Niomedes, the name of three kings of Bithynia. - Niconiedes I. succeeded his father Zipcetes in 278 B. C, and one of his first acts was to assassinate two of his younger brothers. Another brother, Zipoetes, who rebelled and took possession of the maritime districts of Bithynia, he defeated with the assistance of the Gauls, and also put to death. He was the first ruler of the Thracian dynasty who took the title of king. He fixed his residence near the ruined city of Astacus, where he built a new capital and called it Nicomedia. He died about 250 B. C. - Mconiedes II., surnamed Epi-phanes, fourth in descent from the prece-ding, reigned from 149 to 91 B. 0. He was educated at Rome, where he found such favor with the senate that his father Prusias II., dreading his ambition, sent orders to have him assassinated. Nicomedes, discovering the plot, entered Bithynia in arms, and, being supported by the inhabitants, dethroned his father and put him to death. He made an alliance first with the Romans, whom he assisted in their war with Aristonicus (131), and afterward with Mithridates, and having seized Paphlago-nia, placed it under the government of one of his sons.

Foiled by Mithridates in an attempt upon the Cappadocian throne, to secure which he had married Laodice, the widow of Ariara-thes VI., he was soon afterward deprived of Paphlagonia also by the Romans, and is said to have died of disappointment. - Nicomedes III., surnamed Philopatob, son and successor of the preceding, and the last king of Bithynia, died about the beginning of 74 B. 0. On the death of his father, Mithridates incited another son. Socrates, to claim the crown, and Nicome-des was driven from the kingdom. Restored by the Romans the next.year, He was persuaded by his allies to make Avar upon Mithridates, who deposed him a second time (88). At the conclusion of the first Mithridatic war (84), which broke out in consequence of this action, he was restored again. Having no children, ne bequeathed his kingdom to the Romans.