The article deals with a little known episode in the history of the South Black Sea region during the time of Alexander the Great. The region in question was not directly affected by Alexander’s conquests. The Paphlagonians concluded a formal treaty with the new ruler, acknowledging themselves to be his subjects. One can conjecture that similar situations could be observed in Greek poleis, notably in Sinope, which recognized Alexander’s power as that of a successor of the Achaemenids.