The list below includes the known Odrysian kings of Thrace, but much of it is conjectural, based on incomplete sources, and the varying interpretation of ongoing numismatic and archaeological discoveries. Various other Thracian kings (some of them non-Odrysian) are included as well.[52] Odrysian kings though called Kings of Thrace never exercised sovereignty over all of Thrace.[53] Control varied according to tribal relationships.[54]
Odrysian kings (names are presented in Latin forms):
11 BC Astaean Thrace conferred on Rhescuporis II's maternal uncle, the Sapaean king Rhoemetalces I, by the Roman emperor Augustus, thereby uniting Thrace[70]
Originally a local power in the Rhodope area of southern Thrace, the Sapaean kings increased in power and influence and, with Roman blessing, found themselves masters of a unified kingdom of Thrace from 11 BC until the Roman annexation in AD 46. [71]
Tereus, "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"
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.)"
Rhesus
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.
Carnabon, "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]."
Dacia: 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."
The Oxford Classical Dictionary by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth, ISBN0-19-860641-9, page 1515, "The Thracians were subdued by the Persians by 516"
The Histories by Herodotus, John M. Marincola, and Aubery de Selincourt, page 373: "... 500 mercenaries, and married Hegesipyle, daughter of the Thracian King Olorus."
Plutarch's Lives by Plutarch, 2008, ISBN1-4404-1432-7, 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, ..."
The 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 ..."
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.
Ancient 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, ..."
Kurt W. Treptow and Ioan Bolovan in “A history of Romania - East European Monographs”, 1996, ISBN9780880333450, 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 ...."
Kurt W. Treptow and Ioan Bolovan in “A history of Romania - East European Monographs”, 1996, ISBN9780880333450, 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 ...."
Theodossiev, Nikola (2010). "Thrace". In Gagarin, Michael (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome. Vol.1. Oxford University Press. p.55. ISBN978-0-19-517072-6. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
The 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 ..."
Cassius 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."
Studies 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..."
Dacia: 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"
De 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."
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..."
Strabo, 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"
The Ancient Celts by Barry Cunliffe, ISBN0-14-025422-6, 2000, page 86: "... distinguished suggests that one of the returning groups, led by Bathanatos, finally settled in the Middle Danube region at the confluence ..."
Celts - a History, The by Daithi O HOgain, ISBN1-905172-20-6, 2006, page 60, "... those who, on their return from Greece under their leader Bathanatos, had settled at the confluence of the Danube and the ..."
Celts and the Classical World by David Rankin, ISBN0-415-15090-6, 1996, page 189: "According to Polybius, the last of the kings of Tylis, Cavarus, was a man of magnanimity and regal character" (8.24).
Heckel, Waldemar. Who's Who in the Age of Alexander the Great: Prosopography of Alexander's Empire. Blackwell Publishing, 2006, ISBN1-4051-1210-7, p. 155. "In 306 or 305, he assumed the title of "King", which he held until his death at Corupedium in 282/1."
Heckel, Waldemar. Who's Who in the Age of Alexander the Great: Prosopography of Alexander's Empire. Blackwell Publishing, 2006, ISBN1-4051-1210-7, p. 155. "In 323 Lysimachus was assigned control of Thrace, and was probably strategos rather than satrap. The subordinate position of strategos may account for the failure of the sources to mention Lysimachus in the settlement of Triparadeisus; his brother Autodicus was, however, named as a Somatophylax of Philip III at that time
The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46 by Christopher Webber, ISBN1-84176-329-2, 2001, page 11, "Philip V of Macedon occupied all the cities in Thrace up to the Hellespont, "
Manov 2015 dates the coins and inscription naming "Rhescuporis son of Cotys" to the beginning of the First Century AD and argues that they are the Sapaean Cotys III and his uncle Rhescuporis II/III. While a later date for this Rhescuporis and his father Cotys may be advisable (and therefore this Cotys would be distinct from Cotys son of Rhaezdus), Manov's hypothesis contradicts the father-son relationship between Cotys and Rhescuporis in the sources.
Mladjov, Thracian Kings, University of Michigan, who also gives an alternative sequence should Rhoegus be placed in the early Third Century BC: "But if Roigos is dated to the early 3rd century and was a son of Seuthēs III (e.g., Kojčev 2008), the pedigree and succession could be restored as follows: Seuthēs III–Roigos–Seuthēs IV–Tērēs IV–Seuthēs V; our Tērēs VI would become Tērēs V." Compare Werner 1961: 114-117, 239.
