Tiberius Julius Cotys III

Tiberius Julius Cotys III Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes, also known as Cotys III or Kotys III (Greek: Τιβέριος Ἰούλιος Κότυς Γ' Φιλόκαισαρ Φιλορώμαίος Eυσεbής, Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes, means lover of Caesar, lover of Rome who is the Pius one, flourished second half of 2nd century and first half of 3rd century – died 235) was a prince and Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom.

Cotys III was the second born son of Bosporan King Sauromates II by an unnamed woman and was of Greek, Iranian and Roman ancestry. His brother and nephew were the Bosporan Kings Rhescuporis II and Rhescuporis III. Cotys III was named in honor of Cotys II, a paternal ancestor of his and a previous Bosporan King.

When his brother and nephew both died in 227, he succeeded them both and ruled as Bosporan King until his death in 235. On coins his royal title is in Greek: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΚΟΤΥΟΣ or of King Cotys. Cotys III was the last King from the Bosporan to rule with the name Tiberius Julius Cotys.

During his reign, Cotys III was a contemporary to the rule of the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus. The wife of Cotys III is an unnamed Sarmatian noble woman. From his marriage Cotys III had three sons, who co-ruled with him in his reign and they were:

During the reign of Cotys III, the last Bosporan gold coins were minted. After his reign, gold coinage disappeared and was replaced with bronze or silver coins. Little is known of the reign and life of Cotys III. When Cotys III died, he was succeeded by his third son, Ininthimeus.