Gens: IULIUS, ROYAL HOUSE OF THRACIA  
Created: 16th November 2014
Update:  13th May 2020
Status Republic: Patrician:     Pleb. Nobilis:       Senatorial:      Eques Romanus:      Local magistrate:  
Republican Family / Cognomen
Patrician n/a
Pleb. Nobilis n/a
Senatorial n/a
Equestrian n/a
Local magistrat. n/a
Uncertain n/a
Imperial Family / Cognomen
Imperators n/a
Consular n/a
Senatorial n/a
Equestrian n/a
Equestrian (mil) n/a
Local magistrat. n/a
Uncertain n/a
Republican Consuls, Tribunes with consular power, Dictators, Magister Equitum, Censors 0
Imperial Consuls and Emperors (Augusti and Caesars) 0 incl. 0 emperors
Notes: There were two dynasties in Thrace in 1st century BC, the primary dynasty of the Astaea in Eastern Thrace (extinguished 11 BC?), and the tribal kings 
of Sapaean Thracia, in the Rhodope Mountains, who then 11 BC became kings of all Thracia.
However, the last Astaean king seems to be Rhaiscuporis II, who in Version 1 below is a Sapaean ?  Thracia became a Roman province 46 AD. 
The relationship of the kings of Thracia is very uncertain. The entries in Wikipedia are based on obsolete literature from the 19th century (eg Smith, Mommsen)
The numbering of the kings named Cotys is also confused. There were 3 or 4 kings named Cotys before Cotys V.
For the Sapaei line I have followed the newer stemma in PIR R (1999)  p.59 given in Version 1 below..
Presumably most (all?) of the kings from Augustus onwards had also become Roman citizens named C. Iulius.
Between 19 AD and 38 AD, during the minority of Cotys VIII's children, Thrace was governed by Roman guardians / regents (tutela), initially by 
T. Trebellenus Rufus (PIR2 T308, † 35). In 38 appointed his childhood companion, the ldest son of Cotys VIII, Rhoemetalces III as king.
Spelling Spelling of names varies, e.g. the Bosporan kings are usually spelled Rescuporis, the Thracian kings Rhaiscuporis.
Cotys or Kotys, Sadalas or Sadales, Rhaiscuporis or Rheskouporis or Rhescuporis or Rascouporis or Rhescuporis or Rascos or Rhascypolis (Caesar's spelling).
Rhoemetalces or Rhoimetalkes or Rhemetalces or Roimitalces or Rhoematelkes or Rhymetalces.
Literature Bowersock, G.W.: "Augustus and the Greek World", Oxford University Press, 1965. p.155-15 (incl. stemma and evidence for stemma 1 below)
Clinton, Kevin and Dimitrova Nora: "C. Iulius Rhaskos, Son of Rhoimetalkes, at Samothrace", in Bulletin of the National Archaeological Institute, XLIV, 2018,
Proceedings of the First International Roman and Late Antique Thrace Conference “Cities, Territories and Identities” (Plovdiv, 3rd – 7th October 2016)
Fresh reading of inscription makes Pythodoris II the daughter of Cotys VIII and not Rhoemetalces II, and thus her husband was Rhoemetalces II
and not Rhoemetalces III (R8). Confirmed by new inscription from 2015, see below.
Clinton, Kevin and Dimitrova Nora: "The last Thracian Kings: New Evidence", in: M. Slavova, N. Sharankov (eds), Monuments and Texts in Antiquity and Beyond. 
Essays for the Centenary of Georgi Mihailov (1915–1991) (Studia Serdicensia V), Sofia 2016, p.85-100 (NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)
Cojocaru, Victor: "Once more about Antonia Tryphaina", in Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology, vol.1, 2014, p.3-8
Dawkins, R.M. and Hasluck: "Inscriptions from Bizye", in The Annual of the British School at Athens, Vol. 12 (1905/1906), pp. 175-183, still relevant.
Devlev, Peter: "Cotys Son of Rhascuporis", in M. Slavova, N. Sharankov (eds), Monuments and Texts in Antiquity and Beyond. Essays for the Centenary 
of Georgi Mihailov (1915–1991) (Studia Serdicensia V), Sofia 2016, p.119-129 (statue in Athens of presumably Cotys king c.42-31 BC, who he makes an
older brother of Rhoemetalces I)
Devlev, Peter: "Between Pharsalus and Philippi: Thrace in the Forties BC", in Thracia XXI, 2016, p.49-59 (he combines Sadalas II and III into one person
and suggests that Cotys, king after 31 BC was the son of Rharscupolis I)
