Nicomedes II of Bithynia

Nicomedes II "God-Manifest"
King of Bithynia
Reign 149 - 127 BC
Predecessor Prusias II
Successor Nicomedes III
Born Bithynia
Died 127 BC
Nicomedia
Issue Nicomedes III
Greek Νικομήδης
Father Prusias II
Mother Apame IV
Religion Greek Polytheism


Nicomedes II Epiphanes (Greek: Νικομήδης ὁ Ἐπιφανής) was the king of Bithynia from 149 to c. 127 BC. He was fourth in descent from Nicomedes I. Nicomedes II was the son and successor of Prusias II and Apame IV. His parents were related as they were maternal cousins.

Life

He was so popular with the people that his father sent him to Rome to limit his influence. However, in Rome, he also gained favor from the Roman Senate, forcing Prusias to send an emissary named Menas with secret orders to assassinate him.[1] But the emissary revealed the plot, and persuaded the prince to rebel against his father.[2]

Supported by Attalus II Philadelphus, king of Pergamon, he was completely successful, and ordered his father to be put to death at Nicomedia[3] During his long reign Nicomedes adhered steadily to the Roman alliance, and assisted them against the pretender to the throne of Pergamon Eumenes III. He was succeeded by his son Nicomedes III.


References

  1. Appian. The Mithridatic Wars. He sent Menas as his fellow ambassador, and told him if he should secure a remission of the payments to spare Nicomedes, but if not, to kill him at Rome.
  2. Appian. The Mithridatic Wars.
  3. Appian. The Mithridatic Wars. Prusias fled to the temple of Zeus, where he was stabbed by some of the emissaries of Nicomedes.
Preceded by
Prusias II
King of Bithynia
149 BC – 127 BC
Succeeded by
Nicomedes III


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