Editing Bithynia (section)

==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, the [[Mariandyni]] maintaining themselves in the northeast. 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 related to the tribes of Thracian extraction.

Later the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] established on the coast the colonies of Cius (modern Gemlik); [[Chalcedon]] (modern [[Kadıköy]]), at the entrance of the Bosporus, nearly opposite [[Byzantium]] (modern [[Istanbul]]) and [[Heraclea Pontica]] (modern Karadeniz Ereğli), on the Euxine, about {{convert|120|mi|km}} east of the Bosporus.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=13}}

The Bithynians were incorporated by king [[Croesus]] within the [[Lydia]]n monarchy, with which they fell under the dominion of [[Persian Empire|Persia]] (546 BC), and were 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|Alexander]], 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 of Bithynia|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 [[Kingdom of Bithynia|Bithynia]] had a considerable standing and influence among the minor monarchies of [[Anatolia]]. 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 regal 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 (region)|Pontus]] within the [[Roman Empire]]. 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]]]]

Under the [[Byzantine Empire]], Bithynia was again divided into two provinces, separated by the [[Sakarya River|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]], founded by Nicomedes, and [[Nicaea]]. The two had a long rivalry with each other over which city held the rank of capital.