This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (March 2020) |
Battle of the River Thatis | |||||||
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Part of the Bosporan Civil War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Bosporan Kingdom Scythians | Siraces | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Satyros II Meniscus |
Eumelus Aripharnes | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
2,000 Greek mercenaries 2,000 Thracians 20,000 Scythian infantry 10,000 Scythian cavalry |
20,000 cavalry 22,000 infantry |
The Battle of the River Thatis was part of a succession dispute in the Bosporan Kingdom that was fought out during 310/309 BC. After the death of Paerisades I, his eldest son Satyros II became king. His brother Eumelus disputed Satyros II's right to the throne and gathered an army with his allies, the Siraces tribe. With his Scythian allies Satyrus met Eumelus in battle at the River Thatis, where Eumelus and the Siraces were defeated. Satyrus led his cavalry in a charge towards the centre of the line where Aripharnes, the king of the Siraces, was with his own cavalry and put them to flight. When he heard his mercenaries had fled from the fight with the right wing which was led by Eumelus, he attacked the enemy's right wing and broke their army.
The defeat was not decisive: Eumelus and his allies escaped to the capital city of the Siraces, which was situated along the River Thatis. During the siege of that city Satyrus incurred many casualties and was mortally wounded himself. After Satyrus's death, Eumelus defeated another brother, Prytanis, and seized the throne of the Bosporan Kingdom.