Though the region known as Chersonesus Taurica had historically been inhabited by the Tauri, descendents of the Cimmerians, the Bosporan Kingdom which was formed there in 438 B.C. was founded by the Greek colonies settled in the region in the seventh and fifth centuries B.C. The kingdom accepted the rule of King Mithridates of Pontus in 114 B.C. for protection against the Scythians, but became a Roman client state after the Third Mithridatic War. It became a Roman province in 47 B.C., and remained under Roman rule until 250 A.D., when the region was conquered by the Goths.