List of rulers of Thrace and Dacia

Map of Ancient Thrace made by Abraham Ortelius in 1585

This article lists rulers of Thrace and Dacia, and includes Thracian, Paeonian, Celtic, Dacian, Scythian, Persian or Ancient Greek up to the point of its fall to the Roman empire, with a few figures from Greek mythology.

Mythological^[1]

Thracian king Rhesus slain by Odysseus

• Haemus, became a mountain Haemus Mons
• Thrax, son of Ares
• Tegyrios, mortal
• Eumolpus, inherited a kingdom from Tegyrios
• Oeagrus, father of Orpheus and Linus
• Orpheus^[2] of the Cicones
• Tereus The king that was turned into a hoopoe^[3]
• Phineas, Phoenician son of Agenor
• Phineas blind king and seer^[4]
• Poltys son of Poseidon^[5]
• Pyreneus, died trying to harm the Muses
• Harpalykos^[6], king of the Amymnaeans
• Thoas founder of Thoana
• Mopsus, killed Myrine an amazon queen
• Peiros, Homeric, a Thracian war leader^[7] killed by Thoas the Aetolian
• Rhesus of Thrace, died in the Trojan war^[8]
• Cisseus father of Theano, the wife of Antenor
• Diomedes of Thrace, Giant that ruled over the Bistones
• Lycurgus, of the Edoni
• Polymestor of the Bistonians^[9]
• Zalmoxis of the Getae "This Zalmoxis lived many years before Pythagoras (569 - 475 BC)" Herodotus [55]
• Charnabon of the Getae who came into power when grain was first given to men^[10] mentioned by Sophocles^[11]
• Pyraechmes of the Paeonians
• Asteropaios of the Paeonians

Persian

The Persian Empire in 490 BC

• Darius I, Persian Satrapy named Skudra by 516 BC^[12]
• Darius I ,Thrace is resubjucated by Mardonius at 492 BC
• Xerxes I, retains Thrace from 486 BC to 479 BC

Tribal kings

Thracian tribes before the Roman period.

• Olorus 5th century BC ^[13]
• Syrmus king of the Triballi^[14] 4th century BC
• Bergaios, petty king of Pangaeum
• Dromichaetes, of the Getae 300 BC
• Langarus, of the Agrianes
• Pleuratus, a Thracian or Illyrian king that attacked Tylis 213 BC-208 BC
• Diegylis, chieftain of the Caeni extremely bloodthirsty 145 BC
• Zibelmius Ziselmius or Zisemis,Diegylis son
• Abrupolis of the Sapaeans, 2nd century BC
• Rabocentus^[15] of the Bessi mentioned by Cicero
• Cosingas^[16] chieftain and priest of Hera to the tribes of Cebrenii and Sucaeboae
• Getas king^[17][18] of the Edones

Paeonian

Paeonia,tribes and Environs

• Agis ? – 359 BC
• Lycceius^[19] 356 BC - 340 BC
• Patraus^[20] 340 BC - 315 BC
• Audoleon^[21] son of Patraus 315 - 285 BC
• Ariston^[22] 286 - 285 BC son of Audoleon
• Leon^[23] 278 BC - 250 BC
• Dropion^[23] son of Leon 250 BC - 230 BC
• Bastareus ? - ? BC

Celtic

• Cerethrius^[24]
• Critasirus, a Celt^[25]
• Cavarus^[26] the last king of Tylis
• Bathanatos^[27][28] of the Scordisci

Greek

Map of the territory of Philip II of Macedon

• Philip II of Macedon, annexed Thrace 341 BC - 336 BC
• Alexander the Great retains Thrace and suppresses rebellion 335 BC - 323 BC
• Lysimachus one of the Diadochi includes Thrace in his kingdom 323 BC - 281^[29][30]
• Philip V of Macedon controls all cities of Thrace up to the hellespont^[31] 238 BC - 179 BC
• Perseus of Macedon continues controlling the part of Thrace his father left him 212 BC - 166 BC

Odrysae

Map of the Odrysian kingdom

Genealogy of Teres founder of the Odrysian kingdom

It should be noted that Thracian kings (and some of the Getae^[32]) were the first to be Hellenized^[33]. Odrysian kings though called Kings of Thrace never exercised sovereignty over all of Thrace^[34]. Control varied according to tribal relationships.^[35]

