Satyrus II and the Bosporan Kingdom

Introduction

Satyrus II was a Spartocid king of the Bosporan Kingdom who ruled for nine months in 310 BC following the death of his father, Paerisades I. As the eldest son he inherited the throne and promptly confronted a rival claimant, his younger brother Eumelus, who had fled to the Siraces and formed an alliance with their king Aripharnes.

Satyrus raised a field army of roughly 34,000 troops composed of Greeks, Thracians, and Scythians and confronted Eumelus in the Battle of the River Thatis, a strategic victory that confirmed his immediate suitability to hold power. He pursued Eumelus and Aripharnes to the Siraces capital and, finding the city strongly defended and surrounded by marshes, resorted to plundering the countryside before initiating the Siege of Siracena. During the siege he was killed while fighting Aripharnes as he attempted to protect his mercenary captain Meniscus.

Satyrus was succeeded briefly by his brother Prytanis; the civil war continued and Eumelus later killed the families of his brothers. Satyrus’ son Paerisades survived and secured asylum in Scythia under King Agarus. Satyrus’ short reign is recorded for its rapid military response to dynastic challenge, a battlefield victory at the River Thatis, and a fatal engagement during the siege that prolonged the Spartocid civil war.