Satrapies > Hellespontine Phrygia

Hellespontine Phrygia

Background

Hellespontine Phrygia (Ancient Greek: Ἑλλησποντιακὴ Φρυγία, Hellēspontiakē Phrygia) or Lesser Phrygia (μικρᾶ Φρυγία, mikra Phrygia) was a Persian satrapy (province) in northwestern Anatolia, directly southeast of the Hellespont. Its capital was Dascylium, and for most of its existence it was ruled by the hereditary Iranian Pharnacid dynasty. Together with Greater Phrygia, it made up the administrative provinces of the Phrygia region.

The satrapy was created in the beginning of the fifth century BC, during the time of administrative reorganisations of the territories in western Asia Minor, which were amongst the most important Achaemenid territories. It was ruled by a hereditary Iranian dynasty, that of the Pharnacids, which was closely related to the Achaemenid dynasty itself.

As Alexander the Great was conquering and incorporating the Achaemenid Empire, he appointed Calas, a Macedonian General to govern Hellespontine Phrygia in 334 BC, after he had sent Parmenio to secure Dascylium, the provincial capital. Calas, being the very first non-Achaemenid ruler of the province, was awarded the Persian title of "satrap", rather than a Macedonian title, and Alexander instructed him to collect the same tribute from his subjects that had been paid to Darius III. After Alexander's death in 323, the satrapy was awarded to Leonnatus, who was killed in action in the Lamian War. The region was seized by Lysimachus, was added to the Seleucid Empire after the Battle of Corupedium (281 BC), and was finally integrated in the Bithynian kingdom.

Persian Satraps

Artabazos I of Phrygia - r. 477 - 455 (?)

Pharnabazus I - r. 455 (?) - before 430

Pharnaces II - r. before 430 - after 422

Pharnabazus II - r. before 413 - 387

Ariobarzanes of Phrygia - r. 387-363/362

Artabazos II - r. 363/362-353

Arsites - r. 353-334

Alexandrian satraps

Calas - r. 334-323

Leonnatus - r. 323-321

Satrapies

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Sources

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