Spartocid dynasty

Spartocid dynasty
CountryAncient Crimea, Ancient Thrace
Founded438 BC
FounderSpartokos I
Current headextinct
Final rulerPaerisades V
TitlesBasileus
Archon of the Bosporus
King of all Maeotians
King of the Cimmerians
Estate(s)Ancient Crimea, Thrace

The Spartocids (Greek: Σπαρτοκίδαι) or Spartocidae was the name of a Hellenized Thracian[1][2] dynasty that ruled the Hellenistic Kingdom of Bosporus between the years 438–108 BC.[3] They had usurped the former dynasty, the Archaeanactids, who were tyrants of Panticapaeum from 480 to 438 BC. The throne of the Bosporan Kingdom was usurped by Spartokos I in 438 BC, after whom the dynasty is named.

Spartokos's descendants would continue to rule the Bosporus until 108 BC, in which it was briefly conquered by the invading Scythians led by Saumacus and subsequently ruled by the Mithridatic and Tiberian-Julian dynasties. The dynasty continued to repeat the names of succeeding princes, with the final Spartokos being named Spartokos V. The dynasty also had intermarriages, notably the marriage of Komosarye and Paerisades I. The most famous known ruler is Leukon I, who expanded the kingdom beyond its boundaries, resisted the Scythians, and ruled for 40 years.

  1. ^ D. E. W. WORMELL (1946). "STUDIES IN GREEK TYRANNY—II. Leucon of Bosporus". Hermathena (68): 49–71. JSTOR 23037564. It seems likely to connect that Spartokos was connected by birth to the Odrysian dynasty.
  2. ^ Dolukhanov, Pavel (10 July 2014). The Early Slavs: Eastern Europe from the Initial Settlement to the Kievan Rus. Routledge. ISBN 9781317892212. Later they were replaced by the Spartocids.
  3. ^ Britannica. Spartocid dynasty (438–110 bc)