Asander and the Bosporan Kingdom

Introduction

Asander, styled Philocaesar Philoromaios, was a Greek-born Roman client king of the Bosporan Kingdom who died in 17 BC. He began his career as a military commander under Pharnaces II and by 47 BC had married Pharnaces’ daughter Dynamis. When Pharnaces left the region to campaign in Anatolia, Asander revolted; Pharnaces later returned, was defeated in battle by Asander and killed, whereupon Asander assumed control of the Cimmerian Bosporus.

Asander’s rule was interrupted when Julius Caesar vested authority in Mithridates of Pergamon and permitted him to campaign against the Bosporus; Mithridates briefly overthrew Asander and became king. Asander subsequently returned and defeated Mithridates in 47/46 BC. Emperor Augustus later recognised Asander formally as king sometime between 27 and 17 BC. Ancient geographer Strabo records that Asander blocked the Chersonesus isthmus near Lake Maeotis with a long defensive wall, a major infrastructural measure attributed to his rule.

Ancient writers provide differing accounts of Asander’s end. Lucian reports that, at an advanced age and after desertions to a claimant named Scribonius, Asander starved himself to death. After Asander’s death a power struggle followed: Scribonius claimed the kingdom and married Dynamis, and Rome then directed Polemon of Pontus to intervene. Asander’s reign is thus attested as a period of local dynastic conflict within the wider framework of Roman client politics, remembered for military action to secure the Bosporan throne and for substantial defensive works attributed to him.