Frataraka (Aramaic:Prtkr’𐡐𐡓𐡕𐡊𐡓’, "governor", or more specifically "sub-satrapal governor")[4][5] is an ancientPersian title, interpreted variously as “leader, governor, forerunner”.[6] It is anepithet ortitle of a series ofrulers in Persis from 3rd to mid 2nd century BC, or alternatively between 295 and 220 BC,[7] at the time of theSeleucid Empire, prior to theParthian conquest of West Asia and Iran. Studies offrataraka coins are important to historians of this period.[8]
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Several rulers have been identified as belonging to Fratarakā dynasty (from the titleprtrk' zy alhaya, or "governor of the gods" on their coins):bgdt (Baydād),rtḥštry (Ardaxšīr I),whwbrz (Vahbarz, who is called Oborzos in Polyenus 7.40), andwtprdt (Vādfradād I).[10] Traditionally, they used to be considered as independent, anti-Seleucid rulers ofPersis in the 3rd century BC.[10] It seems however that they were rather representatives of theSeleucids in the region ofFārs.[10] They ruled from the end of the 3rd century BC to the beginning of the 2nd century BC, and Vahbarz or Vādfradād obtained independence circa 150 BC, when Seleucid power waned in the areas of southwestern Persia and the Persian Gulf region.[10]
Alternatively, they may have ruled between circa 295 and 220 BC, until the Seleucid briefly took back direct control of the region of Persis under the Seleucid satrapAlexander, circa 220 BC.[7] Some authors consider that Persis remained under the control of the Seleucids throughout the 3rd century.[11]Antiochus III is known to have visitedAntiochia in Persis in 205 BC.[12][11]
Strabo relates that Persian rulers were tributaries to the Greeks, before falling under the control of the Parthians:
The Persians have kings who are subject to other kings, formerly of the kings of Macedonia, but now to the kings of the Parthians.
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Pliny relates a battle betweenNoumenios, a Seleucid general andsatrap of the Province ofMesene (Characene), and the Persians sometime in the 3rd or the 2nd century BCE. Pliny describes the current Seleucid ruler as being "Antiochos", but it is unknown which one he is referring to. This event is often used to describe some kind of adversary relationship between the ruler ofPersis and theSeleucid Empire during the 3rd or 2nd centuries BCE, and possibly a fight for independence.[5] The rulers of Persis may have gained independence between 205 BCE, whenAntiochos III visitedAntiochia in Persis in peace, and 190-189 BCE, the latest possible date for the battle led by Noumenios if the Antiochos in question is indeed Antiochos III, since the latter was defeated at theBattle of Magnesia at that time.[16][5]
Pliny writes:
"Noumenios, who was made governor ofMesene by king Antiochos, while fighting against the Persians, defeated them at sea, and at low water, by land, with an army of cavalry, on the same day; in memory of which event he erected a twofold trophy on the same spot, in honour of Jupiter and Neptune"
During an apparent transitional period, corresponding to the reigns ofVādfradād II and another uncertain king, no titles of authority appeared on the reverse of their coins. The earlier titleprtrk' zy alhaya (Frataraka) had disappeared. UnderDārēv I however, the new title ofmlk, or king, appeared, sometimes with the mention ofprs (Persis), suggesting that the kings of Persis had become independent rulers.[17]
When theParthianArsacid kingMithridates I (ca. 171-138 BC) took control ofPersis, he left the Persian dynasts in office and they were allowed to continue minting coins with the title ofmlk ("King").[10]
With the reign ofŠāpuhr, the son ofPāpag, the kingdom of Persis then became a part of theSasanian Empire. Šābuhr's brother and successor, Ardaxšir (Artaxerxes) V, defeated the last legitimate Parthian king,Artabanos V in 224 CE, and was crowned atCtesiphon asArdaxšir I (Ardashir I),šāhanšāh ī Ērān, becoming the first king of the newSasanian Empire.[17]
During theAchaemenid Empire, frataraka was a title given to the head of a district or province inEgypt, who was junior in hierarchy to thesatrap inMemphis, Egypt.[6] During the time ofSeleucid andParthian Empires, theAramaic on their coins suggest, depending on interpretation, that they served eitherdeities such asAhura Mazda or god-like kings such as theAchaemenids orSeleucids.[6]
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The evidence for the quasi-autonomous local governors that were the Fratarakas is almost exclusively coming from their coinage.[4] The Achaemenids onlystruck coins in the western parts of theAchaemenid Empire, mostly inAsia Minor where a coinage culture had already existing before their arrival. The Seleucid were the first one to strike coins in the area of Persis.[4] It is during their rule that the Greek words "drachma" and "denanos" entered the Persian language, to become today's "dirham" and "denar".[4] The Fratarakas essentially followed the example of their Seleucid overlords in striking coins.[4] Several of their coins were further struck on issues of the Seleucids, or posthumous issues ofAlexander the Great.[4]
It seems that the coinage of the Fratarakas was mainly issued for purposes of prestige, rather than just monetary circulation, which was actually very limited.[4] The honorific "of the gods" (Aramaiczy Thy) on their coinage may be related to the Seleucid practice of deifying their kings.[4]
The coinage of the Fratrakas combinesSeleucid andAchaemenid iconography.[5]
The language used in the legends on the coins isAramaic, one of the official languages of the Achaemenid Empire, rather than Greek. This, as well as the clearlyZoroastrian iconography of the coins, shows that these coins had a role as "Persid religio-political propaganda".[4]
The Aramaic script used in the coins is quite unclear, which brings uncertainties to their reading. Even the title used by the Fratarakasprtkr* orprtdr’ is uncertain. The root word for this title has been interpreted as coming from*frat ("fire"), on the basis of the Armenian wordhrat, which probably entered Iranian as a loanword. This interpretation suggest that the rulers in question were priest-kings, whose role was mainly to maintain the sacred fire inPersepolis.[4]
Alternatively the title may be derived from the Aramaicprlrk, used to designate an Achaemenid official in Egypt, a subordinate to a Satrap, equivalent to a "prefect, governor" who would have own his position to the Seleucids.[4] The rulers are depicted wearing a short jacket over tunic and trousers, and they wear the satrapaltiara that had been in use on the coinage of the satraps of the Achaemenid Empire, and in addition they wear the Hellenic diadem of a ruler.[4]
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There are many controversies and debates about the origin, datings and sequence of the Frataraka rulers.
