Bithynia

• Bithynia was a Roman Province located in the Black Sea Region of modern Turkey.

1. History

• Pre-Roman history:
  • 560 BCE Conquered by Croesus, King of Lydia.
  • 556 BCE Conquered by the Persians and absorbed into the Persian Empire.
  • 334 BCE Conquered by Alexander the Great.
  • 323 BCE Ruled by Antigonus I, one of Alexander’s Generals who founded Nicaea (Iznik)
  • Ziboetes regained independence for the Bithynians. The Kingdom was ruled by Bithynian Kings until Nicomedes III.
• Acquisition by Rome:
  • 74 BCE Kingdom of Bithynia bequeathed to Rome by Nicomedes III, a close ally of Rome.
  • 63 BCE united with Pontus to become ‘Bithynia et Pontus’.
• Timeline of this Province:
• After Diocletian’s Reforms of 297 CE:
  • 297 CE Nicomedia became the Capital of the Eastern Empire.
  • 324 CE 18 Sep: Battle of Chrysopolis (Uskudar) where Constantine I defeated Licinius.
  • Diocletian's Palace at Nicomedia built at Nicomedia.
• After Death of Theodosius in 395 CE:
  • Became part of the Eastern Empire.
• Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Dio Cassius of Nicaea (circa 164-235 CE) Roman Historian, Senator, Consul
  • Arrian of Nicomedia (c.86-160 CE Lucius Flavius Arrianus)
• Chief archeological Finds:
  • Nicaea
• Historic Battle Sites:
  • Battle of the Hellespont in 324 CE.

2. Geography

• Capital City:
  • Nicomedia (Izmit)
• Chief Cities:
  • Nicaea (Iznik), Cius (Gemlik), Chalcedon (Kadikoy, eastern Istanbul), Heraclea Pontica (Karadeniz Eregli), Prusia (Bursa)
• Location Today:
  • Coastal Region of Northwestern Asia Minor (Turkey) which ran along the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Black Sea.
• Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Pontus (East), Asia (South), Galatia (East), Thracia (West across the Sea of Marmara).
• Climate and Temperature Today:
  • Temperate Mediterranean Climate mixed with a Temperate Oceanic Climate:
  • Summers: warm to hot, and dry.
  • Winters: Cool to cold and wet.
• Main Geographical features:
• Main Rivers:
  • R. Sangarius
• Mountain Ranges:
• Islands:

3. Political Organisation

• Province Type:
  • Senatorial Propraetorial Province
• Governor:
  • Propraetor
  • Pliny the Younger (c.61-112 CE), Governor of Pontus et Bithynia in c.110 CE.
• Tribes and Population:
  • Bithyni, a tribe who emigrated from Thrace
  • Thyni and the Greeks.
• Language:
  • Greek.

4. Military Organisation

• Legions: None
• Navy: None
• Defensive Works: None
• Main Threats:

5. Economy

• Chief Exports:
• Agriculture and Fishing:
• Manufacturing:
• Mines:
• Mints:

6. Transport

• Roads:
  • Byzantium–Ankara
    • The Road from Byzantium used a ferry crossing over the Bosphorus then continued through Nicomedia to Ancyra.
  • Byzantium–Trabzon
    • A Coastal Road ran along the Black Sea from opposite Byzantium through to Sinope and Trabzon (Trapezus).
• Waterways:
  • River Sangarius
• Ports:
  • Nicomedia
• Ancient Trade Routes:
• Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

• A very loyal Roman Province.
• It’s Ports and Roads controlled the Troop movements between the Danube and the Persian Frontier.
• Bithynia controlled the Southern coast of the Sea of Marmara.
• Nicomedia was always an important military city protecting the Eastern flank of the City of Byzantium.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

• First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea
  • This was held in Nicaea, Bithynia, in 325 CE to decide the Theology of Christianity. It resulted in the approval of the Nicene Creed as the basis of Christianity.

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

Bithynia (capital Nicomedia (Izmit), Turkey)