Cotys VIII

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Cotys VIII or Kotys VIII (name in Greek: ο Κότυς, flourished 1st century BC & 1st century) was a prince and a Roman Client Ruler of Thrace.

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[edit] Family and Origins

Cotys was of Greek and Persian descent. Cotys was the son and heir of loyal Roman Client Rulers Rhoemetalces I and Pythodoris I of Thrace. Cotys’ mother is only known through surviving numismatic evidence, which bears her image and her Royal title Queen Pythodoris.

Cotys’ father Rhoemetalces I was a loyal ally to the first Roman Emperor Augustus. Rhoemetalces I was a direct descendant of the Thracian King Cotys I. Rhoemetalces I was the son of a previous Thracian King, whose name was Cotys and his mother is unknown. Rhoemetalces I was the middle son, who had an elder brother who was called Cotys and his younger brother was Rhescuporis II.

Rhoemetalces I’s eldest brother Cotys who was Thracian King and an ally to Roman General Pompey and sent Pompey a body of auxiliaries under his son Rhescuporis I in 48 BC, in the Roman civil war against Julius Caesar. When Rhoemetalces I’s brother died, his nephew Rhescuporis I, became Thracian King. Rhoemetalces I’s became the guardian to the child and son of his brother Cotys. Rhescuporis I died in 13 BC, when he was defeated and slain in battle by the Vologaeses Chief of the Thracian Bessi, who was a leader in the revolt against the Romans in that year.

During this revolt Rhoemetalces I and his family had fled Thrace and return when the revolt had ended. Augustus then returned Thrace to him and his family. When Rhescuporis I died, Rhescuporis I left no heir and Rhoemetalces I became King of Thrace in 12 BC. Rhoemetalces I ruled Thrace until his death in 12. The Roman Historian Tacitus, describes Rhoemetalces I as ‘attractive and civilized’.

[edit] King of Thrace

When Rhoemetalces I died Augustus had divided the kingdom into two separate kingdom: one part for Cotys VIII to rule and other half for Rhoemetalces I’s remaining brother Rhescuporis II to rule. Tacitus states that Cotys received the cultivated parts, most towns and most Greek cities of Thrace, while his uncle received the Thrace’s wild savage land and their hostile subjects.

Not much is known on the early life of Cotys VIII. Cotys VIII had married the Antonia Tryphaena, a Pontian Princess who was the daughter of Roman Client Rulers Polemon Pythodoros and Pythodorida of Pontus. She was of Anatolian Greek and Roman heritage. Tryphaena’s mother was the first grandchild of Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. However the relationship between Tryphaena and Cotys is unknown.

Tacitus describes Cotys VIII as a man of ‘gentle disposition, good natured and manners’. The Roman poet Ovid, wrote an epistle addressed to him. Ovid alludes Cotys to his cultivated taste for literature, claimed his favor and protection as a brother-poet.

Rhescuporis II always wanted to annexed Cotys’ Kingdom for himself to rule, however was unable to do because out of fear of Augustus. However when Augustus died in 14, Rhescuporis II decided to do so. Tacitus describes his character as ‘treacherous’. Rhescuporis II was first harmonious in wanting to annex his nephew’s kingdom, but when Cotys resisted, Rhescuporis II plotted to kill his nephew. Rhescuporis II invited his nephew to a banquet to falsely ratify a treaty between them. Cotys was off his guard and was arrested by his uncle. Cotys was imprisoned by uncle in seizing his kingdom. Cotys died in 18 in jail alleging on order of suicide. Cotys’ wife and children fled Thrace to Cyzicus from his uncle.

Roman Emperor Tiberius in 18 had opened a murder investigation into Cotys’ death. Tiberius put Rhescuporis II on trial in the Roman Senate and invited Tryphaena to attend the trial. During the trial Tryphaena accused Rhescuporis II of killing her husband and forcing him to exile himself from his own kingdom. Tiberius found Rhescuporis II guilty and sent him to live in exile in Alexandria, Egypt. On his way to Egypt Rhescuporis II tried to escape and was killed by Roman soldiers.

Tiberius returned the whole Thracian Kingdom to Tryphaena and Tiberius appointed Cotys and Tryphaena’s first child Rhoemetalces III to rule with his mother. The son of Rhescuporis II, Rhoemetalces II was spared by Tiberius and allowed him to return to Thrace.

[edit] Marriage, Children and Descendants

Cotys had four children by Tryphaena and they were:

  • A son, Rhoemetalces III - Rhoemetalces was named after his paternal grandfather and ruled with Tryphaena from when his father died in 18 until his death in 38. Rhoemetalces ruled Thrace with his mother as one kingdom and served as a loyal Roman client ruler, even in 26 putting down Thracian malcontents for the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Coinage of Rhoemetalces III can be seen here. On coinage his Royal title is ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΡΟΙΜΗΤΑΛΚΑΣ or King Rhoemetalces. Rhoemetalces never married and had no children.
  • A daughter, Gepaepyris, she married the Roman Client King Tiberius Julius Aspurgus of the Bosporan Kingdom. Gepaepyris bore Aspurgus, two sons who were Tiberius Julius Mithridates and Tiberius Julius Cotys I. Mithridates and Cotys are the only known grandchildren of Cotys and Tryphaena.
  • A son, Cotys IX, he was the namesake of his father. He became Roman Client King of Lesser Armenia from 38 to until at least 47.
  • A daughter, Pythodoris II or Pythodorida II. She was named after her maternal grandparents and her paternal grandmother. In 38, after the death of Rhoemetalces III, Tryphaena abdicated the throne at the request of Roman Emperor Caligula. Caligula put on the Thracian throne Rhoemetalces II as king, the first paternal cousin of her late father’s. Caligula and Tryphaena arranged for Pythodoris II to marry Rhoemetalces II. The marriage between Pythodoris II and Rhoemetalces II was to repair past dynastic misfortunes. Pythodoris II and Rhoemetalces II became the new Roman Client Rulers of Thrace from 38 until 46, when Rhoemetalces II was murdered by insurgents or on the orders of his wife. Pythodoris and Rhoemetalces were the last monarchs of Thrace and then under Roman Emperor Claudius, Thrace became a Roman province. The fate of Pythodoris II afterwards is unknown and she seems not to have any children with her paternal cousin. Coinage of Rhoemetalces II and Pythodoris II can be seen here.

While Cotys and Tryphaena’s children were growing up they were part of the remarkable court of Antonia Minor in Rome. Antonia Minor was Tryphaena’s great maternal aunt. Antonia Minor was a very influential woman and supervised her circle of various princes and princesses. Her circle assisted in the political preservation of the Roman Empire’s borders and affairs of the client states.

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Cotys VIII
Born: Unknown Died: 12
Preceded by
Rhoemetalces I		 King of Thrace
12–18		 Succeeded by
Rhescuporis II