• Teres I 460 BC^[36] - 445 BC
• Sparatocos, son of Teres I 450 BC -431 BC
• Sitalces or Sparatocos son of Teres I 431 BC - 424 BC
• Seuthes I, son of Sparatokos 424 BC - 410 BC^[37]
• Amadocus I, son of Sitalkes or of Metokos^[38] 408 BC - 389 BC
• Seuthes II, son of Maisades son of Sparatokos 405 BC - 387 BC
• Hebryzelmis, son of Seuthes I 387 BC - 383 BC
• Cotys I, son of Seuthes I or of Seuthes II 384 BC - 359 BC
• Cersobleptes, son of Cotys I, in eastern Thrace,deposed, 359 BC - 341 BC
• Berisades, in western Thrace, 359 BC - 352 BC
• Amatokos II, son of Amatokos I, in middle Thrace, 359 BC - 351 BC
• Cetriporis, son of Berisades, in western Thrace, 356 BC - 351 BC
• Teres II son of Amatokos, in middle Thrace,deposed, 351 BC - 342 BC
• (Ruled by Macedon, 341-331 BC)
• Seuthes III, son of Kotys I 331 BC - 300 BC
• Kotys II, son of Seuthes III 300 BC - 280 BC
• Raizdos (possibly the same as Roigos, below), son of Cotys II? 280 BC - ?
• Kotys III, son of Raizdos 270 BC
• Raiskoyporis, son of Kotys III 240 BC - 215 BC
• Seuthes IV, son of Raiskoyporis I 215 BC-190 BC
• Pleuratus^[39] 213 BC-208 BC, a Thracian or Illyrian king that attacked Tylis
• Roigos (possibly the same as Raizdos, above), son of Seuthes IV?
• Amatokos III, son of Seuthes IV 184 BC
• Cotys IV, son of Seuthes IV 171 BC - 167 BC

Astaean line

• Teres III, son of Amatokos III 149 BC
• Beithys, son of Cotys IV ? - 120 BC
• Cotys V, son of Beithys 120 BC - ?
• Sadalas I, son of Cotys V 87 BC–79 BC
• Cotys VI, son of Sadalas I 57 BC - 48 BC
• Sadalas ΙΙ, son of Cotys VI 48 BC–42 BC
• Sadalas ΙΙΙ, son of Sadalas II 42 BC–31 BC
• Cotys VII, son of Sadalas II 31 BC–18 BC
• Rhescuporis II, son of Cotys VII, and Rhascus, 18 BC–11 BC

• Thrace becomes a client state of Rome at 11 BC

Scythian

• Spargapeithes^[40] king of the Agathyrsi

Sapaean^[41]

Thrace and Dacia as Roman provinces

• Cotys I son of Rhoemetalces ?-48 BC
• Rhescuporis I son of Cotys I 48 BC-41 BC
• Cotys II son of Rhescuporis I 42 BC–15

• Thrace becomes a client state of Rome at 11 BC^[42]

• Rhoemetalces I, son of Cotys II 15 BC–12
• Rhescuporis II, son of Cotys II in western Thrace; deposed 12–19
• Cotys III, son of Rhoemetalces I in eastern Thrace 12–19
• Rhoemetalces II, son of Cotys III and Tryphaena 19–38
• Rhoemetalces III son of Rhescuporis II, with his cousin-wife Pythodoris II from 38–46

• 46 annexation by the Roman Empire by Roman Emperor Claudius

Getic and Dacian

Dacia

Decebalus, from Trajan's Column

Herodotus called the Getae "the noblest as well as the most just of all the Thracian tribes."

• Cothelas^[43] - 4th century BC father of Meda of Odessa
• Dual - 3rd century BC^{[citation needed]}
• Rhemaxos ^[44] - around 200 BC^[45]
• Moskon - 3rd century BC
• Dromichaetes^[46] - 3rd century BC
• Zalmodegicus^{[47] [48]} – the end of 3rd century
• Rubobostes^[49] - 2nd century BC
• Oroles^[50] - 2nd century BC
• Dicomes^[51] - 1st century BC
• Rholes^[52] - 1st century BC
• Dapyx^[53] - 1st century BC
• Cotiso^[54] - 1st century BC
• Zyraxes^[55] - 1st century BC
• Burebista^[56] - 82 BC - 44 BC
• Deceneus^[57] - 44 BC - around 27 BC (hypothetical),High Priest
• Comosicus^[58] - 44 BC - 28 BC
• Scorillo^[58]
• Coson^[59]
• Duras^[59] - 68 - 87
• Decebalus^[60] - 87 - 106
  • 106 AD, Dacia becomes a province of the Roman Empire conquered by Trajan.
• Pieporus king of Dacian Costoboci, 2nd century AD (inscription) ^[61], ^[62]
• Tarbus 2nd century AD. Dio Cassius mentioned him without specifying his origin. Some authors consider a possible Dacian ethnicity ^[63], ^[64]
• The histories by Herodotus, Donald Lateiner, G. C. Macaulay - 2004

