| Vologases III 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔 | |
|---|---|
| King of Kings | |
%2c_Seleucia_mint.jpg) Coin of Vologases III, minted atSeleucia in 121/2 | |
| King of theParthian Empire | |
| Reign | 110 – 147 |
| Predecessor | Pacorus II (predecessor) Osroes I(rival king) Mithridates V(rival king) |
| Successor | Vologases IV |
| Died | 147 |
| Dynasty | Arsacid dynasty |
| Father | Pacorus II |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Vologases III (Parthian:𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔Walagash) was king of theParthian Empire from 110 to 147. He was the son and successor ofPacorus II (r. 78–110).
Vologases III's reign was marked by civil strife and warfare. At his ascension, he had to deal with the usurperOsroes I (r. 109–129), who managed to seize the western part of the empire, which left Vologases III in control of its eastern parts. After Osroes I violated theTreaty of Rhandeia with theRomans by appointingParthamasiris as the king ofArmenia in 113, the Roman emperorTrajan (r. 98–117) invaded the Parthian lands, briefly seizing the Parthian cities ofSeleucia andCtesiphon and reaching as far as thePersian Gulf. These gains were short-lived; all the Roman gains had been lost after Trajan's death in 117. Vologases III, whose eastern domains were untouched, took advantage of the weakened state of Osroes I to regain lost territory, and finally defeated him in 129. Another contender namedMithridates V shortly appeared afterwards, but was also defeated by Vologases III, in 140.
Vologases III had to face an invasion by the nomadicAlans from 134 to 136, while in the east, he sought to increase the political and military actions as a response to the enlargement of theKushan Empire. Under the Roman emperorAntoninus Pius (r. 138–161), disturbance once occurred in Armenia due to the Romans appointing a new king in Armenia. Vologases III, however, did not protest, either due to not being powerful enough, or possibly because he did not want to put the thriving long-distance trade in jeopardy, from which the Parthian state was gaining hefty income from. Vologases III was succeeded by Mithridates V's sonVologases IV in 147.
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]
Vologases III was a son ofPacorus II (r. 78–110).[2] During the last years of Pacorus' reign, Vologases III co-ruled with him.[2] A Parthian contender namedOsroes I appeared in 109.[3] Pacorus died in the same year, and was succeeded by Vologases III, who continued his father's struggle with Osroes I over the Parthian crown.[2] Osroes I managed to seize the western part of the empire, includingMesopotamia, while Vologases III ruled in the east.[2][4] Osroes I violated theTreaty of Rhandeia with theRomans by deposing Vologases III's brotherAxidares and appointing the latter's brotherParthamasiris as the king ofArmenia in 113.[2][5] This gave the Roman emperorTrajan (r. 98–117) apretext to invade the Parthian domain and take advantage of the ongoing civil war between Vologases III and Osroes I.[2][4] Trajan conquered Armenia and turned it into a Roman province in 114.[5] In 116, Trajan capturedSeleucia andCtesiphon, the capitals of the Parthians.[6] Trajan even reached as far as thePersian Gulf, where he forced the Parthian vassal ruler ofCharacene,Attambelos VII, to pay tribute.[7][8] Fearing a revolt by the Parthians, Trajan installed Osroes I's sonParthamaspates on the throne at Ctesiphon.[7][9]
However, these gains were short-lived; revolts occurred in all the conquered territories, with theBabylonians andJews pushing the Romans out of Mesopotamia, and the Armenians causing trouble under the leadership of a certain Sanatruk.[10] After Trajan's death in 117, the Parthians removed Parthamaspates from the throne and reinstated Osroes I.[7] Trajan's successor,Hadrian (r. 117–138) renounced the remnants of Trajan's conquests in the east, and acknowledged the Treaty 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.[4]
Vologases III finally managed to remove Osroes I from power in 129.[3][12] However, shortly afterwards, a new contender namedMithridates V appeared.[13][12] Vologases III also faced new challenges in other places; in 134, the king ofIberia,Pharasmanes II (r. 117–138) caused the nomadicAlans to invade the domains of the Parthians and Romans.[12][1] They reached as far asCaucasian Albania,Media, Armenia, and alsoCappadocia; they were eventually repelled two years later after many obstacles and heavy economic costs.[1] In the east, Vologases III sought to increase the political and military actions as a response to the enlargement of theKushan Empire.[3] Vologases III defeated and deposed Mithridates V in 140.[13][12]
Under Hadrian's successor,Antoninus Pius (r. 138–161), a disturbance occurred after the Romans appointed a new king in Armenia.[1] Vologases III, however, did not protest, either due to not being powerful enough, or possibly because he did not want to put the thriving long-distance trade in jeopardy, from which the Parthian state was gaining hefty income.[1] He may have attempted to recover lands lost previously to theKushan Empire. A lone Buddhist source records that the Kushan rulerKanishka I defeateda Parthian invasion during the time of Vologases III.[14]
Vologases III was succeeded by Mithridates V's sonVologases IV in 147.[3][4]
Under Pacorus II, the usage of the image of the Greek goddessTyche on the reverse of theParthian coins became more regular than that of the seated king with a bow, specifically on the coin mints fromEcbatana.[15] This was reversed under Vologases III.[15] Rarely, afire temple is depicted on the reverse of his coins.[16] On the obverse of his coins is a portrait of him using the sametiara as his father.[17] Arock relief atBehistun portrays a Parthian monarch, most likely Vologases III.[16]
Vologases III of Parthia Died: 147 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 110–147 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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