| Vologases VI | |
|---|---|
| King of Kings | |
%2c_Ecbatana_mint.jpg) Coin of Vologases VI, minted atHamadan | |
| King of theParthian Empire | |
| Reign | 208 – 228 |
| Predecessor | Vologases V |
| Successor | Artabanus IV(rival king) Ardashir I(Sasanian Empire) |
| Died | 228 Mesopotamia |
| Father | Vologases V |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Vologases VI (Parthian:Walagash,Persian:بلاش,Balāsh) was the uncontested king of theParthian Empire from 208 to 213, but afterwards fell into a dynastic struggle with his brotherArtabanus IV,[a] who by 216 was in control of most of the empire, even being acknowledged as the supreme ruler by theRoman Empire. Vologases VI continued to ruleSeleucia until 221/2, and coin mints of him even appear inMesopotamia until 228, when he was presumably defeated by theSasanian Empire, who had previously defeated Artabanus IV and now succeeded the Parthians as the kings ofIran.
Vologases is theGreek andLatin form of theParthianWalagash. The name is also attested inNew Persian asBalāsh andMiddle PersianWardākhsh (also spelledWalākhsh). The etymology of the name is unclear. A suggestion has been made that the name could mean "strength".[1]
Vologases VI succeeded his fatherVologases V as king inc. 208. His rule was unquestioned for a few years, till his brotherArtabanus IV rebelled. The dynastic struggle between the two brothers most likely started inc. 213. Artabanus successfully conquered much of the empire, includingMedia andSusa. Vologases VI seems to have only managed to keepSeleucia, where he minted coins.[1] TheRoman emperorCaracalla sought to take advantage of the conflict between the two brothers. He tried to find a pretext to invade the Parthian Empire by requesting Vologases to send two refugees—a philosopher named Antiochus and a certain Tiridates, who was possibly either an Armenian prince or an uncle of Vologases. To the surprise of the Romans, Vologases had the two men sent to Caracalla in 215, thus denying him his pretext.[1] Caracalla's choice of contacting Vologases instead of Artabanus shows that the Romans still saw him as the dominant king.[2]
Caracalla thus chose to preoccupy himself with an invasion ofArmenia. He appointed afreedman named Theocritus as the leader of the invasion, which eventually ended in a disaster. Caracalla then once again sought to start a war with the Parthians. In another attempt to gain a pretext, he requested Artabanus to marry his daughter, which he declined. It is disputed whether Caracalla's proposal was sincere or not.[1] Caracalla's choice to contact Artabanus shows that the latter was now considered the dominant king over Vologases, who would rule a small principality centered around Seleucia until 221/2. A few years later (224),Ardashir I (r. 224–242), the founder of theSasanian dynasty, defeated and killed Artabanus, thus putting an end to the Parthian Empire. Over the next few years, Ardashir I further expanded his new empire, and must have driven out or defeated Vologases inMesopotamia soon after 228.[1][2]
Vologases VI Died: 228 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 208–228 | Succeeded by Parthian Empire abolished |