| Osroes I 𐭇𐭅𐭎𐭓𐭅 | |
|---|---|
| King of Kings | |
%2c_Ecbatana_mint.jpg) Silver coin of Osroes I,Ecbatana mint | |
| King of theParthian Empire | |
| 1st Reign | 109–116 |
| Predecessor | Pacorus II |
| Successor | Parthamaspates |
| 2nd Reign | 117–129 |
| Predecessor | Parthamaspates |
| Successor | Vologases III |
| Died | 129 |
| Issue | Parthamaspates |
| House | Arsacid dynasty |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Osroes I (also spelledChosroes I orKhosrow I;Parthian:𐭇𐭅𐭎𐭓𐭅Husrōw) was aParthian contender, who ruled the western portion of the Parthian Empire from 109 to 129, with a one-year interruption. For most of his reign he contended with the rival kingVologases III (r. 110–147) who was based in the eastern provinces. In 116, Osroes I was briefly ousted from his throne atCtesiphon during an invasion by Roman emperorTrajan (r. 98–117), who installed Osroes' son,Parthamaspates. After Trajan's death the following year, Osroes I's rule was reinstated by the Parthian nobility. In 129, he was removed from power by Vologases III.
In 109, Osroes I revolted against Parthian kingPacorus II (r. 78–110) in order to claim the throne for himself.[1] During the reign of Pacorus II's sonVologases III (r. 110–147), Osroes I managed to seize the western part of the empire, includingMesopotamia, while Vologases III ruled in the east.[2][3] In 113, Osroes I violated theTreaty of Rhandeia with theRomans by deposing Vologases III's brotherAxidares and appointing the latter's brotherParthamasiris as the king ofArmenia.[2][4] This gave the Roman emperorTrajan (r. 98–117) thepretext to invade the Parthian domain and take advantage of the ongoing civil war between Vologases III and Osroes I.[2][3] In 114, Trajan conquered Armenia and turned it into a Roman province.[4] In 116, Trajan capturedSeleucia andCtesiphon, the capitals of the Parthians.[5] Trajan even reached as far as thePersian Gulf, where he forced the Parthian vassal ruler ofCharacene,Attambelos VII, to pay tribute.[6][7] Fearing a revolt by the Parthians, Trajan installed Osroes I's sonParthamaspates on the throne at Ctesiphon.[6][8] During his expedition, Trajan captured a daughter of Osroes I, who remained a Roman captive until the peace treaty concluded between the two powers in 129.[9]
The gains of Trajan were short-lived. Revolts occurred in all the conquered territories, with theBabylonians andJews pushing the Romans out of Mesopotamia, and the Armenians under Sanatruk causing the Romans problems.[10] After Trajan's death in 117, the Parthians removed Parthamaspates from the throne and reinstated Osroes I.[6] Trajan's successor,Hadrian (r. 117–138) renounced the remnants of Trajan's conquests in the east, and acknowledged theTreaty of Rhandeia, with the Parthian princeVologases becoming the new king of Armenia.[11] The weakened state of the western part of the Parthian Empire gave Vologases III (whose eastern domains were untouched) the opportunity to regain lost territory seized by Osroes I.[3] In 129, Vologases III finally managed to remove Osroes I from power.[1][12]
On the obverse of his silvercoins, Osroes I is portrayed with his hair inbunches, whilst wearing adiadem.[13] On his bronze coins, however, he is portrayed with atiara with hooks and a horn on the side.[13] The coins of Osroes I closely resembles that of his namesake, theElymais rulerOsroes, which has led to scholars to suggest that they might have been the same person.[14][15] Another possibility is that the Elymais ruler Osroes copied the coinage of Osroes I of Parthia.[14][15]
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help){{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)Osroes I Died: 129 | ||
| Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 109–116 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 117–129 | Succeeded by |