View source for Bithynia

{{short description|Region in Anatolia}}
{{for|the genus of snails|Bithynia (gastropod)}}
{{Infobox
| bodyclass        = geography
| abovestyle       = background:#DEB887;
| subheader        = Ancient Region of Anatolia
| above            = Bithynia (Βιθυνία)
| image            = [[Image:Bithynian Kingdom.png|300px]]
| caption          = Kingdom of Bithynia during the late reign of [[Prusias I of Bithynia|Prusias I]] (182 BC).
| 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 provinces|Roman province]]
| data5            = Bithynia
| data8            = [[File:Asia Minor in the Greco-Roman period - general map - regions and main settlements.jpg|thumb|300px|Location of Bithynia within [[Asia Minor]]/[[Anatolia]]]]
}}
[[File: Roman Empire - Bythinia et Pontus (125 AD).svg|thumb|300px|Bithynia and Pontus as a province of the Roman Empire, 125 AD]]
'''Bithynia''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ᵻ|ˈ|θ|ɪ|n|i|ə}}; {{langx|grc-x-koine|Βιθυνία|Bithynía}}) 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 period|Hellenistic]] [[Kingdom of Bithynia|Bithynia]] was an independent kingdom from the 3rd century BC. Its capital [[Nicomedia]] was rebuilt on the site of ancient [[Astacus in Bithynia|Astacus]] in 264 BC by [[Nicomedes I of Bithynia|Nicomedes I]]. Bithynia was bequeathed to the [[Roman Republic]] in 74 BC, and became united with the [[Pontus (region)]] region as the province of [[Bithynia and Pontus]].

In the 7th century it was incorporated into the Byzantine [[Opsikion]] [[Theme (Byzantine district)|theme]]. It became a border region to the [[Seljuk Empire]] in the 13th century, and was eventually conquered by the [[Rise of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] [[Siege of Nicomedia|between 1325 and 1333]].

==Description==
Several major cities sat on the fertile shores of the Propontis (which is now known as the [[Sea of Marmara]]): Nicomedia, [[Chalcedon]], [[Cius]] and [[Apamea (Bithynia)|Apamea]]. Bithynia also contained [[Nicaea]], noted for being the birthplace of the [[Nicene Creed]].

According to [[Strabo]], Bithynia was bounded on the east by the river Sangarius (modern [[Sakarya River|Sakarya]]), but the more commonly received division extended it to the [[Billaeus]] ([[Filyos River|Filyos]]), which separated it from [[Paphlagonia]], thus comprising the district inhabited by the [[Mariandyni]]. A less common view holds that the much less important [[Parthenius River]] (modern [[Bartın River|Bartın]]) marked the eastern border of Bithynia. On the west and southwest it was separated from [[Mysia]] by the [[Rhyndacus]] river and on the south it adjoined [[Phrygia]] and [[Galatia]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=12}}

It was occupied by mountains and forests, but had valleys and coastal districts of great fertility. The most important mountain range was the so-called [[Uludağ|Mysian or Bithynian Olympus]] ({{convert|8000|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=comma}}), which towers above [[Prusa (Bithynia)|Prusa]] (modern [[Bursa, Turkey|Bursa]]) and is clearly visible as far away as [[Istanbul]] ({{convert|70|mi|km|disp=comma}}). Its summits are covered with snow for a great part of the year.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=12}} East of this the range extends for more than {{convert|100|mi|km}}, from the Sakarya to [[Paphlagonia]].

The broad tract which projects towards the west as far as the shores of the Bosporus, though hilly and covered with forests (known in [[Turkey|Turkish]] today as the ''Ağaç Denizi'', or "Sea of Trees") is not traversed by any mountain chain. The west coast is indented by two deep inlets: the northernmost, the Gulf of Astacus (today the [[Gulf of İzmit]]), penetrating between {{convert|40|and|50|mi|km}} into the interior as far as [[Nicomedia]] (today [[İzmit]]), separated by an [[isthmus]] of only about {{convert|25|mi|km}} from the [[Black Sea]]; and the Gulf of Cius (today the [[Gulf of Gemlik]]), about {{convert|25|mi|km}} long. At the extremity of the latter there was the small town of Cius (today Gemlik), at the mouth of a valley, communicating with [[Lake İznik|Lake Ascania]], on which Nicaea was located.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=12}}

The principal rivers were: the Sangarios, which traversed the province from south to north; the Rhyndacus, which separated it from Mysia; and the Billaeus, which rose in the Aladağ, about {{convert|50|mi|km}} from the sea, and after flowing by modern [[Bolu]] (ancient Bithynion/Claudiopolis) emptied into the Black Sea, close to the ruins of the ancient [[Tium]], about {{convert|40|mi|km}} northeast of [[Heraclea Pontica]] (the modern [[Karadeniz Ereğli]]), having a course of more than {{convert|100|mi|km}}.

