Nicomedia

Quick Facts: Who was Nicomedia?

Subject:

Nicomedia

Known for:

Ancient metropolis in modern Turkey, once a major Roman capital.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Nicomedia (; Greek: Νικομήδεια, Nikomedeia; modern İzmit) was an ancient Greek city located in what is now Turkey. In 286 AD, Nicomedia became the eastern and most senior capital city of the Roman Empire (chosen by the emperor Diocletian who ruled in the east), a status which the city maintained during the Tetrarchy system (293–324 AD). The Tetrarchy ended with the Battle of Chrysopolis (Üsküdar) in 324 AD, when the western Roman emperor Constantine the Great defeated Licinius and became the sole emperor. In 330 AD, Constantine chose for himself the nearby Byzantium (which was renamed Constantinople, modern Istanbul) as the new capital of the Roman Empire. The city was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire with the victory of Sultan Orhan Gazi against the Byzantine Empire.

Career & Major Achievements

The Byzantines managed to retake it in the aftermath of the Battle of Ankara, but it fell definitively to the Ottomans in 1419 AD. It was founded in 712–711 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus (; Ancient Greek: Ἀστακός, 'lobster'). After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most important cities in northwestern Asia Minor. The great military commander Hannibal Barca came to Nicomedia in his final years and committed suicide in nearby Libyssa (Diliskelesi, Gebze). The historian Arrian was born there.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Nicomedia was the metropolis and capital of the Roman province of Bithynia under the Roman Empire. It is referenced repeatedly in Pliny the Younger's Epistles to Trajan during his tenure as governor of Bithynia. Pliny, in his letters, mentions several public buildings of the city such as a senate-house, an aqueduct, a forum, a temple of Cybele, and others, and speaks of a great fire, during which the place suffered much. Jewish diasporic presence is attested in Roman Nicomedia, also providing evidence of Jewish migration from Macedonia to Asia Minor. A third-century CE tomb inscription found in the city, belonging to Aurelius Esthelasios and Aurelia Thamar, is decorated with several Jewish symbols: the menorah, shofar, and the Sukkot species of lulav and etrog.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1419: 1419 Milestone — The Byzantines managed to retake it in the aftermath of the Battle of Ankara, but it fell definitively to the Ottomans in 1419 AD.

Notable Quotes by Nicomedia

“Pliny complains... that the Nicomedians wasted 3,318,000 sesterces on an unfinished aqueduct.” (110)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Nicomedia

True or False: “Nicomedia was continuously the primary capital of the Roman Empire from its founding until the rise of Constantinople.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it served as a major capital at times, Constantine established Byzantium (Constantinople) as the definitive new imperial center in 330 AD.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Antipope John XXIII — Historical peer (Died in 1419) (1419): Pisan antipope during the Western Schism, recognized by some as an opponent of Pope Gregory XII.
• Emperor Go-Hanazono — Historical peer (Born in 1419) (1419): The 102nd Emperor of Japan, reigning from 1428 to 1464 during a period of political upheaval.
• Nie Rongzhen — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A distinguished Marshal of the PRC, Nie Rongzhen shaped modern Chinese military history.
• Niel (singer) — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: South Korean singer-songwriter known for his solo work and participation in various K-Pop projects.
• Niels Bohr — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering quantum theory and the Bohr model, fundamentally reshaping modern physics.
• Niels Henrik Abel — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering Norwegian mathematician known for proving the insolvability of the general quintic equation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nicomedia