The History Of Rome by Livy, 2004, ISBN1-4191-6629-8, page 27: "Pleuratus and Scerdilaedus might be included in the treaty. Attalus was king of Pergamum in Asia Minor; Pleuratus, king of the Thracians;
Tačeva 1997: 83-95, 246-247, develops an alternative to the long-dominant reconstruction of the political, chronological, and genealogical relationships reflected in this list (established by Dessau in 1913 and widely accepted, e.g., Sullivan 1990), having the Odrysian-Astaean line end with Sadalas II in 42 BC, making Cotys VII the brother (not brother-in-law) of the Sapaean Rhoemetalces I, and identifying Cotys VII's son Rhescuporis II (not Rhoemetalces I's brother, the Sapaean Rhescuporis II) as the father of Rhoemetalces II. Despite some improbabilities, this reconstruction has gained some acceptance at least as a viable alternative. A variation on this reconstruction by Delev 2016b accepts ending the Odrysian-Astaean line with Sadalas II (whom he combines with Sadalas III to end c. 31 BC), followed by Cotys VII, older brother (not brother-in-law) of the Sapaean Rhoemetalces I, and father of Rhescuporis II, but not grandfather of Rhoemetalces II (who would remain son of the Sapaean Rhescuporis II/III, the younger brother of Rhoemetalces I). In Delev 2016a, the same author posits that Cotys VII need not have reigned.
Mladjov, Thracian Kings, University of Michigan, "On the death of the last Astaean king in 11 BC, the Roman emperor Augustus conferred all of Thrace on the dead king’s Sapaean uncle Roimētalkēs I. In AD 46, on the murder of Roimētalkēs III by his wife, the kingdom of Thrace was annexed as a province by the Roman emperor Claudius I."
Tačeva 1997: 83-95, 246-247, develops an alternative to the long-dominant reconstruction of the political, chronological, and genealogical relationships reflected in this list (established by Dessau in 1913 and widely accepted, e.g., Sullivan 1990), having the Odrysian-Astaean line end with Sadalas II in 42 BC, making Cotys VII the brother (not brother-in-law) of the Sapaean Rhoemetalces I, and identifying Cotys VII's son Rhescuporis II (not Rhoemetalces I's brother, the Sapaean Rhescuporis II) as the father of Rhoemetalces II. Despite some improbabilities, this reconstruction has gained some acceptance at least as a viable alternative. A variation on this reconstruction by Delev 2016b accepts ending the Odrysian-Astaean line with Sadalas II (whom he combines with Sadalas III to end c. 31 BC), followed by Cotys VII, older brother (not brother-in-law) of the Sapaean Rhoemetalces I, and father of Rhescuporis II, but not grandfather of Rhoemetalces II (who would remain son of the Sapaean Rhescuporis II/III, the younger brother of Rhoemetalces I). In Delev 2016a, the same author posits that Cotys VII need not have reigned. If Delev's reconstruction is correct, the Sapaean unification of Thrace would be under Cotys II in 31 BC, and he would be followed by his grandson Rhescuporis II, then the latter's uncle and guardian (Cotys II's son) Rhoemetalces I, the remaining relationships remaining unchanged from the ones indicated in this list, except perhaps for the numeration of rulers named Cotys and Rhescuporis.
Readings in Greek History: Sources and Interpretations by D. Brendan Nagle and Stanley M. Burstein, ISBN0-19-517825-4, 2006, page 26: "... Ariapeithes, the Scythian king, had several sons, among them, ... by Spargapeithes, king of the Agathyrsi; whereupon Scylas succeeded to the throne, and married one of ..."
The Histories, translated by G. C. Macaulay, Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2004.
Z. Archibald, The Odrysian kingdom of Thrace, Oxford, 1998.
Berciu, Dumitru (1981). Buridava dacica, Volume 1. Editura Academiei.
P. Delev, "Cotys son of Rhascuporis," in: M. Slavova, N. Šarankov (eds.), Studia Classica Serdicensia V. Monuments and Texts in Antiquity and beyond. Essays for the Centenary of Georgi Mihailov (1915-1991), Sofia, 2016a: 119-129.
P. Delev, "Za genealogijata na Sapejskata dinastija" in: P. Delev (ed.), Symposion. Studies in memory of prof. Dimitar Popov, Sofia, 2016b: 148-173.
H. Dessau, "Reges Thraciae qui fuerint imperante Augusto," Ephemeris Epigraphica 9 (1913) 696-706.
J. Jurukova, Monetite na trakijskite plemena i vladeteli, vol. 1., Sofia, 1992.
M. Manov, "Dekret na Apolonija s novo datirane," Numizmatika, Sfragistika i Epigrafika 11 (2015) 167-173.
R. D. Sullivan, Near Eastern Royalty and Rome, 100-30 BC, Toronto, 1990.
M. Tačeva, Istorija na bălgarskite zemi v drevnostta prez elinističeskata i rimskata epoha, Sofia, 1997.
S. Topalov, The Odrysian Kingdom from the Late 5th to the Mid-4th C. B.C., Sofia, 1994.
S. Topalov, Contributions to the Study of the Coinage and History in the Lands of Eastern Thrace from the End of the 4th C. B.C. to the end of the 3rd C. B.C., Sofia, 2001.
R. Werner, in: W.-D. von Barloewen (ed.), Abriss der Geschichte antiker Randkulturen, Munich, 1961: 83-150, 239-242.
