Tiberius Julius Cotys I

Tiberius Julius Cotys I or Cotys I also known as Kotys I (Cotys in Greek: ο Κότυς, flourished 1st century) was a prince and Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom. The Bosporan Kingdom was the longest surviving known Roman Client Kingdom.

Cotys was the second son of Roman Client Monarchs Tiberius Julius Aspurgus and Gepaepyris. His eldest brother was prince and King Tiberius Julius Mithridates. Cotys was of Persian, Greek and Roman ancestry. He was the second grandchild and grandson of Bosporan Monarchs Asander and Dynamis and Roman Client Rulers of Thrace, Cotys VIII and Antonia Tryphaena.

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

Through Aspurgus, Cotys was a descendant of Greek Macedonian Kings Cassander, Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Seleucus I Nicator. These three men served as generals under Greek Macedonian King Alexander the Great. An earlier ancestor of Cotys’, King Mithridates II of Pontus had married the Syrian Greek Princess of the Seleucid Empire Laodice, who was the sister of Syrian Greek King Seleucus II Callinicus and a paternal aunt to Syrian Greek King Antiochus III the Great. Cotys was named in honor of his late maternal grandfather, Roman Client Ruler of Thrace Cotys VIII.

Very little is known on the life of Cotys. When Aspurgus died in 38, his brother had become joint rulers with his mother. Sometime before 45, the Roman Emperor Claudius, had given his brother the whole Bosporan Kingdom to rule. Claudius recognised and appointed Mithridates as the legitimate Bosporan King. In 45 for unknown reasons Claudius, deposed Mithridates from the Bosporan Throne and Claudius replaced Mithridates with him. Claudius had withdrawn the Roman garrison under Aulus Didius Gallus from the Bosporan Kingdom and a few Roman cohorts were left with the Roman Knight Gaius Julius Aquila in the Bosporan.

Cotys’ brother despised the situation and mistrusted him, 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 was on Cotys and Aquila.

When Cotys and Aquila heard news of this war, they feared that the invasion was imminent. However, both men knew they had the support of Claudius. Mithridates with his army, engaged in war with Cotys’ army and Aquila’s battalions, in a three-day war, which Cotys and Aquila won unscathed and triumphant at the Don River (this river is now situated in modern Russia).

Mithridates was forced by Claudius to surrender. Mithridates was captured and taken 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. Mithridates appealed to the Emperor for mercy to be spared from a triumphal procession or capital punishment. Claudius was impressed with Mithridates’ mercy from his letter and allowed Mithridates to live. He was spared from any capital punishment and was exiled. Cotys’ brother lived as a destitute exiled monarch until his death.

From 45 until 63, Cotys reigned as Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom. Sometime during his reign, Cotys had married a woman called Eunice, through whom had a son called Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis I. Cotys named his son, after Rhescuporis II, a Thracian prince and king, who was a paternal uncle of his maternal grandfather.

In 63 for unknown reasons, the Roman Emperor Nero disposed Cotys from his throne. His fate afterwards is unknown. The Bosporan Kingdom was a Roman Province from 63-68. In 68, the new Roman Emperor Galba had restored the Bosporan Kingdom to Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis I. Rhescuporis I reign from 68 until at least 90.

Rhescuporis a contemporary of the ruling Flavian dynasty and particularly Domitian. Through Rhescuporis I, Cotys would have various descendants on the Bosporan throne until the 4th century and among his descendants would have at least two kings, who bore his name.

ee also

*Bosporan Kingdom
*Kotys

External links

* [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/bosporos/kings/kotys_I/t.html Coinage of Cotys I]
* [http://www.museum.com.ua/en/istor/sev-vost/bospor/bospor.htm The tenth coin depicts Rhescuporis I]

ources

* Tacitus, Annals of Imperial Rome
* French version of Wikipedia
* http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0879.html
* http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2983.html
* http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/bosporos/kings/i.html
* http://www.american-pictures.com/genealogy/persons/per01397.htm