Rhascu'poris
2. Brother of Rhoemetalces, king of Thrace, and jointly with him defeated, A. D. 6, the Dalmatians and Breucians in Macedonia [BATON, No. 2]. On the death of Rhoemetalces, Rhascuporis received from Augustus a portion of his dominions, the remainder being awarded to his nephew Cotys, son of the deceased [COTYS, No. 5]. Rhascuporis was discontented, either with his share of Thrace -- the barren mountainous district had been assigned him, -- or with divided power; but so long as Augustus lived he did not dare to disturb the apportionment. On the emperor's decease, however, he invaded his nephew's kingdom, and hardly desisted at Tiberius' command. Next, on pretence of an amicable adjustment, Rhascuporis invited his nephew to a conference, seized his person, and threw him into prison; and finally, thinking a completed crime safer than an imperfect one, put him to death. To Tiberius Rhascuporis alleged the excuse of self-defence, and that the arrest and murder of his nephew merely prevented his own assassination.
The emperor, however, summoned the usurper to Rome, that the matter might be investigated, and Rhascuporis, on pretext of war with the Scythian Bastarnae, began to collect an army.
But he was enticed into the Roman camp by Pomponius Flaccus [No. 2], propraetor of Mysia, sent to Rome, condemned, and relegated to Alexandria, where an excuse was presently found for putting him to death, A. D. 19.
He left a son, Rhoemetalces, who succeeded to his father's moiety of Thrace. (
Tac. Ann. 2.64-
67,
3.38;
Vell. 2.129;
Suet. Tib. 37;
D. C. 4.30.)
