Kingdom of Bithynia: Map & History
The Kingdom of Bithynia was a Hellenistic kingdom centred in the historical region of Bithynia, in northwest Anatolia, which seems to have been established in the 4th century BC.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Kingdom of Bithynia was a Hellenistic kingdom centred in the historical region of Bithynia, in northwest Anatolia, which seems to have been established in the 4th century BC. In the midst of the Wars of the Diadochi, Zipoites assumed the Greek title of basileus in 297 BC.
Modern Countries Once Part of Kingdom of Bithynia
At its mapped extent, Kingdom of Bithynia covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Kingdom of Bithynia's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Kingdom of Bithynia in Depth
History
The population of Bithynia is thought to have been of Thracian origin. According to Memnon of Heraclea, the native prince Bas of Bithynia managed to defeat Alexander the Great's general Calas in battle (probably around 330 BC). His son Zipoites I assumed the Greek title basileus (meaning "king") in 297 BC.
His son and successor, Nicomedes I, founded Nicomedia, which soon rose to great prosperity, and during his long reign (c. 278 – c. 255 BC), Bithynia developed considerable standing and influence among the minor monarchies of Anatolia.
Under king Prusias I (r. c. 228 – 182 BC), Bithynia first came into contact with the Roman Republic.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kingdom of Bithynia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kingdom of Bithynia Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Kingdom of Bithynia appears, with the other states of the time.
Kingdom of Bithynia Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 30,213 km² in 72 BCE.
Kingdom of Bithynia: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Kingdom of Bithynia exist?
The Kingdom of Bithynia is dated to 333 BCE – 67 BCE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of the Kingdom of Bithynia?
The capital of the Kingdom of Bithynia was Nicomedia.
How large was the Kingdom of Bithynia at its peak?
At its peak in 72 BC the Kingdom of Bithynia covered about 30,213 km².
How did the map of the Kingdom of Bithynia change over time?
The Kingdom of Bithynia appears on 3 dated world maps in the atlas, from 323 BCE to 100 BCE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.