Tiberius Julius Theothorses

Tiberius Julius Theothorses, also known as Thothorses or Fophors (Greek: Τιβέριος Ἰούλιος Θοθωρσης, flourished second half of 3rd century & first half of 4th century – died 309) was a prince and Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom.

Theothorses was the second-born son to the Bosporan King Teiranes and his mother was an unnamed woman. He was of Greek, Iranian and Roman ancestry. His elder brother was prince Sauromates IV, who co-ruled briefly with his father before his death in 276.

In 278, during his father's reign, Theothorses was elevated by Teiranes to co-ruler. In 279, Teiranes died and Theothorses succeeded him as the sole ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom, reigning from 278 until his death around 308/309. On coins his royal title is in Greek: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΘΟΘΩΡΣΟΥ or of King Thothorses. Theothorses' reign was contemporary to the Crisis of the Third Century and the Tetrarchy in the Roman Empire.

During his reign, large amounts of lead were added to the bronze coinage that was minted in the Bosporan Kingdom. Otherwise, little is known of the life and reign of Theothorses. The name of Theothorses' wife is unknown. They had the following children:

Prince Rhescuporis VI. Rhescuporis VI became a co-ruler with his father in 303 and later succeeded him.
Prince Rhadamsades. After the death of Theothorses, Rhadamsades succeeded his father as second co-ruler with his brother, Rhescuporis VI.
Princess Nana, who became Queen of Kingdom of Iberia and later a saint of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

The sons of Theothorses were the last kings to rule the Bosporan Kingdom.

External links[]

Coinage of Theothorses

Sources[]

http://www.museum.com.ua/en/faces/tsar/index.html
http://www.museum.com.ua/en/istor/sev-vost/bospor/bospor.htm
http://www.pontos.dk/publications/papers-presented-orally/oral-files/Sme_coinage_alloys.htm
(French) Settipani, Christian (2006), Continuité des élites à Byzance durante les siècles obscurs. Les princes caucasiens et l'Empire du VIe au IXe siècle, p. 406. De Boccard, ISBN 2-7018-0226-1

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Preceded by Teiranes	King of the Bosporus 278-309 (with Teiranes 278-279) (with Rhescuporis VI 303-309)	Succeeded by Rhescuporis VI and Rhadamsades

Tiberius Julius Theothorses

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