the name of several kings of the ancient Bithynia. See BITHYNIA.

NICOMEDES I. had no sooner taken possession of his father's throne, before Christ 270, than, according to the custom which has in all ages been too prevalent among the depots of the east, he caused two of his brothers to be put to death. The youngest, Zibaces, having saved himself by timely flight, landed on the coast of Bithynia, which was then known by the names of Thracia Thynica, and Thracia Asiatica, and there maintained a long war with his brother. Nicomedes being informed that Antiochus Soter, king of Syria, was making great preparations to attack him at the same time, called in the Gauls to his assistance; and on this occasion that people first passed into Asia—Nicomedes having with their assistance repulsed Antiochus, Nicomedes, thus, overcame his brother, and acquired the possession of all his father's dominions, bestowed upon them that part of Asia Minor which from them was called Gallo-Grecia, and Gallatia. Having now no enemies to contend with, he applied himself to the enlarging and adorning of the city of Aflacus, which he called after his own name Nicomedia. He had two wives, and by one of them he was persuaded to leave his kingdom to her son, in preference to his elder brothers; but when or how he died is not certainly known.

Nicomedes II., the grandson of the former, began his reign like him, by sacrificing his brothers to his jealousy, after having waded to the throne in the blood of Prusias his father. He assumed the name of Epiphanes, or "the Illustrious," though he performed nothing worthy of this title, or even of notice, during the whole time of his long reign. He was succeeded by his son—

Nicomedes III., named by antiphrasis, Philopater, because he had murdered his father to get possession of his crown. This monarch having entered into alliance with Mithridates the Great king of Pontus, invaded Paphlagonia; and having seized on that country, he attempted likewise to make himself master of Cappadocia. This country, however, was at that time subject to his powerful ally; who thereupon marching into Bithynia at the head of an army, drove Nicomedes from the throne, and raised his brother Socrates to it in his room. The dethroned prince had recourse to the Romans, who expelled the usurper, and restored him to his hereditary dominions. For this favour they preferred him, and at length prevailed upon him, contrary to his own inclination, and the opinion of his friends, to make incursions into the territories of Mithridates, with whom Rome wanted a subject of dispute. The king of Pontus bore for some time the devastations committed by Nicomedes with great patience, that he might not seem to be the aggressor; but at last he routed his army on the banks of the Amnus, drove him a second time from his dominions, and obliged him to seek for shelter in Paphlagonia, where he led a private life till the time of Sylla, who replaced him on the throne. He was succeeded by his son—

Nicomedes IV., who performed nothing which the many writers who flourished in his time have thought worth transmitting to posterity. As he died without issue male, he left his kingdom by his last will to the Romans, who reduced it to the form of a province. Sallust, disagreeing with the ancients, tells us, that Nicomedes left a son named Mula or Myra; and introduces Mithridates as complaining of the Romans to Arsaces king of Parthia, for seizing on the kingdom of Bithynia, and excluding the son of a prince who had on all occasions shown himself a steady friend to their republic. But this Mula was the daughter and not the son of Nicomedes, as we are told in express terms by Suetonius, Velleius Paterculus, and Appian. All we know of her is, that upon the death of her father she claimed the kingdom of Bithynia for her son, as the next male heir to the crown, but without success; no motives of justice being of such weight with the ambitious Romans as to make them part with a kingdom.