Rhoemetalces I

His younger brother was Rhescuporis II (Sapaean); his sister married to Cotys VII (Astaean).

When Cotys VII died about 48 BC Rhoemetalces I became the guardian of his nephew Rhescuporis II (Astaean), his sister's young son and heir.

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

As Rhescuporis II (Astaean) had left no heir, Rhoemetalces I became King of whole Thrace in 12 BC.

His wife and the mother of his heir, known only through numismatic evidence, was Queen Pythodoris I. Rhoemetalces I ruled Thrace until his death in 12.

ΑΕ 23.7, 11.1 g., struck 11 BC - 12 AD. The obverse shows the emperor Augustus, legend: ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ; while the reverse shows Rhoemetalces I and his wife Pythodoris I, legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΡΟΙΜΗΤΑΛΚΟΥ. ^{[

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