Bithynia and Pontus was a province of the Roman Empire on the Black Sea coast of Anatolia which existed from 27 BC to 640 AD, with Nicomedia serving as its capital. It was founded as the result of the amalgamation of Bithynia with Pontus, which followed the assassination of Mithridates VI of Pontus in 64 BC. Bithynia and Pontus was a thoroughly Hellenized region, and it was of storied wealth and importance to Rome. It existed as a part of the Roman and Byzantine empires until 640 AD, when it was divided into themes.