References

1. ^ Greek Mythology by Carlos Parada
2. ^ Carlos Parada, "Orpheus, king of the Ciconians"
3. ^ Tereus, "Tereus 1 is the cruel Thracian king who helped King Pandion 2 of Athens in his war against King Labdacus 1 of Thebes, and having received one of his daughters seduced the other"
4. ^ Phineus, "Phineus is the blind king and seer"
5. ^ Poltys, "Poltys. An Aenian who entertained Heracles when he came to Aenus in Thrace. He was son of Poseidon [Apd.2.5.9]."
6. ^ Harpalyce（Ἁρπαλύκη)., "1. A daughter of Harpalycus, king of the Amymnaeans in Thrace. As she lost her mother in her infancy, she was brought up by her father with the milk of cows and mares, and was trained in all manly exercises. After the death of her father, whom she had once delivered from the hand of the Myrmidons, she spent her time in the forests as a robber, being so swift in running that horses were unable to overtake her. At length, however, she was caught in a snare by shepherds, who killed her. (Serv. ad Virg. Aen. 1.321; Hyg. Fab. 193.)"
7. ^ Peiros, Peiros. Thracian leader, son of Imbrasus and father of Rhigmus. He was killed by Thoas 2, Leader of the Aetolians (Hom.Il.4.520ff., 20.484ff.).
8. ^ Rhesus Rhesus 2 is chiefly remembered because he came from Thrace to defend Troy with great pomp and circumstance, but died on the night of his arrival, without ever engaging in battle.
9. ^ Polymestor, "Polymestor 1 (Polymnestor). This is the king of the Bistonians in Thrace"
10. ^ Carnabon, "Carnabon. King of the Getae in Thrace who came into power when grain was first given to men [see also Lyncus, and CONSTELLATIONS] [Hyg.Ast.2.14]."
11. ^ Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 41: "... Trixae and Sophocles (Triptolem, FR 547) mentions a local king, Charnabon, as a typical anti-hero."
12. ^ The Oxford Classical Dictionary by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth, ISBN 0-19-860641-9, page 1515, "The Thracians were subdued by the Persians by 516"
13. ^ The Histories by Herodotus, John M. Marincola, and Aubery de Selincourt, page 373: "... 500 mercenaries, and married Hegesipyle, daughter of the Thracian King Olorus."
14. ^ Plutarch's Lives by Plutarch, 2008, ISBN 1-4404-1432-7, page 183: "... Danube, and by winning a signal victory over Syrmus, the King of the Triballi. After this, as he heard that the Thebans had revolted, ..."
15. ^ The Oxford Classical Dictionary by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth, 2003, page 1515: "... *Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, and *Cicero calls Rabocentus, chief of the Bessi, a faithful ally, although hitherto they had been troublesome ..."
16. ^ Polyaenus: Stratagems - BOOK 7 ,The generals of the Cebrenii and Sycaeboae, two Thracian tribes, were chosen from among the priests of Hera. Cosingas, according to the tradition of the country, was elected to be their priest and general; but the army took some objection to him, and refused to obey him. To suppress the rebelliousness that had taken hold of the troops, Cosingas built a number of long ladders, and fastened them one to another. He then put out a report, that he had decided to climb up to heaven, in order to inform Hera of the disobedience of the Thracians. The Thracians, who are notoriously stupid and ridiculous, were terrified by the idea of their general's intended journey, and the resulting wrath of heaven. They implored him not to carry out his plan, and they promised with an oath to obey all of his future commands.
17. ^ The Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald, 1998, ISBN 0-19-815047-4, page 106
18. ^ Ancient Coins of Greek Cities and Kings: From Various Collections Principally in Great Britain by James Millingen, 2004, page 42: "... silver mines so renowned in history. A coin of Geta, king of the Edones, with the legend FETAI HAONEON BAIIAEYI of the same types, ..."
19. ^ Catalogue of Greek Coins: Thessaly to Aetolia by Percy Gardner, 2004,Front Matter: "... present to the money of Philip II. of Macedon, and Lycceius and Audoleon, kings of Paeonia, that they must be given ..."
20. ^ Patraus's coin
21. ^ A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients: From Circ. B. C. 700 to a. D. 1. (1895) by British Museum Dept. of Coins and Medals, 2009, page 62: "... of Athena, facing. Bee. AYAnA EONTOZ. Horse. Wt. 193.4 grs. Patraus and his son Audoleon reigned over Paaonia between B.C. 340 ..."