Eder, Walter and Renger, Johannes: "Brill's Chronologies of the Ancient World , New Pauly Names, Dates and Dynasties", New Pauly Supplement I,Leiden, 2007 p.191-195
Graindor: Archontes Atheniens (1922) p.52-54 (§19 Kotys, archont sometime between 1 and 10 AD, assumed to be = C1554), p.69-70 (§39 Rhoemetalkes, archon 36/37)
Inscription mentioning the last 3 Roman client kings of Thrace – discovered on June 9, 2015 at  Aquae Calidae (Thermopolis Archaeological Reserve/Burgas), Bulgaria. 
The inscription dates to between 26 AD and 37 AD, and the (provisional) translation reads: “Apollonius, (son) of E(p)taikenthos, military governor of Anchialos,
(dedicates) this altar to Demeter, for the well-being/salvation of his masters: King Rhoemetalces; and Pythodoris, the daughter of Cotys, the son of 
King Rhoemetalces; and their children”.
Kirov, Slavtcho: "Gaius Iulius Rhascos", in Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, Bd. 178, 2011, pp.215-220 argues that C. Iulius Rhascus is the son of  Rhoemetalces III (R68).
and not of Rhoemetalces II (J517).
Nigdelis, Pantelis: "A Honorific Inscription from Amphipolis for the Sappaean King Sextus Iulius Cotys", in Tyche, Beiträge zur Alten Geschichte, Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 
Band 32, 2017, p.139-151
Paunov, Evgeni: "On Both Shores of the Bosphorus: The Coinage of Rhoemetalces I, King of Thrace (ca. 12/11 B.C. – A.D. 12/13)", in Proceedings of the 
Second International ongress on the History of Money and Numismatics, ed. by Oguz Tekin, Istanbul, 2018, 
PIR2-Pars IV, Fasciculus 3, letter J (1966) p.ad 264 stemma. Stemma 1 below.
PIR2-Pars VI, letter P (1998) p.ad 232 stemma 22a. Stemma 1 below.
PIR2-Pars VI, letter P (1998) p.ad 232 stemma 22b. Stemma 2 below.
PIR2-Pars VII, Fasciculus I, letter R (1999) p.59 stemma 8. Stemma 2 below.
Saprykin, Sergey Yu.: "Pythodoris Queen of Thrace", VDI (Vestnik drevnej istorii / Journal of Ancient History. Moskau) issue 2, 168, 1984 p.141-153 (NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)
Saprykin, Sergey Yu. "From the History of the Pontic Kingdom of the Polemonides", (in Russian), VDI (Vestnik drevnej istorii / Journal of Ancient History. Moskau)
 issue 2, 205, 1993, p.25-49, stemma p.28  (NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)
Saprykin, Sergey Yu. "Die Frauen-Regentinnen des pontischen und bosporanischen Reichen (Dynamis, Pythodoris, Antonia Trypaena)", (in Russian), 
in Marinovič, L.P. –S.Ju. Saprykin (Hg.): Ženščina v antičnom mire, Moskau 1995  (NOT AVAILABLE TO ME)
Schmalz: Athens (2009) p.39 (§40 archon Cotys now dated to period 14/19 AD)
Sullivan, Richard D.: "Near Eastern Royalty and Rome 100-30 BC", University of Toronto Press 1990, sections on Thrace p.25-30 and pp.145-151 with stemma 1 Thrace at bookend.
Sullivan, Richard D.: "Thrace in the Eastern Dynastic Network", in Aufstieg und Niedergang der Römischen Welt, Bd.II,7.1, 1980, pp.186-211 with stemma opposite p.193
Tacheva, Margarita: “On the Genealogy of the Last Kings of Thracia (100 B.C. - 45 A.D.)", in Studia in honorem Christo M. Danov. Sofia, 1985
(= ГСУ ИФ LXXVII, 2 = Terra Antiqua Balcanica 2), 412–417 (NOT AVAILABLE TO ME). She argues that Polemocratia was not the widow of Sadalas II, 
but his sister, whose husband was killed in 42.
Tacheva, Margarita: “The Last Thracian Independent Dynasty of Rhascuporids.” In Studia in honorem G. Mihailov, 1995, 459–467. Sofia: University Press 
“St. Kliment Ohridski (NOT AVAILABLE TO ME) supports Stemma II
Changes 2015.01.08: added Sullivan's book as reference, some minor clarifications
2015.02.18: added C. Iulius Rhascus, see new article by Kirov.
2020.05.13 New header, much expanded reference list plus many minor details updated to people, but main change is upgrading the old Stemma version to the most likely version
due to analysis of Clinton / Dimitrova.
                                                                                         
