BITHYNIA was an ancient kingdom of Asia Minor, bounded on the north by the Euxine Sea, on the east by the river Parthenius, on the south by mount Olympus and the river Rhyndacus, and on the west by the Propontis and the Thracian Bospho rus. The information which we derive from the page of ancient history respecting, this country, is so full of contradictions, that it appears impossible to ascer tain what leader laid the foundations of this dynasty, or what people obeyed his command. But as we meet with the Cimmerii, the Mariandyni, the Be bryces, the eaucones, the Dolliones, roaming through this region at an early period, it is probable that it was first inhabited by various independent tribes. But, instead of conducting Ninus to the conquest of this country, by the doubtful light of Diodorus ; in stead of repeating the tale of Appian, concerning the 49 kings who reigned there before the Romans visit ed Asia ; instead of marching with the Thracians, from the ruins of Troy, to take possession of this re gion,—we shall confine ourselves to that period of its history which, being better authenticated, claims more deservedly our attention.
From the doubtful light which first rises on the history of this country, we imagine, that Prusias go verned in the time of Crcesus, and that he was sub jugated by the Lydian prince. But the conquerors and the conquered were doomed to yield to the Per. sians, under Cyrus the Great ; and under their yoke Bithynia groaned till Alexander broke the power of Persia, and annexed it to his vast empire. Bas, the son of Boteras, governed about this time the de pendent kingdom of Bithynia ; but, disdaining the name without the dignity of royalty, he inspired his subjects with his own independent spirit, defeated Calentus, whom Alexander sent against him, and maintained his freedom during a long reign of 50 years. Zipoetes, who succeeded him, waged an un successful war with the brave inhabitants of Hera clea ; but would have reduce to subjection the Chal cedonians, whom he next invaded, if he had not been forced to abandon the siege of their capita], to op, pose the army of Antiochus Soter, king of Syria, which, commanded by Patrocles, suddenly burst in to Bithynia. He did not long survive a complete
victory, which by valour and stratagem he gained over the Syrians, but, in the 48th year of his reign, left the kingdom to his son Nicomedes. This prince disgraced his throne by the inhuman murder of two of his brothers. Zipoetes, the youngest, fled to Asiatic Thrace, and engaged the inhabitants to as sert his cause. Nicomedes, when ready to reduce that revolted province, was informed that Antiochus was preparing to fall upon him. Distrusting his own power, he invited, from the western shores of the Bosphorus, the Gauls into Asia, and promised them a settlement in that country. Assisted by these barbarians, he defeated Antiochus, expelled his bro ther, and, either from a principle of justice or fear, yielded the territory which his brother possessed to the Gauls, which from them was denominated Gala tia. Nicomedes employed the remainder of his reign in building a magnificent city, to be the capital of his kingdom, and which, from his own name, he call ed Nicomedia.
Tibites, his youngest son, to whom, at the insti gation of that prince's mother, he had bequeathed the kingdom, succeeded him ; but Zela, his eldest son by a former marriage, left Armenia, whither he had been banished by the intrigues of his stepmother, procured the assistance of the Galatians, expelled his brother, and ascended the throne. But Zela percei ved, that the band which he had employed against his brother might soon be employed against himself, and began to suspect the fidelity of those whose power lie dreaded. Wanting courage to subdue their arms, he had recourse to treac:.ery, and, inviting the ' nobles of Galatia to a splendid entertainment, he pre pared a band of iffians to assassinate his guests ; but the Galatians received private intelligence of his de sign, and murdered him at the beginning of the en tertainment.