Through his maternal grandmother Antonia Tryphaena, he was a descendant of Roman triumvir Mark Antony.

Through Aspurgus, Cotys I was a descendant of the Greek Macedonian Kings: Antigonus I Monophthalmus, Seleucus I Nicator and Regent, Antipater.

In 45, for unknown reasons, Claudius deposed Mithridates from the Bosporan throne and installed Cotys instead.

He was able to seize control of the local tribes and collect an army to declare war on Cotys and Aquila.

He was displayed as a public figure beside the platform in the Roman Forum along with his guards and his expression remained undoubted.

Mithridates appealed to the Emperor for mercy to be spared from a triumphal procession or capital punishment.

Cotys named his son after Rhescuporis II, a Thracian prince and king, who was a paternal uncle of his maternal grandfather.

In 68, the new Roman Emperor Galba restored the Bosporan Kingdom to Rhescuporis, son of Cotys.