22. ^ Polyaenus, Stratagems of War, 4.12.3, "Lysimachus conducted Ariston, son of Autoleon, to his father's kingdom in Paeonia; under pretence that the royal youth might be acknowledged by his subjects, and treated with due respect. But as soon as he had bathed in the royal baths in the river Arisbus, and they had set before him an elegant banquet, according to the custom of his country, Lysimachus ordered his guards to arm. Ariston instantly mounted his horse and escaped to the land of the Dardani; and Lysimachus was left in possession of Paeonia."
23. ^ ^{a b} Pausanias, Description of Greece Phocis and Ozolian Locri, 10.13.1, "A bronze head of the Paeonian bull called the bison was sent to Delphi by the Paeonian king Dropion, son of Leon."
24. ^ The Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe (Oxford Illustrated Histories) by Barry Cunliffe, 2001, page 380
25. ^ Strabo,Geography(7.5.2), "A part of this country was laid waste by the Dacians when they subdued the Boii and Taurisci, Celtic tribes under the rule of Critasirus"
26. ^ Celts and the Classical World by David Rankin, ISBN 0-415-15090-6, 1996, page 189: "... and destroyed it. According to Polybius, the last of the kings of Tylis, Cavarus, was a man of magnanimity and regal character (8.24). ..."
27. ^ The Ancient Celts by Barry Cunliffe, ISBN 0-14-025422-6, 2000, page 86: "... distinguished suggests that one of the returning groups, led by Bathanatos, finally settled in the Middle Danube region at the confluence ..."
28. ^ Celts - a History, The by Daithi O HOgain, ISBN 1-905172-20-6, 2006, page 60, "... those who, on their return from Greece under their leader Bathanatos, had settled at the confluence of the Danube and the ..."
29. ^ Heckel, Waldemar. Who's Who in the Age of Alexander the Great: Prosopography of Alexander's Empire. Blackwell Publishing, 2006, ISBN 1-4051-1210-7, p. 155. "In 306 or 305, he assumed the title of "King", which he held until his death at Corupedium in 282/1."
30. ^ Heckel, Waldemar. Who's Who in the Age of Alexander the Great: Prosopography of Alexander's Empire. Blackwell Publishing, 2006, ISBN 1-4051-1210-7, p. 155. "In 323 Lysimachus was assigned control of Thrace, and was probably strategos rather than satrap. The subordinate position of strategos may account for the failure of the sources to mention Lysimachus in the settlement of Triparadeisus; his brother Autodicus was, however, named as a Somatophylax of Philip III at that time
31. ^ The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46 by Christopher Webber, ISBN 1-84176-329-2, 2001, page 11, "Philip V of Macedon occupied all the cities in Thrace up to the Hellespont, "
32. ^ The Thracians, 700 BC - AD 46 by Christopher Webber, ISBN 1-84176-329-2, 9781841763293, 2001, page 14, "It shows a Hellenised king of the Getae"
33. ^ The Peloponnesian War: A Military Study (Warfare and History) by J. F. Lazenby, 2003, page 224, "... number of strongholds, and he made himself useful fighting `the Thracians without a king' on behalf of the more Hellenized Thracian kings and their Greek neighbours ...
34. ^ The Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald, 1998, ISBN 0-19-815047-4, page 105
35. ^ The Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald, 1998, ISBN 0-19-815047-4, page 107
36. ^ The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46 (Men-at-Arms) by Christopher Webber and Angus McBride, 2001, ISBN 1-84176-329-2, page 5
37. ^ The Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald, 1998, ISBN 0-19-815047-4, page 104
38. ^ Thracian Kings, University of Michigan
39. ^ The History Of Rome by Livy, 2004, ISBN 1-4191-6629-8, page 27: "... Pleuratus and Scerdilaedus might be included in the treaty. Attalus was king of Pergamum in Asia Minor; Pleuratus, king of the Thracians ...
40. ^ Readings in Greek History: Sources and Interpretations by D. Brendan Nagle and Stanley M. Burstein, ISBN 0-19-517825-4, 2006, page 26: "... Ariapeithes, the Scythian king, had several sons, among them, ... by Spargapeithes, king of the Agathyrsi; whereupon Scylas succeeded to the throne, and married one of ..."
41. ^ Thracian Kings, University of Michigan
42. ^ Thracian Kings, University of Michigan, "On the death of the last Astaean king in 11 BC, the emperor Augustus conferred all Thrace to his Sapaean uncle Roimētalkēs I. In 46, on the murder of Roimētalkēs III by his wife, the kingdom of Thrace was annexed to the Roman Empire by the emperor Claudius I."
43. ^ Atlas of Classical History by R. Talbert, 1989, page 63, "Getae under Cothelas"
44. ^ Kurt W. Treptow and Ioan Bolovan in “A history of Romania - East European Monographs”, 1996, ISBN - 10:0880333456, ISBN - 13:9780880333450, page 17 "..Two inscriptions discovered at Histria indicate that Geto-Dacian rulers (Zalmodegikos and later Rhemaxos) continued to exercise control over that city-state around 200 BC ...."