Hill was the first to catalog and study them and he opted for the same dates as Herzfeld, namely to early 3rd BC. But Alram and historian Wiesehofer all pointed to later dating iconographically and epigraphically, and also based on the seamless continuation of their coinage from the first series to second and so on. They argued that they ruled by late 2nd century BC and ended by mid 2nd century BC afterParthia conqueredPersia.
Some scholars such as Museler, Sarkhosh Curtis, Hoover, Engles and Mahdi TF Ahrabi believe they have started ruling by 3rd century BC, and there is plenty of evidence produced by researchers pointing to it. First, there are couple of hoards discovered by Herzfeld since 1930s, which until now are showing the existence of Frataraka coins withSeleucus I victories and trophy coins which were issued by him during 305-301 BC. If we take the circulation average of 20 years, we reach to 285-280 BC and that year coincides with his death, and his replacement by his co-regent and son Antiochus I.
There were no other coins from otherSeleucid rulers discovered with Frataraka hoards suggesting the Frataraka became semi-independent and started to strike their coins instead. The significant number of undertype of Seleucus I on coins of Frataraka rulers also point out to their closeness to first the first Seleucid king and some early Seleucid influences both in iconography and typology of their coins shows they were ruling Persis earlier than 2nd BC.
Some authors have dated the rule of the Fratarakas to the 3rd century BCE, with a starting point circa 280 BCE under rulerBagadates corresponding to a supposed Persian uprising leading to the destruction of theTall-e Takht citadel ofPasargadae that same year.[19] According to B. Kritt inThe Early Seleucid Mint of Susa (1997), the coinage of the Fratrakas was issued inSusa, rather thanPersepolis as traditionally held.[7] He also attributed them to the period circa 295 - circa 220 BCE, and considers them as independent rulers by divine right, rather than administrators for the Seleukids. The first date of 295 BCE corresponds to the destruction ofPasargadae, which marks the end of Seleucid coinage in Susa. The end date of 220 BCE corresponds to the time when, according toPolybius, the Seleucid satrapAlexander became satrap of satrap of Persis. His brother, the Seleucid usurperMolon, was in the meantime satrap ofMedia.[7]
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However, the coinage of the Fratarakas is very close to that of theKings of Persis, which suggest the 2nd century BCE as a more probable period, after the rule of the Satrap of PersisAlexander.[19] There is also no mention of a Persian uprising in the sources for the 3rd century BCE.[19] On the contrary, various sources, such as the account of the visit ofAntiochus III to the city ofAntiochia in Persis in 205 BCE, as well as archaeological evidence, seem to suggest continuous Seleucid rule in the region.[19] It seems that the area became independent from Seuleucid power between 200-150 BCE, before the Parthian conquest of the area.[19] The first ruler of the Fratarakas would have been subordinate to the Seleucids (their coins are in the Seleucid weight standard, and some of their symbolism is related to the Seleucids, such as the holding of a Seuleucid scepter rather than an Achaemenid one),[19] before obtaining some kind of independence from the time ofVahbarz orVadfradad I (when their coinage starts to show a depiction of Khvarnah orAhura Mazda on the reverse, on top of the fire temple).[19]
| Name | Date | Coinage | Family Relations | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bagadates/Baydād (bgdt) | 3rd century BCE | | Fratarakā dynasty – son of Baykard | Governor of theSeleucid Empire. Coin legendbgdt prtrk’ zy ’lhy’ (“Baydād, fratarakā of the gods”) in Aramaic. |
| 2 | Ardaxšīr I (rtḥštry) | mid-3rd century BCE | | Fratarakā dynasty | Governor of theSeleucid Empire |
| 3 | Vahbarz (whwbrz – called Oborzos in Polyenus 7.40) | mid-3rd century BCE | | Fratarakā dynasty | Governor of theSeleucid Empire |
| 4 | Vādfradād I (wtprdt) | 3rd century BCE | | Fratarakā dynasty – son of Vahbarz | Governor of theSeleucid Empire. Appearance ofAhura Mazda on the reverse, on top of the fire temple.[19] |
| 5 | Vadfradad II | c. 140 BCE | | Fratarakā dynasty | Governor of theSeleucid Empire. Eagle emblem on top of stylizedkyrbasia. Aramaic coin legendwtprdt [p]rtrk’ zy ’ly’ (“Vādfradād, frataraka of the gods”).[20] |
| 6 | ‘Unknown king I’ (Syknlt?) | 2nd half of 2nd century BCE |  | ? | Transition period |
The Fratarakas were succeeded by theKings of Persis.
