Oktamasades
Oktamasades was a brief ruler of the Sindike Kingdom and a son of Hekataios and Tirgatao. He usurped the throne from his father[1] some time in 383 BC after his failed war against Oktamasades's mother, Tirgatao.
Oktamasades | |
---|---|
King of the Sindike Kingdom | |
Reign | circa. 383-380 BC |
Predecessor | Hekataios |
Successor | Leukon I |
Born | Sindike Kingdom |
Biography
His accession to the throne was likely backed by the Sindian aristocracy, as his father was probably unpopular due to his previous affairs and having been restored by Satyros I who perhaps made him even more unpopular.[2] In the ensuing days of his accession to the throne, he was induced by his mother to make war on the Bosporan Kingdom who was at the time under the rule of the ambitious and militaristic ruler, Leukon. Heeding to his mother's words, he attacked the Bosporan city of Labrytai which provoked Leukon into a battle.[3] It can be speculated that Leukon was already setting his sights in fully annexing the Sindians, and used this as an excuse to finally do so. In the following Battle of Labrytai, Leukon completely routed Oktamsades's forces and forced him to flee into Scythia. After this battle, nothing more is known about him.
References
- Tokhtasev, S.R. Bosporus and the Sindike In the era of Leukon I.
when his own son rebelled against him.
- Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2.
The rebellion of Oktamasades would also hardly have been possible without active support from some section of that aristocracy.
- Tokhtasev, S.R. Bosporus and the Sindike In the era of Leukon I.
Leukon came out in defence of the legal power of Hekataios, king of Sindike, who had long been a vassal of the Bosporus