This article lists kings of Thrace and Dacia, and includes Thracian, Paeonian, Celtic, Dacian, Scythian, Persian or Ancient Greek rulers up to the point of its fall to the Roman Empire, with a few figures from Greek mythology.
Mythological Haemus, became a mountain Haemus Mons Thrax, son of Ares Tegyrios, mortal Eumolpus, inherited a kingdom from Tegyrios Tereus, the king that was turned into a hoopoeTereus, "Tereus 1 is the cruel Thracian king who helped King Pandion 2 of Athens in his war against King Labdacus 1 of Thebes, and having received one of his daughters seduced the other" Phineus, Phoenician son of Agenor, blind king and seerPhineus, "Phineus is the blind king and seer" Poltys, son of PoseidonPoltys, "Poltys. An Aenian who entertained Heracles when he came to Aenus in Thrace. He was son of Poseidon [Apd.2.5.9]." Pyreneus, died trying to harm the Muses Harpalycus,Harpalyce(Ἁρπαλύκη)., "1. A daughter of Harpalycus, king of the Amymnaeans in Thrace. As she lost her mother in her infancy, she was brought up by her father with the milk of cows and mares, and was trained in all manly exercises. After the death of her father, whom she had once delivered from the hand of the Myrmidons, she spent her time in the forests as a robber, being so swift in running that horses were unable to overtake her. At length, however, she was caught in a snare by shepherds, who killed her. (Serv. ad Virg. Aen. 1.321; Hyg. Fab. 193.)" king of the Amymnaeans Thoas, founder of Thoana Mopsus, killed Myrine, an amazon queen Peirous, a Thracian war leaderPeiros, Peiros. Thracian leader, son of Imbrasus and father of Rhigmus. He was killed by Thoas, Leader of the Aetolians (Hom.Il.4.520ff., 20.484ff.). killed by Thoas the Aetolian Rhesus of Thrace, died in the Trojan WarRhesus Rhesus 2 is chiefly remembered because he came from Thrace to defend Troy with great pomp and circumstance, but died on the night of his arrival, without ever engaging in battle. Cisseus, father of Theano, the wife of Antenor Diomedes of Thrace, Giant that ruled over the Bistones Lycurgus, of the Edoni Oeagrus, father of Orpheus and Linus OrpheusCarlos Parada, "Orpheus, king of the Ciconians" of the Cicones Polymestor of the BistoniansPolymestor, "Polymestor 1 (Polymnestor). This is the king of the Bistonians in Thrace" Zalmoxis of the Getae Charnabon of the Getae, who came into power when grain was first given to menCarnabon, "Carnabon. King of the Getae in Thrace who came into power when grain was first given to men [see also Lyncus, and CONSTELLATIONS] [Hyg.Ast.2.14]." mentioned by SophoclesDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 41: "... Trixae and Sophocles (Triptolem, FR 547) mentions a local king, Charnabon, as a typical anti-hero." Pyraechmes of the Paeonians Asteropaios of the Paeonians
Persian
Darius I, Persian Satrapy named Skudra by 516 BCThe Oxford Classical Dictionary by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth, , page 1515, "The Thracians were subdued by the Persians by 516" Darius I, Thrace is resubjucated by Mardonius at 492 BC Xerxes I, retains Thrace from 486 BC to 479 BC
Tribal kings
Olorus, 5th century BCThe Histories by Herodotus, John M. Marincola, and Aubery de Selincourt, page 373: "... 500 mercenaries, and married Hegesipyle, daughter of the Thracian King Olorus." Syrmus, king of the TriballiPlutarch's Lives by Plutarch, 2008, , page 183: "... Danube, and by winning a signal victory over Syrmus, the King of the Triballi. After this, as he heard that the Thebans had revolted, ..." 