Tiberius Julius Aspurgus VON BOSPORUS

Tiberius Julius Aspurgus Philoromaios (Greek: Τιβέριος Ἰούλιος Ἀσποῦργoς Φιλορώμαιος, fl. second half of 1st century BC and first half of 1st century AD; died 38) was a prince and Roman client king of the Bosporan Kingdom.

The name Aspurgus is of Iranian origin, derived from aspa (horse) and aspabara (horseman). Aspurgus was of Iranian and possibly Greek ancestry.

Aspurgus was born to Asander, ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom and Dynamis. He was the maternal grandchild to the previous Roman client king of the Bosporan and Pontus, Pharnaces II and his Sarmatian wife.

In 17 BC, Asander died of voluntary starvation from despair at the age of 93 because he witnessed his troops desert him for the Roman usurper, Scribonius. Scribonius pretended to be a relative of Dynamis, so he could seize Asander's throne and become king. Dynamis was forced to marry Scribonius. The Roman statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa discovered Scribonius’ deception and intervened, appointing Polemon I of Pontus as the new Bosporan King. Dynamis married Polemon I, making him Aspurgus' stepfather. Dynamis died in 14 BC and Polemon I reigned until his death in 8 BC.

Aspurgus then succeeded his stepfather. Little is known of Aspurgus’ reign. However, he seemed to have been a strong and capable ruler. Due to previous dynastic conflicts during the Roman Republic and around the period of Asander's death, the Emperor Augustus and the Roman Senate only accepted Aspurgus as the legitimate Bosporan King in 14 AD. Aspurgus adopted the Roman names "Tiberius Julius", because he received Roman citizenship and enjoyed the patronage of Augustus and his heir, Tiberius.

Aspurgus married Gepaepyris, a Thracian princess. Gepaepyris bore Aspurgus two sons:

Tiberius Julius Mithridates, named in honour of Mithridates VI; he died in 68 AD

Tiberius Julius Cotys I, named in honour of his late maternal grandfather, Cotys VIII

Aspurgus reigned until his death in 38 AD. Thereafter, Gepaepyris ruled jointly with their first son until he reached his majority.

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