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Tiridates III of Parthia (Persian:تيرداد سوم), ruled theParthian Empire briefly in 35–36. He was the grandson ofPhraates IV. He was sent toRome as a hostage and was educated there.[1]
In about 36, when theParthian nobility rebelled againstArtabanus II of Parthia, they applied to theRoman emperorTiberius for a king of the race of Phraates. Tiberius sent Tiridates to the east, and orderedLucius Vitellius (the father of the emperorVitellius) to restore Roman authority there.[1] By very dexterous military and diplomatic operations Vitellius succeeded completely. Artabanus was deserted by his followers and fled.
However, Tiridates, who was proclaimed king, could not maintain himself,[1] because he appeared to be a vassal of the Romans. Artabanus soon returned fromHyrcania with a strong army ofScythian (Dahan) auxiliaries, and was again acknowledged by the Parthians. Tiridates leftSeleucia and fled toSyria.
The Roman historianTacitus writes that the Parthian court official Abdagaeses, who exerted political control over Tiridates, spared Tiridates from danger by preventing him from visiting the Parthian tribes.[2] This policy kept the distrustful clans from uniting against Tiridates in the meantime. However, when the situation became untenable, it was Abdagaeses who advised Tiridates to retreat west toMesopotamia where strategic defensive locations were suitable. This move was viewed as an act of cowardice by the Parthian tribes, which led to Tiridates' ousting from his seat of power.
Tiridates III of Parthia | ||
| Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 35–36 | Succeeded by |