Colchis and the Black Sea kingdoms (c. 6th century BCE–1st century CE)

1. Milesian Greeks found Phasis trading colony

   Jan 1, 600 BCELabels: Phasis, Milesian Greeks

   A Greek emporion at Phasis (near modern Poti) was founded by Milesian Greeks, marking an early phase of Greek colonization and long-distance commerce on the Colchian coast.

   • Phasis
   • Britannica

2. Greek coastal settlement network expands in Colchis

   Jan 1, 550 BCELabels: Dioscurias, Greek settlements

   By the late Archaic period, additional Greek settlements (traditionally including Dioscurias and others) developed along the Colchian littoral, integrating local production and Black Sea maritime trade.

   • Britannica
   • Forbes Georgia

3. Colchis under nominal Achaemenid suzerainty

   Jan 1, 525 BCELabels: Colchis, Achaemenid Empire

   From the 6th century BCE, Colchis is commonly described in modern syntheses as falling within the Achaemenid Empire’s sphere as a nominal overlordship, shaping regional geopolitics without full direct integration like core satrapies.

   • Britannica

4. Xenophon’s Ten Thousand traverse the Pontic coast

   Jan 1, 401 BCELabels: Xenophon, Ten Thousand

   During the retreat of the Greek mercenaries after Cunaxa, Xenophon’s narrative places Greek forces on the southeastern Black Sea coast among/near groups associated with the wider Colchian–Pontic world, providing an important Greek literary window into the region.

   • Anabasis

5. Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax describes Black Sea route

   Jan 1, 330 BCELabels: Periplus of, Black Sea

   The Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax (mid-4th century BCE) reflects Greek geographical knowledge of the Black Sea, including the eastern littoral with its Greek cities and adjacent peoples—context for how Colchis was mapped and conceptualized by Greeks.

   • Pseudo Scylax

6. Mithridates VI’s Pontic system expands into Colchis

   Jan 1, 105 BCELabels: Mithridates VI, Kingdom of

   Colchis was drawn into the expanding power network of Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus; scholarship often places annexation/absorption as a process across roughly the late 2nd to early 1st century BCE (e.g., c. 105–90 BCE).

   • TSU Proceedings
   • Britannica

7. Mithridates VI suppresses revolt and reorganizes Colchis

   Jan 1, 83 BCELabels: Mithridates VI, Colchis

   Under Pontic rule, Mithridates VI is reported to have quelled an uprising in Colchis (83 BCE) and to have placed the region under dynastic control within his broader Black Sea strategy.

   • Colchis

8. Pompey’s Caucasian campaign reaches Colchis

   Jan 1, 65 BCELabels: Pompey, Roman Republic

   During the Third Mithridatic War, Pompey campaigned in the Caucasus (65 BCE) as Rome moved to dismantle Mithridates VI’s power; Colchis became part of the Roman settlement of the region.

   • Pompey Campaign
   • Colchis

9. Pompey installs Aristarchus as dynast of Colchis

   Jan 1, 63 BCELabels: Pompey, Aristarchus

   Following Roman victories, Pompey appointed Aristarchus as a client dynast in Colchis (commonly dated from 63 BCE), signaling a shift from Pontic control toward Roman client governance along the eastern Black Sea.

   • Aristarchus
   • Caucasus World

10. Pharnaces II seizes Colchis amid Roman civil war

    Jan 1, 49 BCELabels: Pharnaces II, Colchis

    Taking advantage of Rome’s internal conflict, Pharnaces II (son of Mithridates VI) moved to recover parts of his father’s realm and is described by ancient historians (via later summaries) as having seized Colchis in this period.

    • Pharnaces II
    • Livius

11. Roman client kingship links Colchis with Pontus

    Jan 1, 36 BCELabels: Polemon I, Roman client

    Under Rome’s client-king arrangements, Polemon I is described as ruling over a composite realm that included Pontus and Colchis, reflecting Rome’s preference for indirect governance in strategic frontier zones.

    • Polemon I

12. Pythodorida retains Pontus and Colchis after Polemon I

    Jan 1, 8 BCELabels: Pythodorida, Polemon I

    After Polemon I’s death (8 BCE), his widow Pythodorida (Pythodoris) is reported to have retained control of Pontus and Colchis under Roman patronage, maintaining continuity in regional administration.

    • Colchis
    • Pythodoris

13. Nero ends client rule; Pontus and Colchis annexed

    Jan 1, 63Labels: Nero, Roman province

    In the early 60s CE, Emperor Nero induced Polemon II to abdicate and reorganized the area: Pontus (and, in standard summaries, Colchis with it) was incorporated into direct Roman provincial administration.

    • Colchis
    • Pontus Region