Tiberius Julius Aspurgus

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Tiberius Julius Aspurgus, also known as Aspurgus (flourished 1st century BC & 1st century; died AD 38) was a prince and a Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom. The Bosporan Kingdom was the longest surviving known Roman Client Kingdom.

Aspurgus was of Persian and Greek origins. His birth name was Aspurgus, however he assumed the name Tiberius Julius, when he became King. Aspurgus was the son and heir of Bosporan King Asander and Bosporan Queen Dynamis. His only known grandparent, was his maternal grandfather King of the Pontus and Bosporus, Pharnaces II of Pontus. Through his maternal grandfather, he was a great grandson to monarchs Mithridates VI of Pontus and his sister-wife Laodice.

Through Mithridates VI and Laodice, Aspurgus 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 Aspurgus, 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.

Aspurgus was born and raised in the Bosporan Kingdom. In 17 BC Aspurgus’ father, had died of voluntary starvation from despair at the age of 93 because he witnessed his troops desert him to the Roman usurper, Scribonius. Scribonius pretended to be a relative of Dynamis, so he could seize the throne and become king.

Dynamis became compelled to marry Scribonius. The Roman statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa discovered Scribonius’ deception and intervened in the situation. Agrippa appointed Polemon I of Pontus as the new Bosporan King. Aspurgus’ mother married Polemon I as her second husband, thus Polemon became Aspurgus’ stepfather. Polemon ruled as Bosporan King until his death in 8 BC.

After Polemon’s death, Aspurgus succeeded his stepfather. Very little is known on Aspurgus’ reign, however Aspurgus seem to have been a strong and capable ruler. Due to previous dynastic conflicts during the Roman Republic and around the time of his father’s death, the Roman Emperor Augustus and the Roman Senate finally in 14, accepted Aspurgus as the legitimate Bosporan King. Aspurgus enjoyed the patronage of Augustus and his heir Tiberius and thus from this, assumed the name Tiberius Julius.

Aspurgus married the Thracian Princess Gepaepyris. Gepaepyris bore Aspurgus, two sons who were:

Aspurgus reigned until his death in 38. After his death, Gepaepyris had reigned and their first son Mithridates.

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