The valleys towards the Black Sea abounded in fruit trees of all kinds, such as oranges, while the valley of the Sangarius and the plains near Prusa and Nicaea were fertile and well-cultivated. Extensive plantations of [[mulberry]] trees supplied the silk for which Prusa had long been celebrated, and which was manufactured there on a large scale.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=12}}

==History==
[[Image:15th century map of Turkey region.jpg|thumb|right|A 15th-century map showing Bithynia]]

===Iron Age===
Bithynia is named for the [[Thracians|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 [[Thracians|Thracian]] origin. They settled east of the river [[Hypius]] (today Büyük Melen Su).<ref>''Geography'' 7. 3. 2</ref> Different views suggest that the [[Mariandyni]] people may have been a native tribe similar to the [[Paphlagonia|Paphlagonians]] or shared a common ancestor with them.<ref>''Histories'' 3.90</ref><ref>''Geography'' 8. 3. 17</ref> Herodotus mentions the Thyni and Bithyni as settling side by side.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=12}} No trace of their original language has been preserved, but Herodotus describes them as of Thracian extraction.

Later the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] established on the coast the colonies of Cius, Chalcedon (modern [[Kadıköy]]) and Heraclea Pontica.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=13}}

The Bithynians were incorporated by king [[Croesus]] within the [[Lydia]]n monarchy, which was conquered by [[Persian Empire|Persia]] in 546 BC. Bithynia was included in the [[satrapy]] of [[Phrygia]], which comprised all the countries up to the Hellespont and Bosporus.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=12}}

===Kingdom of Bithynia===
{{Main|Kingdom of Bithynia}}
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 of Bithynia|Bas]] and [[Zipoites I of Bithynia|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 ({{circa|278|255}} BC), as well as those of his successors, [[Prusias I of Bithynia|Prusias I]], [[Prusias II of Bithynia|Prusias II]] and [[Nicomedes II of Bithynia|Nicomedes II]] (149–91 BC), the [[List of rulers of Bithynia|kings]] of Bithynia had a considerable standing and influence among the minor monarchies of Asia Minor. But the last king, [[Nicomedes IV of Bithynia|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).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=13}}

The coinage of these kings show their portraits, which tend to be engraved in an extremely accomplished [[Hellenization|Hellenistic]] style.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=31|title=Kings of Bithynia - Asia Minor Coins - Photo Gallery|website=www.asiaminorcoins.com}}</ref>

===Roman province===
{{main|Bithynia and Pontus}}
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 [[Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Trajan]], when [[Pliny the Younger]] was appointed governor of the combined provinces (109/110{{snd}}111/112), a circumstance which has provided historians with valuable information concerning the Roman provincial administration at that time.

=== Byzantine province ===
[[File:Istanbul_Gate,_Iznik,_Turkey_(37659560615).jpg|thumb|250px|The Constantinople Gate in [[Nicaea]]]]
[[File:Bizancum-temy_717.svg|thumb|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.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=13}}

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 [[Praetorian prefecture of the East|eastern provinces]], the monumental [[Sangarius Bridge|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.

== Notable people ==
*[[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, [[Roman senate|senator]], and [[Roman consul|consul]]
*[[Arrian]] (Lucius Flavius Arrianus), Greek historian, c. 86–160
*[[Helena, mother of Constantine I|Helena]], mother of [[Constantine the Great]] {{circa|250|330}}
*[[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

