Bithynia

In the 7th century it was incorporated into the Byzantine Opsikion theme. It became a border region to the Seljuk Empire in the 13th century, and was eventually conquered by the Ottoman Turks between 1325 and 1333.

• Bodyclass — geography • Abovestyle — background:#DEB887; • Subheader — Ancient Region of Anatolia • Above — Bithynia (Βιθυνία) • Label1 — Location • Data1 — Northern Anatolia, present-day Turkey • Label2 — State existed • Data2 — 297–74 BC • Label4 — Historical capitals • Data4 — Nicomedia (İzmit), Nicaea (İznik) • Label5 — Roman province • Data5 — Bithynia • Data8 — * Illustration — Location of Bithynia within Asia Minor/Anatolia • Illustration — Bithynia and Pontus as a province of the Roman Empire, 125 AD Bithynia is a geographical region of northwestern Asia Minor (in present-day Turkey), adjoining the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus, and the Black Sea. It borders Mysia to the southwest, Paphlagonia to the northeast along the Black Sea coast, and Phrygia to the southeast towards the interior of Asia Minor. Hellenistic Bithynia was an independent kingdom from the 3rd century BC. Its capital Nicomedia was rebuilt on the site of ancient Astacus in 264 BC by Nicomedes I. Bithynia was bequeathed to the Roman Republic in 74 BC, and became united with the Pontus region as the province of Bithynia and Pontus. In the 7th century it was incorporated into the Byzantine Opsikion theme. It became a border region to the Seljuk Empire in the 13th century, and was eventually conquered by the Ottoman Turks between 1325 and 1333.

• Illustration — A 15th-century map showing Bithynia

Bithynia is named for the Thracian tribe of the Bithyni, mentioned by Herodotus (VII.75) alongside the Thyni. The "Thraco-Phrygian" migration from the Balkans to Asia Minor would have taken place at some point following the Bronze Age collapse or during the early Iron Age. The Thyni and Bithyni appear to have settled simultaneously in the adjoining parts of Asia, where they expelled or subdued the Mysians, Caucones and other minor tribes. According to one view, small indigenous peoples, such as the Mariandyni, managed to survive in the northeastern lands of Bithynia. According to Strabo, the Mariandyni were a branch of the Bithyni and of Thracian origin. They settled east of the river Hypius (today Büyük Melen Su). Different views suggest that the Mariandyni people may have been a native tribe similar to the Paphlagonians or shared a common ancestor with them. Herodotus mentions the Thyni and Bithyni as settling side by side. No trace of their original language has been preserved, but Herodotus describes them as of Thracian extraction. Later the Greeks established on the coast the colonies of Cius, Chalcedon (modern Kadıköy) and Heraclea Pontica. The Bithynians were incorporated by king Croesus within the Lydian monarchy, which was conquered by Persia in 546 BC. Bithynia was included in the satrapy of Phrygia, which comprised all the countries up to the Hellespont and Bosporus.

Even before the conquest by Alexander the Great, the Bithynians appear to have asserted their independence, and successfully maintained it under two native princes, Bas and Zipoites, the latter of whom assumed the title of king (basileus) in 297 BC. His son and successor, Nicomedes I, founded Nicomedia, which soon rose to great prosperity, and during his long reign (c. 278 BC), as well as those of his successors, Prusias I, Prusias II and Nicomedes II (149–91 BC), the kings of Bithynia had a considerable standing and influence among the minor monarchies of Asia Minor. But the last king, Nicomedes IV, was unable to maintain himself in power against Mithridates VI of Pontus. After being restored to his throne by the Roman Senate, he bequeathed his kingdom through his will to the Roman Republic (74 BC). The coinage of these kings show their portraits, which tend to be engraved in an extremely accomplished Hellenistic style.

As a Roman province, the boundaries of Bithynia changed frequently. During this period, Bithynia was commonly united for administrative purposes with the province of Pontus. This was the situation at the time of Emperor Trajan, when Pliny the Younger was appointed governor of the combined provinces (109/110111/112), a circumstance which has provided historians with valuable information concerning the Roman provincial administration at that time.

• Illustration — The Constantinople Gate in Nicaea • Illustration — Provinces of the Byzantine Empire in 717 Under the Byzantine Empire, Bithynia was again divided into two provinces, separated by the Sangarius. Only the area to the west of the river retained the name of Bithynia. Bithynia attracted much attention because of its roads and its strategic position between the frontiers of the Danube in the north and the Euphrates in the south-east. To secure communications with the eastern provinces, the monumental bridge across the river Sangarius was constructed around 562. Troops frequently wintered at Nicomedia. During this time, the most important cities in Bithynia were Nicomedia and Nicaea. The two had a long rivalry with each other over which held the rank of capital.

• Hipparchus of Nicaea (2nd century BC), Greek astronomer, discovered precession and discovered how to predict the timing of eclipses • Theodosius of Bithynia (2nd century BC), Greek astronomer and mathematician • Asclepiades of Bithynia (c. 169 BC – c. 100 BC), Greek physician • Antinous (2nd century), Catamite and eromenos of the Roman Emperor Hadrian • Cassius Dio (c. 155 – c. 235), Roman historian, senator, and consul • Arrian (Lucius Flavius Arrianus), Greek historian, c. 86–160 • Helena, mother of Constantine the Great c. 250 • Phrynichus Arabius (2nd century), grammarian • Auxentius of Bithynia (c. 400 – 473), hermit • Hypatius of Bithynia (died c. 450), hermit • Vendemianus of Bithynia (6th century), hermit • Osman I (c. 1254– 1323), the founder of the Ottoman Empire

* * *

* * * * *

* * *