| Vologases V 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 | |
|---|---|
| King of Kings | |
%2c_Hamadan_mint.jpg) Coin of Vologases V,Ecbatana mint | |
| King ofArmenia | |
| Reign | 180 – 191 |
| Predecessor | Sohaemus |
| Successor | Khosrov I |
| King of theParthian Empire | |
| Reign | 191 – 208 |
| Predecessor | Vologases IV |
| Successor | Vologases VI |
| Died | 208 |
| Issue | |
| Dynasty | Arsacid dynasty |
| Father | Vologases IV |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Vologases V (Parthian:𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔Walagash) wasKing of Kings of theParthian Empire from 191 to 208. As king ofArmenia (r. 180–191), he is known asVologases II. Not much is known about his period of kingship of Armenia, except that he put his sonRev I (r. 189–216) on theIberian throne in 189. Vologases succeeded his fatherVologases IV as king of the Parthian Empire in 191; it is uncertain if the transition of power was peaceful or if Vologases took the throne in a civil war. When Vologases acceded the Parthian throne, he passed the Armenian throne to his sonKhosrov I (r. 191–217).
Vologases' reign was marked by war with theRoman Empire, lasting from 195 to 202, resulting in the brief capture of the Parthian capital ofCtesiphon, and reaffirmation of Roman rule in Armenia and northernMesopotamia. At the same time, internal conflict took place in the Parthian realm, with the local Persian princePabag seizingIstakhr, the capital of the southern Iranian region ofPersis.
Vologases is theGreek andLatin form of theParthianWalagaš (𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔). The name is also attested inNew Persian asBalāsh andMiddle Persian asWardākhsh (also spelledWalākhsh). The etymology of the name is unclear, althoughFerdinand Justi proposes thatWalagaš, the first form of the name, is a compound of words "strength" (varəda), and "handsome" (gaš orgeš in Modern Persian).[1]
During Vologases' early life, he became the ruler ofArmenia, succeedingSohaemus.[2][3][4] Throughout the 1st and 2nd-centuries, the Armenian throne was usually occupied by a close relative of the ParthianKing of Kings, who held the title of "Great King of Armenia".[5][a] Unlike the previous eight Arsacid princes who ruled Armenia, Vologases was able to ensure that hisdescendants ruled on the Armenian throne; they would rule the country until theSasanian abolition of the Armenian throne in 428.[2]
In 189, he also imposed his sonRev I (whose mother was the sister of thePharnavazid rulerAmazasp) on theIberian throne.[8] Hisdescendants would rule Iberia until 284 when it was replaced by another Parthian family, theMihranids.[9]
In 191 after the death of his fatherVologases IV,[1] Vologases ascended the Parthian throne and passed the Armenian throne to his sonKhosrov I (r. 191–217).[2][3] It is uncertain if the transition of power to Vologases V was peaceful or marred in a civil war.[1][10] His claim to the throne, however, was not uncontested; a rival king,Osroes II (190), had set himself up inMedia even before the death of Vologases IV, but Vologases appears to have quickly put him down.[11]
Vologases supported EmperorPescennius Niger (r. 193–194) in his struggle for the Roman throne against EmperorSeptimius Severus (r. 193–211) in 192–193, during theYear of the Five Emperors. Furthermore, he also intervened in the affairs of the Roman vassal states in northernMesopotamia—Adiabene andOsroene. Because of this, Septimius Severus, who emerged victorious in the struggle, attacked the Parthian Empire in 195.[12] Severus advanced into Mesopotamia, made Osroene a Roman province, and captured the Parthian capitalCtesiphon in 199.[1][12] At the same time, revolts were occurring in the Parthian provinces of Media andPars.[13] Septimius Severus now declared himselfParthicus Maximus ("great victor in Parthia"). He was, however, unable to maintain his conquests, due to lack of food supplies and reinforcements. As a result, he withdrew his forces; during his withdrawal, he attempted in vain to conquer theArab fortress ofHatra twice, later withdrawing his forces toSyria.[1]
In 202, peace was restored, reaffirming Roman rule in Armenia and northern Mesopotamia.[12] But, in the words ofIranologist Touraj Daryaee, "the dynasty [had] lost much of its prestige" and reached a "turning point".[13] Thekings of Persis were now unable to depend on their weakened Arsacid overlords.[13] Indeed, in 205/6,Pabag, a local ruler in Persis, rebelled and overthrew his overlordGochihr, taking the Persis capitalIstakhr for himself.[13][14] His sonArdashir I would go on to continue his conquests, overthrowing the Parthian Empire and establishing theSasanian Empire in 224.[15]
Vologases died in 208, succeeded by his sonVologases VI (r. 208–228), however another son,Artabanus IV (r. 216–224), attempted to seize the throne a few years later, resulting in acivil war.[1][16]
Vologases V Died: 208 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 191–208 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
