(anc. geog.), a district of Thrace towards mount Haemus to the south of the Hebrus. It was inhabited by a fierce and barbarous people noted for their robberies. Their chief city Uscudama is now known by the name of Adrianople. They lived under their own kings till the consulship of M. Licinius Lucullus and C. Caecilius Varus; when the consul Lucullus invaded their country, and having gained a great victory over them, took their metropolis, and subjected the whole nation to the Roman laws. The Romans, notwithstanding they had subdued them by force of arms, still suffered them to live under their own kings; for Piso, while he governed Macedon in quality of proconsul, having treacherously seized Rabocentus, whom Suetonius calls prince of the Beffii, caused him to be publicly beheaded. This affront so exasperated the whole nation that they revolted; but were overthrown in a great battle by Octavius the father of Augustus. During the civil wars of Rome they attempted anew to recover their liberty, but were again defeated by the famous M. Brutus. In the reign of Augustus one Vologesus, a native of the country, and priest of Bacchus, having, under pretence of religion, drawn together great crowds of people, made himself master of the whole country; and entering the Cheronea, committed there the most dreadful ravages. He was at last, however, overcome by L. Piso; who obliged the savage inhabitants to lay down their arms, and submit to such conditions as he was pleased to impose upon them. From this time the Beffii continued subject to the Romans without attempting any more to regain their liberty.

BESSIS See Bes.