The article carries out a comprehensive study of the state system and legal system of the Bosporan Kingdom as a unique state formation that existed on the territory of modern Ukraine. The relevance of the study is due to the need for an in-depth study of the origins of Ukrainian statehood and state-legal traditions of the ancient period in the Northern Black Sea region.

Based on the analysis of a wide range of historical and legal sources, the process of formation and development of the Bosporan Kingdom, its evolution from a union of Greek policies to a centralized monarchy, is considered. Particular attention is paid to the study of the state mechanism, which was characterized by the presence of a developed bureaucratic apparatus, an effective system of territorial management and a professional diplomatic service that ensured the external relations of the state.

It is noted that the formation of the Bosporan Kingdom as a single state was the result of a long historical process that began with the Greek colonization of the Northern Black Sea region in the 7th century BC. Its name comes from the ancient Greek name for the Kerch Strait (Bosporus), and its origin dates back to around 480 BC as a result of the unification of ancient city-states. Territorially, it covered the Kerch and Taman peninsulas, as well as the southern coast of the Sea of Azov to the mouth of the Don. A feature of the analyzed state formation was that it was not exclusively Greek, but also included local tribes, which created a unique symbiosis of Hellenistic and local cultures. The process of unification of Greek policies took place during the reign of the Archaeanactid dynasty, which ruled in Panticapaeum. It was this city that became the political and economic center of the new state formation.

It is important to note that the unification took place not only due to militarypolitical factors, but also due to economic necessity – the need to create a single economic space for effective trade and protection of trade routes. It is emphasized that the period of the greatest economic and cultural prosperity of the Bosporan Kingdom falls on the IV–III centuries. BC. At this time, the state achieved significant success in the development of agriculture, crafts and trade. A special place in the economy was occupied by the production and export of grain, which ensured stable trade relations with other Greek policies, in particular with Athens. However, already in the second half of the II century. BC. The Bosporan Kingdom faced a serious socio-economic crisis, which was exacerbated by the external threat from the Scythian state. The situation became more complicated after the strengthening of Roman influence in the region, which led to the gradual transformation of the state system and the loss of some political independence.

The article analyzes the legal system of the Bosporan Kingdom, which was formed as a result of the synthesis of various legal traditions: Greek polis law, local legal customs and elements of Roman law. The features of the regulation of various spheres of social relations are revealed: property rights, obligations, marriage and family, inheritance and criminal law. Special attention is paid to the judicial system, principles of judicial proceedings.

The social structure of the Bosporan society is studied, which reflected the complex nature of economic relations. The specifics of the legal status of different social strata are revealed: the slaveowning nobility, free landowners, dependent population and slaves. The features of the formation of new social groups are analyzed, in particular the institute of freedmen, which testified to the gradual transformation of social relations from the slave-owning to the feudal system. The importance of the experience of the state and legal development of the Bosporan Kingdom for understanding the processes of state formation on the territory of modern Ukraine is stated.

Bibliography

Authored books

1. Havrylenko O, Syroid T, Istoriia mizhnarodnoho prava: starodavnia doba: navchalnyi posibnyk (KhNU imeni V N Karazina 2021).

 2. Ivanov V, Istoriia derzhavy i prava Ukrainy: pidruchnyk (MAUP 2007).

3. Kulchytskyi V, Tyshchyk B, Istoriia derzhavy i prava Ukrainy: navchalnyi posibnyk (Atika 2006).

4. Ukhach V, Istoriia derzhavy i prava Ukrainy: navchalnyi posibnyk (konspekty lektsii) (Vektor 2011).

Edited books

 5. Istoriia ukrainskoho prava: posibnyk (I Bezklubyi red, Hramota 2010).

Journal articles

 6. Halamus M, ‘Annexing the Near East and the Long-Lasting Bosporan Autonomy’ [2018] 105 Eos CV 221–238.

7. Boiko I, ‘Stanovlennia derzhavnosti ta prava na terytorii suchasnoi Ukrainy v pradavniu dobu’ [2021] 73 Visnyk Lvivskoho universytetu. Seriia yurydychna 14–27.

8. Havrylenko O, ‘Bosporo-rymski vzaiemyny u druhii polovyni I st. do n. e. – tretii chverti III st. n. e.: istoryko-pravove doslidzhennia’ [2006] 34 Visnyk Kharkivskoho natsionalnoho universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav 46–53.

9. Havrylenko O, ‘Dohovory miny ta kupivli-prodazhu v antychnykh derzhavakh Pivnichnoho Prychornomor’ia (istoryko-pravove doslidzhennia)’ [2007] 39 Visnyk Kharkivskoho natsionalnoho universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav 79–85.

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11. Havrylenko O, ‘Zlochyny ta pokarannia u pravi antychnykh derzhav Pivnichnoho Prychornomor’ia’ [2002] 1 Pravo i bezpeka 45–52.

12. Hutiv B, ‘Stanovlennia ta rozvytok Bosporskoho tsarstva: okremi istoryko-pravovi aspekty’ [2023] 79(1) Naukovyi visnyk Uzhhorodskoho Natsionalnoho Universytetu. Seriia: Pravo 30–34.

13. Strakhov M, ‘Osnovni rysy derzhavnoho ladu Bosporskoho tsarstva’ [1999] 7(2) Visnyk universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav 158–163.

Websites

14. Deligiannis P, ‘The Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus: History and Military forces’ (2006) <https://www.academia.edu/18912638/The_Kingdom_of_Cimmerian_Bosporus_ History_and_Military_forces> (accessed 30.12.2025).

Ярослав Шевчук

 кандидат економічних наук, начальник служби Штабу Антитерористичного центру при Службі безпеки України (Київ, Україна) ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0585-3581 shevchuk.atc@ssu.gov.ua