List of Parthian monarchs

Below is a list of rulers of the Iranian Parthian Empire (247 BC – 228 AD).

Portrait Name Title(s) Succession & notes Reign Death
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.
Priapatius
𐭐𐭓𐭉𐭐𐭕 (Friyapāt)
Great King, King, Arsaces Grandnephew of Arsaces I. 191 BC –
176 BC
176 BC
Unknown causes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gotarzes I
𐭂𐭅𐭕𐭓𐭆 (Gōdarz)
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Son of Mithridates II. 91 BC –
87/80 BC
87/80 BC
Unknown causes.
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.
Orodes I
𐭅𐭓𐭅𐭃 (Wērōd/Urūd)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Orodes II
𐭅𐭓𐭅𐭃 (Wērōd/Urūd)
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Son of Phraates III. 57 BC –
37 BC
37 BC
Relinquished the throne to his son Phraates IV.
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.
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.
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.
Orodes III
𐭅𐭓𐭅𐭃 (Wērōd/Urūd)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meherdates
𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 (Mihrdāt)
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Son of Vonones I. Captured and mutilated by Gotarzes II. 49 –
51
???
Unknown causes.
Vonones II King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Brother of Artabanus II. Ruled for only a few months. 51 51
Unknown causes.
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.
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.
Pacorus II King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Son of Vologases I. 78 –
110
110
Unknown causes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sinatruces II King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Nephew of Osroes I, usurper against Parthamaspates. 116 ???
Unknown causes.
Mithridates V
𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 (Mihrdāt)
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces 129–
140
140
Died in an attack against the Kingdom of Commagene.
Vologases IV
𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 (Walaγš)
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Son of Mithridates V. 147 –
191
191
Unknown causes.
Osroes II
𐭇𐭅𐭎𐭓𐭅 (Husrōw)
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Uncertain relation; usurper and rival king against Vologases IV. 191 191
Unknown causes.
Vologases V
𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 (Walaγš)
King of Kings, Great King, Arsaces Son of Vologases IV. 191 –
208
208
Unknown causes.
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.
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
Mithridates I
171–132 BC
Transformed the Parthian realm into an empire
Details
First monarchArsaces I
Last monarchArtabanus IV
Formation247 BC
Abolition224 AD
AppointerDivine right, hereditary

See also

References

  1. Shayegan 2011, pp. 197, 232.
  2. Curtis 2012, p. 68.
  3. 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.
  • 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.
  • Shayegan, M. Rahim (2011). Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic and Late Antique Persia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–539. ISBN 9780521766418.

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 978-0-19-987575-7. 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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