Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis VI

Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis VI (Greek: Τιβέριος Ἰούλιος Ῥησκούπορις Στ'; died 342) 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 of the life and reign of Rhescuporis VI.

The King of the Goths, Ermanaric had conquered the Bosporan Kingdom. Ermanaric killed Rhescuporis VI; subjected the kingdom and the citizens to his rule. When Rhescuporis VI died, he was buried in a royal tomb in the original capital city of the Bosporan Kingdom Panticapaeum. Placed in the tomb with Rhescuporis VI were his various possessions, which included a golden mask and ornament plates. The golden mask and ornament plates that were placed in the tomb of Rhescuporis VI are now on display at the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

See also

• Bosporan Kingdom
• Roman Crimea

External links

• Coinage of Rhescuporis VI
• Coinage of Rhescuporis VI

Sources

• Greek and Roman gold and silver plate By Donald Emrys Strong
• http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2983.html
• http://www.museum.com.ua/en/istor/sev-vost/bospor/bospor.htm
• http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/05/hm5_4_2_2_1.html
• http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Egypt/ptolemies/cleopatra_vii.htm#Cleopatra.43