| Arsaces II 𐭀𐭓𐭔𐭊 | |
|---|---|
 Coin of Arsaces II. | |
| King of theArsacid dynasty | |
| Reign | 217 – 191 BC |
| Predecessor | Arsaces I |
| Successor | Priapatius |
| Died | 191 BC |
| Father | Arsaces I |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Arsaces II (/ˈɑːrsəsiːz/; fromAncient Greek:Ἀρσάκης; inParthian:𐭀𐭓𐭔𐭊Aršak,Persian:اشکAšk), was theArsacid king ofParthia from 217 BC to 191 BC.
Arsacēs is theLatin form of theGreekArsákēs (Ἀρσάκης), itself fromParthianAršak (𐭀𐭓𐭔𐭊). TheOld Persian equivalent isAršaka- (𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎣).
Arsaces II succeeded his fatherArsaces I in 217 BC. In 209 BC, the energeticSeleucid kingAntiochus III the Great recaptured Parthia, which had been previously seized from the Seleucids by Arsaces I and theParni around 247 BC. Arsaces II sued for peace following his defeat in theBattle of Mount Labus. Prior to this, Antiochus had already occupied the Parthian capital atHecatompylos, pushing forward to Tagae near Damghan. Following the defeat of Arsaces II at Mount Labus, Antiochus turned westwards intoHyrcania where he occupied Tambrax. The heavily barricaded city of Syrinx was then taken by siege.[1]
In the terms of the peace, Arsaces accepted feudatory status and from then onwards ruled Parthia and Hyrcani as avassal state of the Seleucids. Antiochus in turn withdrew his troops westwards, where he would subsequently be embroiled in wars with Rome and so would leave the fledgling Parthian kingdom to its own devices. Arsaces II was succeeded by his relativePriapatius in 191 BC.
Arsaces II of Parthia Died: 191 BC | ||
| Preceded by | King of Parthia 217–191 BC | Succeeded by |
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