Satyrus I

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Satyrus of Bosporus
)
Satyros I
King of the Bosporan Kingdom
Reigncirca. 432-389
Predecessor
Leucon I
Borncirca. 470 BC
Panticapaeum
Died389 BC (aged 81)
Bosporan Kingdom
ConsortUnknown
Issue
  • Leucon I
  • Gorgippus I
  • Metrodoros
  • Unnamed daughter
GreekΣάτυρος
Greek Polytheism

Satyrus I (Σάτυρος, died 389 BC) was the

Theodosia,[2] which was a serious commercial rival because of its ice-free port and proximity to the grain fields of eastern Crimea
.

He presided over a strengthening of ties with

, who expanded their realm into a powerful kingdom.

Reign

Satyrus I was a leading figure in the expansion of his father's kingdom, initially gaining some success by taking

Sindike Kingdom, with which he had started an unsuccessful war, and the Greek city-states of Theodosia and Heraclea Pontica
.

He allowed the son of his powerful minister Sopaeus to travel to Athens with two ships filled with wheat.[5] Sopaeus' son's ships managed to avoid pirates and arrived at Athens. Once in Athens, his son met with the Athenian banker, Pasion, and managed to settle his affairs. Satyrus, however, came to the view that Sopaeus was involved in a conspiracy to take his life, so he had Sopaeus arrested. As Sopaeus's son was still in Athens, Satyrus ordered the Bosporans in Athens to confiscate the son's property and force him to return to the Bosporan Kingdom.[6]

Afterwards Satyrus acquitted Sopaeus of his crimes and agreed to Sopaeus's daughter, Theodosia, marrying his son Leucon.[7]

Problems with the Sindi

Satyrus encountered extensive problems with the Sindi. According to Polyaenus, the problems arose because Satyrus I had offered his daughter to Hecactaeus,

Ixomatae. Tirgatao married her father's successor, her father presumably being king of the Ixomatae, and roused many tribes to make war against Satyrus.[10] Satyrus, realising that he could not win, offered his son Metrodorus as a hostage and sued for peace.[11]

Shortly after this, there was an attempt on Tirgatao's life, likely organized by Satyrus.[12] After finding out about this scheme, Tirgatao had Metrodorus killed, and once again waged war on Satyrus.[13] This war was ended by Leucon and Gorgippus shortly after their father's death and their ascent to the throne.[14]

Death and legacy

Satyrus died in the unsuccessful Siege of Theodosia in 389 BC at the age of 81, his death leading to the ascension to Leucon and Gorgippus, who expanded the Bosporan Kingdom.

See also

  • Cimmerian Bosporus
  • List of Kings of Cimmerian Bosporus

References

  1. ^ Gaudukevich, V. F. (1979). "Bosporskoe tsarstvo". The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd Edition). Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  2. .
  3. ^ Dinarchus. Against Demosthenes. Cambridge MA (USA): Harvard University Press. p. 1.43.
  4. JSTOR 4435962
    .
  5. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. The young bosporan then got his two ships loaded with wheat and set sail.
  6. .
  7. ^ Glover (1917). From Pericles to Philip. Macmillan. p. 314. and in token to his reconciliation, had advanced Sopaios to more important duties and had taken his daughter to be his own son's wife
  8. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. Satyrus gave him his daughter in marriage, and urged him to kill his former wife
  9. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. Hecataeus passionately loved the Maeotian, he could not think of killing her, but confined her to a strong castle
  10. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. The confederates first invaded the country of Hecataeus, and afterwards ravaged the dominions of Satyrus
  11. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. accompanied by Metrodorus the son of Satyrus, who was offered as a hostage
  12. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. But no sooner had they made the oath, than they planned schemes to break it. Satyrus prevailed on two of his friends, to revolt to her, and put themselves under her protection
  13. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. Tirgatao ordered the hostage to be executed, and laid waste the territories of Satyrus with fire and sword
  14. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. leaving his son Gorgippus to succeed him in the throne. He renounced his father's proceedings, and sued for peace, which she granted on payment of a tribute, and put and end to the war.

Bibliography