Leucon II of Bosporus: Spartocid Ruler and Coinage Innovator on Bosporan Kingdom History

Introduction

Leucon II of Bosporus (Ancient Greek: Λέυκων, romanized Leukon; c. 240–220 BC) was a Spartocid ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom who appears as the second son of Paerisades II and assumed power in 240 BC. He seized the throne after murdering his brother Spartocus IV upon discovering that Spartocus IV had an adulterous relationship with Leucon’s wife, Alcathoe. During his rule Leucon confronted an economic crisis in the third century BC and responded by issuing new coinage bearing his own name; he is the first Bosporan king attested to have struck coins inscribed with his name.

Leucon’s reign is marked by dynastic violence and a contested death; sources report that Alcathoe later killed him in revenge. After his death the government passed to Hygiaenon, who was not a member of the Spartocid line and may have been a supporter of Camasarye, daughter and heiress of Spartocus IV. Historically Leucon is noted for his fratricidal accession and for initiating the practice of naming Bosporan coinage after the reigning king.