List of Parthian kings
Below is a list of rulers of the Iranian Parthian Empire (247 BC – 228 AD).
| Portrait | Name | Title(s) | Succession & notes | Reign | Death | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Arsaces I 𐭀𐭓𐭔𐭊 (Aršak) |
King, kārny (autokrator) | Leader of the Parni tribe. Conquered the satrapy of Parthia from Andragoras, who had rebelled against the Seleucid Empire. | 247 BC – 217 BC |
217 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
 |
Arsaces II 𐭀𐭓𐭔𐭊 (Aršak) |
King | Son of Arsaces I. Accepted status as a vassal king under the Seleucids after suffering a defeat by the Seleucid king Antiochus III the Great. | 217 BC – 191 BC |
191 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
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Priapatius | Great King, King, Arsaces | Grandnephew of Arsaces I. | 191 BC – 176 BC |
176 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
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Phraates I 𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕 (Frahāt) |
King, Arsaces | Son of Priapatius. | 176 BC – 171 BC |
171 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
| The first four Parthian (Arsacid) kings; Arsaces I, Arsaces II, Priapatius and Phraates I ruled a medium-sized kingdom in northeastern Iran. It was first under that Mithridates I that the Parthian realm encompassed Iran, thus transforming into an empire. | |||||||||
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Mithridates I the Great 𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 (Mihrdāt) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces, Philhellene | Son of Priapatius. First Arsacid ruler to assume the ancient Achaemenid title of King of Kings, not used after his reign until the rule of Mithridates II. | 171 BC – 132 BC |
132 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
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Phraates II 𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕 (Frahāt) |
Great King, Arsaces, Philhellene | Son of Mithridates I. | 132 BC – 127 BC |
127 BC Killed in battle against invading nomads in the east. | ||||
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Artabanus I 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓 (Ardawān) |
Great King, Arsaces, Philhellene | Son of Priapatius. | 127 BC – 124 BC |
124 BC Killed in battle against invading nomads in the east. | ||||
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Mithridates II the Great 𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 (Mihrdāt) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Artabanus I. Reintroduced the title of King of Kings, used after him until the end of the Sasanian dynasty in 651 AD. | 124 BC – 91 BC |
91 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
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Gotarzes I 𐭂𐭅𐭕𐭓𐭆 (Gōdarz) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Mithridates II. | 91 BC – 87/80 BC |
87/80 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
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Mithridates III 𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 (Mihrdāt) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Uncertain existence.[1]; [2]; [3] Son of Mithridates II. Usurper or rival king against Gotarzes I and/or Orodes I. | 87 BC – 80 BC |
80 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
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Orodes I | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Gotarzes I. Only partial control of the Parthian Empire. | 80 BC – 75 BC |
75 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
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Sinatruces I | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Part of the Arsacid dynasty, but relation unknown. Took the throne with the aid of the Saka. | 78/7 BC (or 75/4) – 70/69 BC |
70/69 BC Unknown causes. | ||||
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Phraates III 𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕 (Frahāt) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Sinatruces. | 69 BC – 57 BC |
57 BC Murdered by his sons Orodes II and Mithridates IV. | ||||
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Mithridates IV 𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 (Mihrdāt) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Phraates III. | 57 BC – 54 BC |
54 BC Executed by his brother Orodes II. | ||||
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Orodes II | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Phraates III. | 57 BC – 37 BC |
37 BC Relinquished the throne to his son Phraates IV. | ||||
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Phraates IV 𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕 (Frahāt) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Orodes II. Briefly deposed by rival claimant Tiridates II in 32 BC. | 37 BC – 2 BC |
2 BC Murdered by his wife Musa and their son Phraates V. | ||||
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Musa | Queen of Queens | Wife of Phraates IV. Seized the throne from him together with their son Phraates V. | 2 BC – 2 AD |
2 AD Overthrown and executed by the nobility. | ||||
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Phraates V 𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕 (Frahāt) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Phraates IV and Musa. Seized the throne from his father together with his mother. | 2 BC – 2 AD |
2 AD Overthrown and executed by the nobility. | ||||
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Orodes III | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Part of the Arsacid dynasty, but relation unknown. Raised to the throne by the nobility following the overthrow of his predecessors. | 2 AD– 6 AD |
6 AD Overthrown and executed by the nobility. | ||||
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Vonones I | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Phraates IV. Raised to the throne by the nobility following the overthrow of Orodes III. | 6 – 12 |
19 Killed attempting to escape imprisonment. | ||||
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Artabanus II 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓 (Ardawān) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of a Dahae prince and an Arsacid princess who was a daughter of Phraates IV. Seized the throne from Vonones I. Briefly deposed by rival claimant Tiridates III in 35–36 AD. | 10 – 40 |
40 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Vardanes I | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Artabanus II. Against Gotarzes II. | 40 – 47 |
47 Assassinated at the instigation of a party of Parthian nobles. | ||||
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Gotarzes II 𐭂𐭅𐭕𐭓𐭆 (Gōdarz) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Artabanus II. Rival king against Vardanes I in 40–47. | 40 – 51 |