1. OLD VERSION BASED ON SULLIVAN AND PIR J and P1, Now again considered the most likely version
DYNASTY OF THE TRIBE OF THE ODRYSIANS-ASTAEANS  
KP4
Cotys V 
King of Thracia c.100 - c.87 ?
founder of the Odrysian-Astaean dynasty
DYNASTY OF THE TRIBE OF THE SAPAEANS  
 
KP1   RE6
Sadalas I   Cotys I 
King of Thracia c.87/86 - c.86/79  of Sapaean Thracia
assisted Sulla 87 dynast, probably not a king
   
RE4   RE1 R58 RE1
Cotys VI    Rhaiscuporis I         Rhascus
King of Thracia before 58- 45/44 King of Sapaean Thracia 48-42 King of Sapaean Thracia c.42
supported Pompey 48 supported Pompey 48 coruler with his brother
supported Cassius 42 supported Anthony 42
founder of the Sapaean dynasty
   
KP2   RE7 C1552
Sadalas II   Cotys II    
King of Thracia 45/44-42 King of Sapaean Thracia
supported Pompey 48 c.42-.c.31
† 42
~ Polemocratia
   
KP3   C1553 RE5   R67 RE1 R60 RE3 P531 RE2 P1114 RE1
Sadalas III     Cotys VII   ~ daughter     Rhoemetalces I                 Rhaiscuporis III Polemon I (Polemo I)  ~ 1 Pythodoris I
King of Thracia (42?)-31 King of Thracia King of Sapaean Thracia c.31BC - 11 BC King of Thracia  c.12-19 AD King of Pontus 37 - 8 BC † 23 AD or c.33
attested only in 31BC 31-18 BC King of all Thracia 11 BC to c.12 AD installed by AUGUSTUS, King of Bosporus 14 - 8  BC queen of Pontus
at Actium with M. Antonius † by 18 BC guardian 18 BC of children of C1553 † 19 exiled and killed King of Armenia Minor 34/3- p 31BC
possibly not a son of  ~ niece son of Zeno of Laodicea
Sadalas II (see stemma Antonius Zeno)
       
R59 RE2     C1554 RE8 RE2 J517 A900 RE130 A1168 RE Art 3
Rhaiscuporis II       sons   daughter     (C.) Iulius Cotys VIII (III) C. Iulius Rhoemetalces II Antonia Tryphaena   Zeno-Artaxias III
King of Thracia c.18 - 11 BC King of Thracia c.12-19 AD King of Thracia 19-26/38 Queen of Pontus 33?-38 King of Armenia
† 11 BC killed in battle by the Bessi ~ uncle installed by AUGUSTUS, called King in 26 c.12/3 ~ Cotys VIII  18-34
Rhaiscuporis III archon of Athens 14/19 ~ Pythodoris II, dt of King of Thracia † 35 AD
† 19 † 19 murdered by Rhaiscuporis III Cotys VIII King of Thracia <==
~ Antonia Tryphaena
==>
   
P1115 RE2 R68 RE3   J472 RE Pol 3 C1555 RE9   ? G168 RE1
Sex. Iulius Cotys Pythodoris II       (C. Iulius) Rhoemetalces III   Iulius Polemon II (Polemo II)       (Sex. Iulius) Cotys         Gepaipyris
high priest and agonothetes  raised in Rome 19-38? raised in Rome 19-38? * 19 or sister to C1554
of the Augusti 38/39 ~ Rhoemetalces II King of Thracia 19 and c.38-46 King of Pontus 38-64 raised in Rome 19-38? queen of Bosporus
= C1555 King of Thracia 19-26 AD installed by CALIGULA, King of Cilicia 41-68/9 King of Armenia Minor 38/39-ante 54 ~ Ti. Iulius Aspurgus
IGR-IV-148 ? archon of Athens 36/37 64 Pontus part of Roman province of Galatia after Roman rule 17-38 King of Bosporus
† 46 murdered by his wife † 68/69 installed by CALIGULA, 10/11 AD -38/39 
~ unknown name 1 ~ Iulia Berenice  of Judaea J651 † between 47 and 54
    2 ~ Iulia Mamaea of Emesa  
       
