Cotys IX

Cotys IX or Kotys IX (name in Greek: ο Κότυς, flourished 1st century) was a Thracian prince and the Roman Client King of Lesser Armenia. Cotys was the second son and was among the children of Roman Client Rulers of Thrace Cotys VIII and Antonia Tryphaena. His paternal grandparents were loyal Roman Client Rulers Rhoemetalces I and Pythodoris I of Thrace, while his maternal grandparents Roman Client Rulers Polemon Pythodoros and Pythodorida of Pontus. Cotys was the namesake of his father and was of Persian, Greek and Roman descent. His maternal grandmother Pythodorida of Pontus was the first grandchild of Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. Thus through his maternal grandmother, Cotys was related to various members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Cotys was raised and educated in Rome along with his distant relative Roman prince and future Roman Emperor Caligula. Cotys was raised in households of Roman Empress Livia Drusilla and his maternal great, great aunt Antonia Minor. While Cotys was growing up he was a part of the remarkable court of Antonia Minor. 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.

In 38 his late father’s first paternal cousin Rhoemetalces III, became Roman Client King of Thrace and had married Cotys’ sister Pythodoris II. Also in 38 the Roman Emperor Caligula with the Roman Senate, appointed Cotys as Roman Client King of Lesser Armenia. Caligula and the Roman Senate gave him a part of the Lesser Armenian Kingdom and some parts of Arabia to rule. These parts of Arabia later became the Roman province of Arabia Petraea.

Cotys ruled in Lesser Armenia from 38 to until at least 47. Cotys endeavoured himself to obtain this throne. Sometime after 48, Roman Emperor Claudius requested Cotys to abdicate the throne and replace him with a former Armenian King, Mithridates of Armenia. At first Cotys, successfully refused Claudius’ request with the support of Roman and local Armenian nobles, however at the end on Claudius’ command, Cotys forcefully abdicated his throne for Mithridates to replace him. After Cotys abdicated his throne and kingship, his fate afterwards is unknown.

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