Tiberius Julius Theothorses

Who is Tiberius Julius Theothorses?

Tiberius Julius Theothorses, also known as Thothorses or Fophors was a prince and Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom.

Theothorses was the second-born son to the Bosporan King Teiranes and his mother was an unnamed woman. He was of Greek, Iranian and Roman ancestry. His eldest brother was prince Sauromates IV, who co-ruled briefly with his father before his death in 276.

In 278, during his father's reign, Theothorses was elevated by Teiranes to co-ruler. In 279, Teiranes died and Theothorses succeeded him as the sole ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom, reigning from 278 until his death around 308/309. On coins his royal title is in Greek: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΘΟΘΩΡΣΟΥ or of King Thothorses. Theothorses' reign was a contemporary to the Crisis of the Third Century and the Tetrarchy in the Roman Empire.

During his reign, large amounts of lead were added to the bronze coinage that was minted in the Bosporan Kingdom. Otherwise, little is known on the life and reign of Theothorses. The name of Theothorses' wife is unknown. They had the following children:

⁕Prince Rhescuporis VI. Rhescuporis VI became a co-ruler with his father in 303 and later succeeded him.