45. ^ The Hellenistic Age from the Battle of Ipsos to the Death of Kleopatra VII by Stanley M. Burstein, 1985, Index Rhemaxos Getic or Scythian ruler
46. ^ Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, Index Dromichaetes King of the Getians
47. ^ Kurt W. Treptow and Ioan Bolovan in “A history of Romania - East European Monographs”, 1996, ISBN - 10:0880333456, ISBN - 13:9780880333450, page 17 "Two inscriptions discovered at Histria indicate that Geto-Dacian rulers (Zalmodegikos and later Rhemaxos) continued to exercise control over that city-state around 200 BC ...."
48. ^ McGing B.C.: The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus
49. ^ Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, Index Rubobostes Dacian King
50. ^ Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 53, "Dacian King Oroles"
51. ^ Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 47, "Dicomes of the Getians"
52. ^ The Roman History: The Reign of Augustus by Cassius Dio, Ian Scott-Kilvert, and John Carter, 1987, page 85: "... Then he completed their destruction with the help of Roles, the king of a tribe of the Getae. When Roles visited Octavian, he was treated as a friend ..."
53. ^ Cassius Dio. Roman History, Book LI. "While he was thus engaged, Roles, who had become embroiled with Dapyx, himself also king of a tribe of the Getae, sent for him. Crassus went to his aid, and by hurling the horse of his opponents back upon their infantry he so thoroughly terrified the latter also that what followed was no longer a battle but a great slaughter of fleeing men of both arms. Next he cut off Dapyx, who had taken refuge in a fort, and besieged him. In the course of the siege someone hailed him from the walls in Greek, obtained a conference with him, and arranged to betray the place. The barbarians, thus captured, turned upon one another, and Dapyx was killed along with many others. His brother, however, Crassus took alive, and not only did him no harm but actually released him."
54. ^ Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 48, "The Dacian king Cotiso"
55. ^ Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 146, "Zyraxes who ruled in Dobruja"
56. ^ Studies in Ancient Greek and Roman Society by Robin Osborne, 2004, page 128: "... of its citizens, named Akornion, went on an embassy to Burebista, the first and greatest of the kings in Thrace..."
57. ^ Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, Index (Decaeneus/Dekaineus/Dicineus) Dacian High priest"
58. ^ ^{a b} Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 72, "At least two of his succesors [sic?] Comosicus and Scorillo/Corilus/Scoriscus became high priests and eventually Dacian kings"
59. ^ ^{a b} Dacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 47, "Kings Coson (who minted his own coins) and Duras"
60. ^ De Imperatoribus Romanis [1]. Retrieved 2007-11-08. "In the year 88, the Romans resumed the offensive. The Roman troops were now led by the general Tettius Iulianus. The battle took place again at Tapae but this time the Romans defeated the Dacians. For fear of falling into a trap, Iulianus abandoned his plans of conquering Sarmizegetuza and, at the same time, Decebalus asked for peace. At first, Domitian refused this request, but after he was defeated in a war in Pannonia against the Marcomanni (a Germanic tribe), the emperor was obliged to accept the peace."
61. ^ Wilhelm Tomachek in “Les restes de la langue dace” published in “Le Muséon By Société des lettres et des sciences, Louvain, Belgium, page 407 "Pieporus, prince des daces Costoboces..."
62. ^ Gudmund Schütte in Ptolemy's maps of northern Europe, H. Hagerup, 1917 page 82 "historical king Pieporus. The same author Schütte in “Our forefathers” published by University Press, 1929 page 74 "The North Dacian tribes of the Koistobokoi and Karpoi unlike the rest of Dacia escaped the Roman conquest of AD 105..."
63. ^ Wilhelm Tomachek (1883): “Les restes de la langue dace” published in “Le Muséon By Société des lettres et des sciences, Louvain, Belgium, page 409
64. ^ Batty, Roger (2007): Rome and the Nomads: the Pontic-Danubian realm in antiquity, Oxford University Press, ISBN-10: 0198149360, ISBN-13: 978-0198149361, page 366

See also

• Odrysian kingdom
• Sapaeans
• Paeonia
• List of ancient Cities in Thrace
• List of ancient tribes in Thrace
• List of rulers of Illyria
• List of ancient Cities in Illyria
• List of ancient tribes in Illyria