates was named in honour of his ancestor Mithridates VI of Pontus, who was the paternal grandfather of Tiberius Mithridates' grandmother Dynamis.

Life[edit]

Little is known on the early life of Mithridates. Aspurgus headed the Bosporan domain until his death in 37 or 38.^[8] Gepaepyris succeeded her husband as sole ruler.^[9] In AD 39 Mithridates inherited the throne of his mother.^[10] Sometime before 45, the Roman Emperor Claudius had given Mithridates the whole Bosporan Kingdom to rule. Claudius recognised and appointed him as the legitimate Bosporan King. In 45, for unknown reasons, Claudius deposed Mithridates from the throne and replaced him with his younger brother Cotys I. Claudius had withdrawn the Roman garrison under Aulus Didius Gallus from the Bosporan Kingdom and a few Roman cohorts were left behind with the eques Gaius Julius Aquila.

Mithridates despised the situation. He mistrusted Cotys I and Aquila, and attempted to regain his throne. Mithridates was able to entice the leaders of the local tribes and deserters into his allies. He was able to seize control of the local tribes and collect an army to declare war on Cotys I and Aquila. When Cotys I and Aquila heard news of this war, they feared that the invasion was imminent. Both men knew they had the support of Claudius. Mithridates with his army, engaged in war with Cotys I's army and Aquila's battalions, in a three-day war, which Cotys I and Aquila won unscathed and triumphant at the Don River.

Mithridates knew that resistance was hopeless and considered an appeal to Claudius. Mithridates turned to a local tribesman called Eunones, to help him. Eunones, sent envoys to Rome to Claudius with a letter from Mithridates.

In Mithridates’ letter to the Emperor, Mithridates greeted and addressed him with great honour and respect from one ruler to another ruler. Mithridates asked Claudius for a pardon and to be spared from a triumphal procession or capital punishment. Claudius wasn't sure how to punish or deal with Mithridates. Mithridates was captured and brought to Rome as a prisoner. He was displayed as a public figure beside the platform in the Roman Forum along with his guards and his expression remained undoubted.

Claudius was impressed with Mithridates' mercy from his letter and allowed him to live. He was spared capital punishment and was exiled. Mithridates lived in exile as a destitute until his death. He had no known wife or children.

Notes[edit]

^ Greek: Τιβέριος Ιούλιος Μιθριδάτης Φιλογερμανικος Φιλοπατρíς
Philopatris means "lover of his country"

References[edit]

^ Tsetskhladze, Gocha R. (2001). North Pontic Archaeology: Recent Discoveries and Studies. BRILL. p. 414. ISBN 978-90-04-12041-9.
^ "Ancient Library > Bookshelf > Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology > v. 1, page 870". Archived from the original on 2006-05-22.
^ "Ancient Coinage of Bosporos, Kings". www.wildwinds.com. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
^ "Gepaepyris Princess of Thrace". american-pictures.com. Archived from the original on 2002-11-26.
^ "Mithradates King of Bosphorus". american-pictures.com. Archived from the original on 2002-11-26.
^ "Bosporos, Kings, Mithradates, ancient coins index with thumbnails - WildWinds.com". www.wildwinds.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
^ Minns, Ellis Hovell. (2011). Scythians and Greeks: a Survey of Ancient History and Archaeology on the North Coast of the Euxine from the Danube to the Caucasus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780511791772. OCLC 889959668. page 590
^ Bunson, Matthew (2014-05-14). Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. Infobase Publishing. p. 372. ISBN 978-1-4381-1027-1.
^ Association, American Philological (1974). Transactions of the American Philological Association. Vol. 107. For the Association by the Press of Case Western Reserve University. p. 5.
^ Revue numismatique (in French). Vol. 157. Blois. 2001. p. 291.

Sources[edit]

Tacitus, Annales, 12.15–21.
Cassius Dio, 60.8.
Pliny, Natural History, 6.5.

Bibliography[edit]

"Cotys (7)", William Smith (ed.) Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. 3. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1867.
"Mithridates (9)", William Smith (ed.) Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. 3. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1867.

External links[edit]

Coinage of Mithridates

Preceded by Gepaepyris	King of the Bosporus 39-44/45	Succeeded by Cotys I

[2] Greek: Τιβέριος Ιούλιος Μιθριδάτης Φιλογερμανικος Φιλοπατρíς
Philopatris means "lover of his country"

[1] Tsetskhladze, Gocha R. (2001). North Pontic Archaeology: Recent Discoveries and Studies. BRILL. p. 414. ISBN 978-90-04-12041-9.

[3] "Ancient Library > Bookshelf > Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology > v. 1, page 870". Archived from the original on 2006-05-22.

[4] "Ancient Coinage of Bosporos, Kings". www.wildwinds.com. Retrieved 2019-05-06.

[5] "Gepaepyris Princess of Thrace". american-pictures.com. Archived from the original on 2002-11-26.

[6] "Mithradates King of Bosphorus". american-pictures.com. Archived from the original on 2002-11-26.

[7] "Bosporos, Kings, Mithradates, ancient coins index with thumbnails - WildWinds.com". www.wildwinds.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2019-05-06.

[8] Minns, Ellis Hovell. (2011). Scythians and Greeks: a Survey of Ancient History and Archaeology on the North Coast of the Euxine from the Danube to the Caucasus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780511791772. OCLC 889959668. page 590

[9] Bunson, Matthew (2014-05-14). Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. Infobase Publishing. p. 372. ISBN 978-1-4381-1027-1.

[10] Association, American Philological (1974). Transactions of the American Philological Association. Vol. 107. For the Association by the Press of Case Western Reserve University. p. 5.

