Overview of All Rulers of Bithynia

This page offers a chronological list of the Bithynian kings, from the early dynasts to the kingdom’s testamentary bequest to Rome. Entries combine reign dates with brief notes on, for example, urban foundations, naval activity in the Propontis, rivalry with Pergamon and Pontus, and the kingdom’s administrative development.

Title	Date	Excerpt
Boteiras of Bithynia: Dynastic Ruler and Regional Power in Ancient Anatolia	c. 416—376 BC	Boteiras was a dynastic ruler of Bithynia in the late 5th and early 4th centuries BCE, known for his shifting alliances with Greek and Achaemenid powers and his efforts to consolidate authority amid military challenges.
Bas of Bithynia: Early Independent Ruler in Asia Minor	c. 376-326 BC	Bas ruled Bithynia from 376 to 326 BC, successfully defending the region against Macedonian forces and establishing early independence in Asia Minor.
Zipoetes I of Bithynia: Founder of Dynastic Kingship in the Hellenistic Era	c. 326 - 278 BC	Zipoetes I ruled Bithynia from c. 326 to 278 BC, establishing its royal dynasty and engaging in key conflicts that shaped the region's history during the Hellenistic period.
Nicomedes I of Bithynia	278 - 255 BC	Nicomedes I ruled Bithynia from 278 to about 255 BC, consolidating power through strategic alliances and military actions, founding the city of Nicomedia, and shaping the region's political landscape during the Hellenistic period.
Zipoetes II: Hellenistic Ruler of Bithynia	278 - 276 BC	Zipoetes II was a Hellenistic ruler who controlled part of Bithynia from 279 to 276 BCE, resisting his brother Nicomedes I's efforts to unify the kingdom and influencing the region's political landscape through his conflict and the involvement of Gallic mercenaries.
Etazeta: Regent of Bithynia and Dynastic Struggles	255 - 254 BC	Etazeta was a brief regent of Bithynia after Nicomedes I's death, whose rule influenced the succession conflicts that shaped the kingdom's history.
Ziaelas of Bithynia: A Hellenistic King and His Reign	254 - 228 BC	Ziaelas was a Hellenistic king of Bithynia who expanded his dynasty's influence through warfare, diplomacy, and strategic alliances during the 3rd century BC.
Prusias I of Bithynia: A Hellenistic King Shaping Northwest Asia Minor	228 - 182 BC	Prusias I ruled Bithynia from 228 to 182 BC, expanding its territory and influence through warfare, diplomacy, and urban development, linking a small Anatolian kingdom to major Hellenistic powers and Rome.
Prusias II of Bithynia: A Hellenistic King in Anatolia – Historical and Archaeological Insights	182 - 149 BC	Prusias II ruled Bithynia from 182 to 149 BC, navigating complex relations with neighboring kingdoms and Rome. His reign illustrates the challenges faced by regional monarchs amid shifting power dynamics and internal strife, culminating in a violent succession that reshaped the kingdom's future.
Nicomedes II Epiphanes: King of Bithynia and Roman Ally	149 - 127 BC	Nicomedes II Epiphanes ruled the Hellenistic kingdom of Bithynia from 149 to about 127 BC, aligning closely with Rome and influencing regional politics and coinage.
Nicomedes III Euergetes of Bithynia: A Hellenistic King Navigating Power and Diplomacy	127 - 94 BC	Nicomedes III Euergetes ruled Bithynia in northwestern Anatolia from 127 to 94 BC, using marriage alliances, diplomacy, and patronage to maintain his kingdom's independence amid larger regional powers and Rome's growing influence.
Nicomedes IV Philopator: Last King of Bithynia and His Role in Roman Expansion	94 - 74 BC	Nicomedes IV Philopator ruled Bithynia during the late Hellenistic period, navigating complex rivalries and Roman diplomacy that ultimately led to the kingdom's integration into the Roman Republic. His reign marked the transition from independent Anatolian monarchy to Roman provincial governance, influencing the political landscape of Asia Minor.
Socrates Chrestus: A Bithynian Prince in the Context of Roman and Pontic Politics	c. 90 BC	Socrates Chrestus was a Bithynian prince whose brief and contested rule, backed by Mithridates VI of Pontus, highlights the complex power struggles in Bithynia and Rome's political maneuvers before the Mithridatic Wars.