MAIASP. 2022. No. S1

S.V. Yartsev (Tula, Russia)

ON THE DESIGNATIONOF THE CENTRAL ASIAN DYNASTIC LINE

of THE BOSPORAN ARISTOCRACY

DOI: 10.53737/2713-2021.2022.36.69.007

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Pages: 187—198

The paper focuses on the dynastic history of the Bosporan Kingdom at the brink of the eras. It is accepted here that King Asander should be considered the founder of the new Sarmatian-Iranian dynasty. The members of this clan relied on the related Sarmatians, who have been serving to the Bosporan kings, the descendants of Achaemenes the Great. However, after Aspurgus and Thracian princess Gepaepyris were married, and when the Thracian line arose side by side with the Sarmatian-Iranian aristocracy, one of them, Mithridates VIII (III), had started an open struggle for independence against the Roman Empire. It is assumed that the barbarians led by Pharzoius and Inismeus, who came at that time to the Northern Black Sea region from the depths of Asia, were relatives to the rebellious ruler. This is the reason why the noble nomadic comers together with some related Sarmatian-Iranian Bosporan aristocrats are classified here as the Central Asian dynastic line. Later, its leaders have repeatedly been making claims to the throne, when defending their rights and fighting against representatives of the Thracian line, as well as against those from the milieu of the Sarmatian-Iranian aristocracy.

Key words: Bosporan Kingdom, Olbia, Asander, Aspurgus, Mithridates VIII (III), Pharzoius, Inismeus, Gepaepyris, the Aspurgiani.

Received November 30, 2022

Accepted for publication December 12, 2022

About the author:

Yartsev Sergey Vladimirovich (Tula, Russia). Dr. habil. (History), Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University

E-mail: s-yartsev@yandex.ru