C. Iulius Rhascus children Polemo Philopater kings of Bosporus
inscription dated c.40/45
                                                                                         
2. NEW VERSION BASED ON PIR-P2 AND R - now considered secondary version
DYNASTY OF THE TRIBE OF THE ODRYSIANS-ASTAEANS  
KP4
Cotys V
King of Thracia c.100 - c.87 ?
founder of the Odrysian-Astaean dynasty DYNASTY OF THE TRIBE OF THE SAPAEANS  
 
KP1   RE6
Sadalas I   Cotys I
King of Thracia c.87/86 - c.86/79  of Sapaean Thracia
assisted Sulla 87 dynast, probably not a king
   
RE4   RE1 R58 RE1
Cotys VI   Rhaiscuporis I         Rhascus
King of Thracia before 58- 45/44 King of Sapaean Thracia 48-42 King of Sapaean Thracia c.42
supported Pompey 48 supported Pompey 48 coruler with his brother
supported Cassius 42 supported Anthony 42
founder of the Sapaean dynasty
   
KP2   RE7 C1552 R67 RE1 R60 RE3 P531 RE2 P1114 RE1
Sadalas II   Cotys II         Rhoemetalces I                 Rhaiscuporis III Polemon I (Polemo I)  ~ 1 Pythodoris
King of Thracia 45/44-42 King of Sapaean Thracia King of Sapaean Thracia c.31BC - 11 BC joint King of Thracia  King of Pontus 37 - 8 BC † 23 AD or c.33
supported Pompey 48 c.42-.c.31 King of all Thracia 11 BC to c.12 AD c.12-19 AD King of Bosporus 14 - 8  BC queen of Pontus
† 42 guardian 18 BC of children of C1553 installed by AUGUSTUS King of Armenia Minor 34/3- p 31BC
~ Polemocratia † 19 exiled and killed son of Zeno of Laodicea
(see stemma Antonius Zeno)
         
KP3   C1553 RE5   R59 RE2   C1554 RE8 R69 cf RE3 A900 RE130 A1168 RE Art 3
Sadalas III     Cotys VII   ~ daughter   Rhaiscuporis II ~ daughter (C.) Iulius Cotys VIII or III Rhoemetalces   Antonia Tryphaena   Zeno-Artaxias III daughter  
King of Thracia 42?-31 King of Thracia King of Thracia joint King of Thracia c.12-19 AD Queen of Pontus 33?-38 King of Armenia
attested only in 31BC 31-18 BC 18 - 11 BC installed by AUGUSTUS, 18-34 ~ Rhoemetalces II
at Actium with M.Antonius † by 18 BC † 11 BC killed in battle archon of Athens 14/19 c.12/3 ~ Cotys VIII  † 35 AD King of Thracia
possibly not a son of  by the Bessi tribe † 19 murdered by Rhaiscuporis III King of Thracia <==
Sadalas II ~ Antonia Tryphaena <==
==>
     
? ? J517 RE2   R68 RE3   J472 RE Pol 3 C1555 RE9 ? G168 RE1
S(ex). Iulius [Cotys?]   C. Iulius Rhoemetalces II (C. Iulius) Rhoemetalces III   Iulius Polemon II (Polemo II)       (Sex. Iulius) Cotys        Gepaipyris
raised in Rome 19-38? raised in Rome 19-38? * 19 or sister to C1554
Thracian prince King of Thracia 19-26(38) King of Thracia 19 and c.38-46 King of Pontus 38-64 raised in Rome 19-38? queen of Bosporus
called King in 26 installed by CALIGULA, King of Cilicia 41-68/9 King of Armenia Minor 38/39-ante 54 ~ Ti.  Iulius Aspurgus
~ daughter of Polemon I archon of Athens 36/37 64 Pontus part of Roman province of Galatia after Roman rule 17-38 King of Bosporus
==> † 46 murdered by his wife † 68/69 installed by CALIGULA 10/11 AD -38/39 
~ Pythodoris, dt of 1 ~ Iulia Berenice  of Judaea J651 † between 47 and 54
Rhoemetalces II 2 ~ Iulia Mamaea of Emesa
King of Thracia
  <==  
RE2 P1115    
Pythodoris II     children   C. Iulius Rhascus kings of Bosporus
coruler of Thracia 38-46 inscription latest 44
~ Rhoemetalces III see Kirov's article
King of Thracia 38-46
==>