Seuthes III

Seuthes III (, Seuthēs) was a king of Odrysia, a part of Thrace, during the late 4th century BC (securely attested between 324 and 312 BC). Historical background Following the campaigns of Philip II in 347–342 BC a significant part of Thrace became subject to Macedon. While the three main rulers of Thrace attested during this period of Philip's reign disappear from the sources by the end of the 340s BC, it remains unclear to what extent native Thracian kingship was eliminated. The kings of Macedon governed Thrace through military governors (stratēgoi): Alexander son of Aeropus (341–334 BC), Memnon (334–327 BC), Zopyrion (327–325 BC). After Philip's death in 336 BC, several Thracian tribes revolted against Philip's son Alexander the Great, who defeated the Getae and King Syrmus of the Triballi. Other Thracians sent troops to join Alexander's army, such as the Thracian prince Sitalces, attested as one of Alexander's commanders during his campaign in the East. Life The origins of Seuthes III remain unclear. His historical importance has invited speculation he was closely related to his most important predecessors, for example as a putative son of Cersobleptes and brother of Alexander's commander Sitalces, although neither Seuthes nor Sitalces figure among Cersobleptes' known sons, or as a brother of Cersobleptes and son of Cotys I. Another hypothesis identifies the future Seuthes III with Cersobleptes' deputy (hyparkhos) Seuthes and posits that he was a close relative and descendant of the earlier king Seuthes I.