Tiberius Julius Rhoemetalces

Who is Tiberius Julius Rhoemetalces?

Tiberius Julius Rhoemetalces Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes, also known as Rhoemetalces or Rhoimetalces was a prince and Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom.

Rhoemetalces was the son and heir of the Bosporan King Cotys II by an unnamed wife. He was of Greek, Iranian and Roman ancestry. Rhoemetalces is the only King from the Bosporan Kingdom to bear this name. His father named him in honor of his ancestor, King Rhoemetalces I from the Odrysian kingdom of Thrace, who was the father of the Roman Client King Cotys VIII of Thrace.

When Cotys II died in 132, Rhoemetalces succeeded him. Rheometalces ruled as Bosporan King from 132 until his death in 153. He was a contemporary to the rule of the Roman Emperors Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. On coinage his royal title is in Greek: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΡΟΙΜΗΤΑΛΚΑΣ or of King Rhoemetalces.

According to the Augustan History, at an unknown date in the reign of Antoninus Pius, Rhoemetalces had travelled to Rome for a hearing of a dispute between him and the imperial commissioner. The nature and causes leading to this dispute are unknown. After the hearing had concluded, the emperor sent Rhoemetalces back to the Bosporan.