Spartocus III and the Bosporan Kingdom

Introduction

Spartocus III was king of the Bosporan Kingdom from 304 to 284 BC. He inherited the throne after his father, Eumelus, died in a carriage accident while returning from Sindia. During his reign Spartocus became the first Bosporan ruler to adopt the title Basileus. He moved to reestablish ties with Athens once Athenian trade was liberated from Demetrius, continuing commercial and diplomatic relations that the Bosporan state had maintained since the reign of his great-grandfather Leukon; Athens formally honored him in recognition of these ties. Spartocus ruled for twenty years and died in 284 BC; he was succeeded by Paerisades II. His reign is marked in the sources by the formal adoption of Hellenistic royal titulature and by the restoration of relations with Athens.