4th century BC Bergaios, petty king of Pangaeum Dromichaetes, of the Getae 300 BC Langarus, of the Agrianes Pleuratus, a Thracian or Illyrian king that attacked Tylis 213–208 BC Diegylis, chieftain of the Caeni extremely bloodthirsty 145 BC Ziselmius, Diegylis' son Mostis, of the Caeni, king ~130–90 BC Abrupolis of the Sapaeans, 2nd century BC King Blachernai a local Royal thracian of the Odrysian Astaean Family 2nd century BC mentioned by Dionysus of Byzantium. RabocentusThe Oxford Classical Dictionary by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth, 2003, page 1515: "... *Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, and *Cicero calls Rabocentus, chief of the Bessi, a faithful ally, although hitherto they had been troublesome ..." of the Bessi mentioned by Cicero Cosingas,Polyaenus: Stratagems - BOOK 7, The generals of the Cebrenii and Sycaeboae, two Thracian tribes, were chosen from among the priests of Hera. Cosingas, according to the tradition of the country, was elected to be their priest and general; but the army took some objection to him, and refused to obey him. To suppress the rebelliousness that had taken hold of the troops, Cosingas built a number of long ladders, and fastened them one to another. He then put out a report, that he had decided to climb up to heaven, in order to inform Hera of the disobedience of the Thracians. The Thracians, who are notoriously stupid and ridiculous, were terrified by the idea of their general's intended journey, and the resulting wrath of heaven. They implored him not to carry out his plan, and they promised with an oath to obey all of his future commands. chieftain and priest of Hera to the tribes of Cebrenii and Sucaeboae Getas, kingThe Odrysian Kingdom of Thrace: Orpheus Unmasked (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology) by Z. H. Archibald, 1998, , page 106Ancient Coins of Greek Cities and Kings: From Various Collections Principally in Great Britain by James Millingen, 2004, page 42: "... silver mines so renowned in history. A coin of Geta, king of the Edones, with the legend FETAI HAONEON BAIIAEYI of the same types, ..." of the Edones
Getic and Dacian
Charnabon, king of the Getae as mentioned by Sophocles in Triptolemus - 5th century BC Cothelas,Atlas of Classical History by R. Talbert, 1989, page 63, "Getae under Cothelas" father of Meda of Odessa – 4th century BC Rex Histrianorum, ruler in Histria, mentioned by Trogus Pompeius and Justinus - 339 BC Dual – 3rd century BC Moskonhttps://revistapontica.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/pontica-3-pag-125-129.pdf Radu Ocheșeanu: Monedele basileului Moskon aflate în colecțiile Muzeului de Arheologie Constanța – 3rd century BC DromichaetesDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, Index Dromichaetes King of the Getians – 3rd century BC ZalmodegicusMcGing B.C.: The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus – around 200 BCKurt W. Treptow and Ioan Bolovan in “A history of Romania - East European Monographs”, 1996, , page 17 "..Two inscriptions discovered at Histria indicate that Geto-Dacian rulers (Zalmodegikos and later Rhemaxos) continued to exercise control over that city-state around 200 BC ...." Rhemaxos – around 200 BCThe Hellenistic Age from the Battle of Ipsos to the Death of Kleopatra VII by Stanley M. Burstein, 1985, Index Rhemaxos Getic or Scythian rulerKurt W. Treptow and Ioan Bolovan in “A history of Romania - East European Monographs”, 1996, , page 17 "Two inscriptions discovered at Histria indicate that Geto-Dacian rulers (Zalmodegikos and later Rhemaxos) continued to exercise control over that city-state around 200 BC ...." RubobostesDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, Index Rubobostes Dacian King – around 200 BC Zoltes – 200 BC OrolesDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 53, "Dacian King Oroles" – 2nd century BC DicomesDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 47, "Dicomes of the Getians" – 1st century BC RholesThe Roman History: The Reign of Augustus by Cassius Dio, Ian Scott-Kilvert, and John Carter, 1987, page 85: "... Then he completed their destruction with the help of Roles, the king of a tribe of the Getae. When Roles visited Octavian, he was treated as a friend ..." – 1st century BC DapyxCassius Dio. Roman History, Book LI. "While he was thus engaged, Roles, who had become embroiled with Dapyx, himself also king of a tribe of the Getae, sent for him. Crassus went to his aid, and by hurling the horse of his opponents back upon their infantry he so thoroughly terrified the latter also that what followed was no longer a battle but a great slaughter of fleeing men of both arms. Next he cut off Dapyx, who had taken refuge in a fort, and besieged him. In the course of the siege someone hailed him from the walls in Greek, obtained a conference with him, and arranged to betray the place. The barbarians, thus captured, turned upon one another, and Dapyx was killed along with many others. His brother, however, Crassus took alive, and not only did him no harm but actually released him." – 1st century BC ZyraxesDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 146, "Zyraxes who ruled in Dobruja" – 1st century BC BurebistaStudies in Ancient Greek and Roman Society by Robin Osborne, 2004, page 128: "... of its citizens, named Akornion, went on an embassy to Burebista, the first and greatest of the kings in Thrace..." – 82–44 BC DeceneusDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, Index (Decaeneus/Dekaineus/Dicineus) Dacian High priest" – 44 BC - around 27 BC High Priest Thiamarkos - 1st century BC - 1st century AD, Dacian king (inscription "Basileys Thiamarkos epoiei") CotisoDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 48, "The Dacian king Cotiso" – c. 40 BC - c.9 BC ComosicusDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 72, "At least two of his successors Comosicus and Scorillo/Corilus/Scoriscus became high priests and eventually Dacian kings" – 9 BC–30 AD Scorilo – c.30–70 AD CosonDacia: Landscape, Colonization and Romanization by Ioana A Oltean, 2007, page 47, "Kings Coson (who minted his own coins) and Duras" Duras – c. 69–87 DecebalusDe Imperatoribus Romanis . Retrieved 2007-11-08. "In the year 88, the Romans resumed the offensive. The Roman troops were now led by the general Tettius Iulianus. The battle took place again at Tapae but this time the Romans defeated the Dacians. For fear of falling into a trap, Iulianus abandoned his plans of conquering Sarmizegetuza and, at the same time, Decebalus asked for peace. At first, Domitian refused this request, but after he was defeated in a war in Pannonia against the Marcomanni (a Germanic tribe), the emperor was obliged to accept the peace." – 87–106 106 AD, Dacia becomes a province of the Roman Empire conquered by Trajan. Pieporus, king of Dacian Costoboci – 2nd century AD (inscription)Wilhelm Tomachek in “Les restes de la langue dace” published in “Le Muséon By Société des lettres et des sciences, Louvain, Belgium, page 407 "Pieporus, prince des daces Costoboces..."Gudmund Schütte in Ptolemy's maps of northern Europe, H. Hagerup, 1917 page 82 "historical king Pieporus. The same author Schütte in “Our forefathers” published by University Press, 1929 page 74 "The North Dacian tribes of the Koistobokoi and Karpoi unlike the rest of Dacia escaped the Roman conquest of AD 105..." Tarbus – 2nd century AD. Dio Cassius mentioned him without specifying his origin. Some authors consider a possible Dacian ethnicityWilhelm Tomachek (1883): “Les restes de la langue dace” published in “Le Muséon By Société des lettres et des sciences, Louvain, Belgium, page 409Batty, Roger (2007): Rome and the Nomads: the Pontic-Danubian realm in antiquity, Oxford University Press, , , page 366
Paeonian
See: List of Paeonian kings
Celtic rulers in Thrace CerethriusThe Oxford Illustrated History of Prehistoric Europe (Oxford Illustrated Histories) by Barry Cunliffe, 2001, page 380 Critasirus, a CeltStrabo, Geography(7.5.2), "A part of this country was laid waste by the Dacians when they subdued the Boii and Taurisci, Celtic tribes under the rule of Critasirus"