Middle East Kingdoms

Paphlagonia

This was an ancient region on the coast of the Black Sea in northern Anatolia which was relatively unimportant in its historical level of participation in events. Much of the country is rugged and mountainous, with occasional fertile valley regions, and its inhabitants were often regarded as ungovernable barnarians. It emerged at the end of the second millennium BC during the Bronze Age collapse, with Luwian-speaking Indo-Europeans apparently migrating into the previously Kaskan territory from neighbouring Tabal (later known as Cappadocia). In Classical times Paphlagonia was located between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east. Phrygia lay far to the south-west but was separated from it by a mountain range.

c.1180s BC

Pylaemenes of the Eneti

The Eneti was a Thracian tribe.

c.1193 - 1183 BC

Pylaemenes of the shaggy breast leads the Paphlagonian force to the Trojan War on the side of Troy, which includes contingents from Aegialus, Cromna, Cytorus, Erythini, Sesamus, and from along the River Parthenius. A contingent of Halizones which also fights for Troy could be from Paphlagonia.

c. 630 BC

Settlers from Miletus in Caria found the city of Sinope.

c. 585 BC

Paphlagonia is conquered by Lydia.

547 BC

The Persians invade and conquer Anatolia, and Paphlagonia appears to be granted special status, perhaps due to the ungovernable nature of the land. The natives retain their own princes who rule independently of neighbouring satraps.

480 BC

Paphlagonia contributes an important contingent to the Persian army of Xerxes which invades Greece.

334 - 323 BC

Lydia is conquered by Alexander the Great's Greek Empire, but continues to be ruled by native princes.

323 - 319 BC

Eumenes of Cardia

Greek satrap and former secretary to Alexander.

319 - 301 BC

The region becomes part of the Empire of Antigonus.

301 BC

Pontus secures much of the region under Mithradates I Ktistes.

183 BC

With the conquest of Sinope, Pontus secures all of Paphlagonia.