51 Was murdered or died of illness. | ||||
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Meherdates | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vonones I. Captured and mutilated by Gotarzes II. | 49 – 51 |
??? Unknown causes. | ||||
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Vonones II | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Brother of Artabanus II. Ruled for only a few months. | 51 | 51 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Vologases I 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 (Walaγš) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vonones II. His reign saw a marked revival of ancient Iranian customs and a strong reaction against Hellenism. | 51 – 78 |
78 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Vardanes II | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vologases I. Usurper who only briefly controlled parts of the Parthian Empire. | 55 – 58 |
?? Unknown causes. | ||||
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Pacorus II | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vologases I. | 78 – 110 |
110 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Vologases II 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 (Walaγš) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vologases I. Rival king against Pacorus II. | 78 – 80 |
80 Killed fighting Pacorus II. | ||||
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Artabanus III 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓 (Ardawān) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vologases I. Usurper and rival king against Pacorus II. | 79/80 – 81 |
81 Killed fighting Pacorus II. | ||||
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Osroes I 𐭇𐭅𐭎𐭓𐭅 (Husrōw) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Part of the Arsacid dynasty, but relation unknown. Rival king against Pacorus II and Vologases III. Briefly deposed by the Romans in 116–117. | 109 – 129 |
129 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Vologases III 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 (Walaγš) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vologases II. Rival king against Osroes I, Parthamaspates, Sinatruces II and Mithridates V. Successfully united Parthia in 140. | 110 – 147 |
147 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Parthamaspates | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Osroes I. Briefly raised as client king of Parthia by Roman Emperor Trajan. | 116 – 117 |
??? Unknown causes. | ||||
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Sinatruces II | King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Nephew of Osroes I, usurper against Parthamaspates. | 116 | ??? Unknown causes. | ||||
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Mithridates V 𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 (Mihrdāt) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | 129– 140 |
140 Died in an attack against the Kingdom of Commagene. | |||||
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Vologases IV 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 (Walaγš) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Mithridates V. | 147 – 191 |
191 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Osroes II 𐭇𐭅𐭎𐭓𐭅 (Husrōw) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Uncertain relation; usurper and rival king against Vologases IV. | 191 | 191 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Vologases V 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 (Walaγš) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vologases IV. | 191 – 208 |
208 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Vologases VI 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 (Walaγš) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vologases V. Uncontested king until 213, when his brother Artabanus IV rebelled, who by 216 was in control of most of the empire. Later defeated by the Sasanians. | 208 – 228 |
228 Unknown causes. | ||||
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Artabanus IV 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓 (Ardawān) |
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces | Son of Vologases V. Rival king against Vologases VI. | 213 – 224 |
224 Defeated and killed by the Sasanian king Ardashir I at the Battle of Hormozdgan. | ||||
| King of the Parthian Empire | |
|---|---|
Imperial | |
| |
| Details | |
| First monarch | Arsaces I |
| Last monarch | Artabanus IV |
| Formation | 247 BC |
| Abolition | 224 AD |
| Appointer | Divine right, hereditary |
See also
- Detailed Arsacids Family tree (French Wikipedia)
References
- Shayegan 2011, pp. 197, 232.
- Curtis 2012, p. 68.
- Olbrycht 2016, p. 23.
Sources
- Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh (2012). "Parthian coins: Kingship and Divine Glory". The Parthian Empire and its Religions. pp. 67–83. ISBN 9783940598134.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Olbrycht, Marek Jan (2016). "Dynastic Connections in the Arsacid Empire and the Origins of the House of Sāsān". In Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh; Pendleton, Elizabeth J.; Alram, Michael; Daryaee, Touraj (eds.). The Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and Expansion. Oxbow Books. ISBN 9781785702082.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Shayegan, M. Rahim (2011). Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic and Late Antique Persia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–539. ISBN 9780521766418.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Further reading
- Assar, Gholamreza F. (2006). A Revised Parthian Chronology of the Period 91-55 BC. Parthica. Incontri di Culture Nel Mondo Antico. 8: Papers Presented to David Sellwood. Istituti Editoriali e Poligrafici Internazionali. ISBN 978-8-881-47453-0. ISSN 1128-6342.
- Dąbrowa, Edward (2012). "The Arsacid Empire". In Daryaee, Touraj (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press. pp. 1–432. ISBN 0-19-987575-8. Archived from the original on 2019-01-01. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
- Olbrycht, Marek Jan (2015). "Arsacid Iran and the nomads of Central Asia – Ways of cultural transfer". Complexity of Interaction along the Eurasian Steppe Zone in the First Millenium CE. Bonn Contributions to Asian Archaeology. 7. Bonn. pp. 333–390.
- Rezakhani, Khodadad (2013). "Arsacid, Elymaean, and Persid Coinage". In Potts, Daniel T. (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199733309.
- Schippmann, K. (1986). "Arsacids ii. The Arsacid dynasty". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. II, Fasc. 5. pp. 525–536.
- Shahbazi, A. Sh. (1986). "Arsacids i. Origins". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. II, Fasc. 5. p. 525.
- Sinisi, Fabrizio (2012). "The Coinage of the Parthians". In Metcalf, William E. (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195305746.
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