BESSI. – A population of Thracian stock inhabiting, in Strabo’s time, the plain between the mountain ranges of Haemus (the Balkans) and Rhodope (Eastern Rumelia). Already mentioned by Herodotus, they came into hostile contact with the kings of Macedonia and later with Rome.
Completely subdued in the time of Augustus and annexed to the province of Thrace, they retained warlike habits and willingly served in the imperial army. In addition to a «cohors II Flavia Bessorum», we find frequent references to soldiers of the «auxilia» and to sailors of the fleets of Ravenna and Misenum of Bessian origin. Their conversion to Christianity seems to have begun with the preaching of the bishop of Remesiana, Niceta, in the fourth century (cf. Paolino di Nola, Carmen, XVII, 205; St. Girolamo, Epist., 60, 4).