Orodes of Armenia (flourished 1st century) was aParthian prince who served as aRoman client king ofArmenia in 35 and from again 37 until 42. Orodes was the second born son of KingArtabanus II of Parthia by a wife whose name is unknown. He was born and raised in the Parthian empire. Orodes was the namesake of his Parthian relations who ruled with this name as king.
In 35 after the death of his older brotherArsaces I, who served briefly asRoman client king ofArmenia, Artabanus II installed him as the new king of Armenia. When Orodes arrived in Armenia, Orodes avenged the death of Arsaces I by executing the bribed servants who poisoned Arsaces.[1][2]
As this time theRoman emperorTiberius, refused to accept the kingship of Orodes and Tiberius appointed the Iberian princeMithridates as the new Roman client Armenian king with the support of his brother, KingPharasmanes I of Iberia.[3]
Orodes faced Mithridates in a military campaign in Armenia that was in unfavorable conditions for Orodes.[4] In the military campaign, Pharasmanes I had sent his own troops and mercenaries to assist Mithridates.[5] Orodes had the support of the Parthian army. Orodes had lost his military campaign against Mithridates in which he may have been injured and returned to Parthia.[6][7]
Mithridates then became the new client king later in 35. In 37, Mithridates was arrested by the Roman emperorCaligula for unknown reasons and Orodes in 37 was restored to his kingship. He reigned from 37 until 42 and little is known on his reign. In 42, the Roman emperorClaudius replaced Orodes for unknown reasons and installed again Mithridates as the new client king.
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| Preceded by | King of Armenia 37 – 42 | Succeeded by |