TheThracian kingdom, also called theSapaean kingdom, was an ancientThracian state in the southeasternBalkans that existed from the middle of the 1st century BC to 46 AD. Succeeding theClassical andHellenistic eraOdrysian kingdom ofThrace, it was dominated by theSapaean tribe, who ruled from their capitalBizye in what is now northwesternTurkey. Initially only of limited relevance, its power grew significantly inthe ancient Roman world as aclient state of the lateRoman Republic. After theBattle of Actium in 31 BC,Octavian (later emperorAugustus) installed a new dynasty that proved to be highly loyal and expansive. Conquering and ruling much of Thrace on behalf of theRoman Empire, it lasted until 46 AD, when EmperorClaudius annexed the kingdom and madeThracia into aRoman province.
In the late 2nd and early 1st century BC, Thrace was politically fractured and subject to constant fighting between local and foreign powers.[1][2] As a result of a paucity of sources for this period, the status and background of various little-known local monarchs remains disputed among historians. At least some of the Thracian kings of this period probably belonged to theThracian tribe of theSapaeans.[3] At the same time, the Roman Republic tried to exert more influence in the region,[1] thoughRoman relations with the Thracians remained inconsistent and dependent on the interests of individual Roman officials.[4][5] The Romans encountered great resistance and suffered repeated defeats at the hands of Thracian tribes, most importantly theBessi; regardless, the Romans gradually contained the Thracian raiding into surrounding, Roman-dominated areas like the one of ancientMacedon.[6] The Romans were generally interested in centralizing the disorganized Thracian territories, hoping that local monarchs could then act as intermediaries and reduce the chaos at the Roman borders.[4]
By the middle of the 1st century BC, the Sapaeans had emerged as one of the most important Thracian tribes;[7] the latter eventually became Rome's allies and clients.[6] Despite this, the Romans initially favored a local kingdom led by an Odrysian-Astaean royal family.[8] Probably soon after theBattle of Actium in 31 BC, Roman leaderAugustus sought to implementindirect rule over Thrace through a large, Hellenized client kingdom.[9] The Romans removed the Odrysian-Astaean royal family from power, and put the entire kingdom under Sapaean rule withBizye acting as the initial center of this reorganized polity.[10][11] However, many Thracians continued to oppose both the Sapaeans as well as the Romans. Around 13 BC, the Bessi under a priest named Vologaesus revolted and killed the Thracian king. The Roman Empire put down the rebellion and consequently expanded its holdings along theDanube. Another unsuccessful revolt broke out in 11 BC.[6]
The power of the Thracian kingdom declined as the royal family became embroiled in dynastic conflicts and civil wars. When Sapaean rulerRhoemetalces I died in 12 AD, the Romans divided his kingdom among his sonCotys III and his brotherRhescuporis II, but the two rulers quickly started to fight each other. Cotys III was murdered by his uncle in 19 AD, whereupon the Romans deposed him and picked new kings from the two lines. Further rebellions continued to erupt in the Thracian kingdom, such as in 21 AD when insurgents besieged kingRhoemetalces II. He was saved by theRoman army's intervention. In turn, Rhoemetalces II helped the Romans to put down a rebellion among the southern Thracian mountain tribes in 26 AD. Around 44/45 AD, another revolt broke out during which kingRhoemetalces III was killed. In 46 AD,Roman Emperor Claudius put an end to the kingdom by annexing it.[12]