[11] Revue numismatique (in French). Vol. 157. Blois. 2001. p. 291.

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Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany

v t e Monarchs of the Bosporan Kingdom
Archaeanactid dynasty	Archaeanax Unknown kings
Spartocid dynasty	Spartocus I Satyrus I Seleucus Leucon I Gorgippus Spartocus II Paerisades I Satyrus II Prytanis Eumelus Spartocus III Paerisades II Spartocus IV Leucon II Hygiaenon (regent) Spartokos V [ru] Camasarye Paerisades III Paerisades IV Spartocus VI Paerisades V
Scythian rule	Saumacus
Mithridatic dynasty	Mithridates I Pharnaces Dynamis with Asander Mithridates II Dynamis with Asander Dynamis Dynamis with Scribonius Dynamis with Polemon I Dynamis
Tiberian-Julian dynasty	Aspurgus (Polemon II) Rhescuporis I Gepaepyris Mithridates III Cotys I Rhescuporis II Sauromates I Cotys II Rhoemetalces Eupator Sauromates II Rhescuporis III Cotys III Sauromates III Rhescuporis IV Chedosbius Ininthimeus Rhescuporis V Pharsanzes Teiranes Sauromates IV Theothorses Rhadamsades Rhescuporis VI

v t e Hellenistic rulers
Argeads	Philip II Alexander III the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV
Antipatrids	Cassander Philip IV Alexander V Antipater II Antipater Etesias Sosthenes
Antigonids	Antigonus I Monophthalmus Demetrius I Poliorcetes Antigonus II Gonatas Demetrius II Aetolicus Antigonus III Doson Philip V Perseus Philip VI (pretender)
Ptolemies	Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy Keraunos Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Cleopatra I Syra (regent) Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Cleopatra II Philometor Soter Ptolemy VIII Physcon Cleopatra III Ptolemy IX Lathyros Ptolemy X Alexander Berenice III Ptolemy XI Alexander Ptolemy XII Auletes Cleopatra VI Tryphaena Berenice IV Epiphanea Ptolemy XIII Ptolemy XIV Cleopatra VII Philopator Ptolemy XV Caesarion
Monarchs of Cyrene	Magas Berenice II Demetrius the Fair Ptolemy VIII Physcon Ptolemy Apion Cleopatra Selene II
Seleucids	Seleucus I Nicator Antiochus I Soter Antiochus II Theos Seleucus II Callinicus Seleucus III Ceraunus Antiochus III the Great Seleucus IV Philopator Antiochus IV Epiphanes Antiochus V Eupator Demetrius I Soter Alexander I Balas Demetrius II Nicator Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes Alexander II Zabinas Cleopatra Thea Seleucus V Philometor Antiochus VIII Grypus Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Seleucus VI Epiphanes Antiochus X Eusebes Antiochus XI Epiphanes Demetrius III Eucaerus Philip I Philadelphus Antiochus XII Dionysus Cleopatra Selene I Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Philip II Philoromaeus
Lysimachids	Lysimachus Ptolemy Epigonos
Attalids	Philetaerus Eumenes I Attalus I Eumenes II Attalus II Attalus III Eumenes III
Greco-Bactrians	Diodotus I Diodotus II Euthydemus I Demetrius I Euthydemus II Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Demetrius II Eucratides I Plato Eucratides II Heliocles I
Indo-Greeks	Demetrius I Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Apollodotus I Demetrius II Antimachus II Menander I Zoilos I Agathokleia Lysias Strato I Antialcidas Heliokles II Polyxenos Demetrius III Philoxenus Diomedes Amyntas Epander Theophilos Peukolaos Thraso Nicias Menander II Artemidoros Hermaeus Archebius Telephos Apollodotus II Hippostratos Dionysios Zoilos II Apollophanes Strato II Strato III
Monarchs of Bithynia	Boteiras Bas Zipoetes I Nicomedes I Zipoetes II Etazeta (regent) Ziaelas Prusias I Prusias II Nicomedes II Nicomedes III Nicomedes IV Socrates Chrestus
Monarchs of Pontus	Mithridates I Ctistes Ariobarzanes Mithridates II Mithridates III Pharnaces I Mithridates IV Philopator Philadephos with Laodice Mithridates V Euergetes Mithridates VI Eupator Pharnaces II Darius Arsaces Polemon I Pythodorida Polemon II
Monarchs of Commagene	Ptolemaeus Sames II Mithridates I Antiochus I Mithridates II Antiochus II Mithridates III Antiochus III Antiochus IV
Monarchs of Cappadocia	Ariarathes I Ariarathes II Ariamnes II Ariarathes III Ariarathes IV Ariarathes V Orophernes Ariarathes VI Ariarathes VII Ariarathes VIII Ariarathes IX Ariobarzanes I Ariobarzanes II Ariobarzanes III Ariarathes X Archelaus
Monarchs of the Cimmerian Bosporus	Paerisades I Satyros II Prytanis Eumelos Spartokos III Hygiainon (regent) Paerisades II Spartokos IV Leukon II Spartokos V Kamasarye Paerisades III Paerisades IV Paerisades V Mithridates I Pharnaces Asander with Dynamis Mithridates II Asander with Dynamis Scribonius's attempted rule with Dynamis Dynamis with Polemon Polemon Aspurgus Gepaepyris Mithridates III Cotys I
Monarchs of Epirus	Admetus Tharrhypas Alcetas I Neoptolemus I Arybbas Alexander I Aeacides Neoptolemus II Alcetas II Pyrrhus I Alexander II Olympias II (regent) Pyrrhus II Ptolemy Pyrrhus III Deidamia
Hellenistic rulers were preceded by Hellenistic satraps in most of their territories.