Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis VI

Who is Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis VI?

Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis VI was the last ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom, a client king of the Roman Empire.

Rhescuporis VI was the first-born son to the Bosporan King Theothorses and his mother was an unnamed woman. He was of Thrace, Iranian and Roman ancestry. His younger brother was prince Rhadamsades. Rhescuporis VI was named in honor of Rhescuporis V, the paternal grandfather of his father and a previous Bosporan King. He was the last Bosporan King to rule with the name Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis.

In 303, Rhescuporis VI became co-ruler with his father, Theothorses. When Theothorses died around 308/309, the brother of Rhescuporis VI, Rhadamsades succeeded their father and became co-ruler with him. Rhescuporis VI ruled from 303 until his death in 342. His royal title on coins is in Greek: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΡΗΣΚΟΥΠΟΡΙΔΟΣ or of King Rhescuporis.

During his and his brother’s co-rule, various metals were used including brass to create and mint coins in the Bosporan. Rhescuporis VI was a contemporary to the ruling of the Tetrarchy and Constantinian dynasty in the Roman Empire. When Rhadamsades died in 323, Rhescuporis VI became the sole and last ruler of the Bosporan. Little is known on the life and reign of Rhescuporis VI.