Cotys III (Sapaean)

Sextus Julius Cotys III (Ancient Greek: Κότυς, flourished second half of 1st century BC and first half of 1st century, died 18 AD) was the Sapaean Roman client king of eastern Thrace from 12 to 18 AD.

[1] Cotys was the son and heir of loyal Roman client rulers Rhoemetalces I and Pythodoris I of Thrace.

Cotys' mother is only known through surviving numismatic evidence, which bears her image and her Royal title of Queen Pythodoris.

Rhescuporis I died in 13 BC when he was defeated and slain in a battle by Vologaeses, chief of the Thracian Bessi, who was a leader in the revolt against the Romans in that year.

Cotys had married the Antonia Tryphaena, a Pontian princess who was the daughter of Roman client rulers, Polemon Pythodoros and Pythodorida of Pontus.

Ovid praises Cotys for his cultivated taste for literature, and claimed his favour and protection as a brother-poet.

In 18 AD Cotys was murdered by order of Rhescuporis II who falsely represented his death as self-inflicted.

The son of Rhescuporis II, Rhoemetalces III was spared by Tiberius and the emperor allowed him to return to Thrace.