==See also==
*[[Bithynian coinage]]
*[[Asia Minor Slavs]]
*[[Ancient regions of Anatolia]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{EB1911 |wstitle = Bithynia |volume = 4 |pages = 12-13 }}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
===Hellenistic===
* {{cite book |last1=Paganoni |first1=Eloisa |title=Forging the Crown: A History of the Kingdom of Bithynia from Its Origin to Prusias I |date=2019 |publisher="L'Erma" di Bretschneider |isbn=978-88-913-1895-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glVVzQEACAAJ |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Michels |first1=Christoph |title=Kulturtransfer und Monarchischer Philhellenismus: Bithynien, Pontos und Kappadokien in Hellenistischer Zeit |date=2008 |publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH KG |isbn=978-3-89971-536-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SpzSwAEACAAJ |language=de}}
*{{cite book |last1=Scholten |first1=Joseph |editor1-last=Elton |editor1-first=Hugh |editor2-last=Reger |editor2-first=Gary |title=Regionalism in Hellenistic and Roman Asia Minor |date=2019 |publisher=Ausonius Éditions |isbn=978-2-35613-276-5 |pages=17–24 |url=https://books.openedition.org/ausonius/1169?lang=en |chapter=Building Hellenistic Bithynia}}
===Roman===
*{{cite book |last1=Bekker-Nielsen |first1=Tonnes |title=Urban Life and Local Politics in Roman Bithynia: The Small World of Dion Chrysostomos |date=2008 |publisher=Aarhus Universitetsforlag |isbn=978-87-7124-752-7 |url=http://www.pontos.dk/publications/books/black-sea-studies-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301120432/http://www.pontos.dk/publications/books/black-sea-studies-7 |archive-date=2012-03-01 |language=en}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Bowie |first1=Ewen |title=Greek High Culture in Hellenistic and Early Imperial Bithynia: Towards a Prosopography of Practitioners of Greek Culture in Bithynia Down to the Middle of the Third Century AD |journal=Mnemosyne |date=2022 |volume=75 |issue=1 |pages=73–112 |doi=10.1163/1568525X-bja10120 |issn=0026-7074|doi-access=free }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Harris |first1=B. F. |editor-first1=Hildegard |editor-last1=Temporini |title=Bithynia: Roman Sovereignty and the Survival of Hellenism |journal=Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt |date=2016 |volume=2.7.2 |pages=857–901 |doi=10.1515/9783110860429-007 |isbn=9783110860429 |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110860429-007/html?lang=en|url-access=subscription }}
*{{cite book |last1=Marek |first1=Christian |title=Pontus et Bithynia: die römischen Provinzen im Norden Kleinasiens |date=2003 |publisher=Von Zabern |isbn=978-3-8053-2925-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zu1tAAAAMAAJ |language=de}}
* {{cite book |last=Storey |first=Stanley Jonathon |title=Bithynia: history and administration to the time of Pliny the Younger |orig-year=1998 |url=https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item?id=MQ34324&op=pdf&app=Library |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |access-date=2007-05-21 |year=1999 |publisher=National Library of Canada |location=Ottawa |isbn=0-612-34324-3 }}
===Byzantine===
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Darrouzès|editor-first=Jean|title=Notitiae Episcopatuum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae|year=1981|location=Paris|publisher=Institut français d'études byzantines|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pxfZAAAAMAAJ}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Komatina|first=Predrag|title=Settlement of the Slavs in Asia Minor During the Rule of Justinian II and the Bishopric των Γορδοσερβων|journal=Београдски историјски гласник: Belgrade Historical Review|year=2014|volume=5|pages=33–42|url=https://dais.sanu.ac.rs/bitstream/handle/123456789/6307/bitstream_19777.pdf}}
* {{Cite book|last=Ostrogorsky|first=George|author-link=George Ostrogorsky|title=History of the Byzantine State|year=1956|location=Oxford|publisher=Basil Blackwell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bt0_AAAAYAAJ}}
{{Historical regions of Anatolia}}
{{Roman provinces AD 117}}
{{Late Roman Provinces|state=collapsed}}
{{Ancient kingdoms in Anatolia }}

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[[Category:Bithynia| ]]
[[Category:Historical regions of Anatolia]]
[[Category:Praetorian prefecture of the East]]
[[Category:Provinces of the Byzantine Empire]]
[[Category:History of Bursa Province]]
[[Category:History of Kocaeli Province]]
[[Category:History of Sakarya Province]]
[[Category:History of Bilecik Province]]
[[Category:History of Düzce Province]]
[[Category:History of Yalova Province]]
[[Category:History of Bolu Province]]
[[Category:History of Kastamonu Province]]
[[Category:History of Bartın Province]]
[[Category:History of Zonguldak Province]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 3rd century BC]]
[[Category:297 BC]]
[[Category:290s BC establishments]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 1st century BC]]