| Vonones I | |
|---|---|
| King of Kings | |
 Tetradrachm of Vonones I,Seleucia mint | |
| King of theParthian Empire | |
| Reign | 8–12 |
| Predecessor | Orodes III |
| Successor | Artabanus II |
| King ofArmenia | |
| Reign | 12–18 |
| Predecessor | Tigranes V andErato |
| Successor | Artaxias III |
| Died | 19 Cilicia (modern-dayTurkey) |
| Issue | Meherdates |
| Dynasty | Arsacid dynasty |
| Father | Phraates IV |
| Mother | Scythian princess (?) |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Vonones I (ΟΝΩΝΗΣOnōnēs on his coins) was anArsacid prince, who ruled asKing of Kings of theParthian Empire from 8 to 12, and subsequently as King ofArmenia from 12 to 18. He was the eldest son ofPhraates IV (r. 37–2 BC) and was sent toRome as a hostage in 10/9 BC to avoid conflict over the succession of Phraates IV's youngest son,Phraataces.
Vonones was the eldest son ofPhraates IV.[1] According to the classical Roman historianTacitus, Vonones was related to theScythian king.[2] Phraates IV had previously been aided during his reign by the Scythians to retake his throne from the usurperTiridates inc. 30 BC, and thus Vonones was possibly the result of a marriage alliance between Phraates IV and a Scythian tribal chief, who agreed to provide support in exchange for the union.[3] Vonones was along with three of his brothers (Phraates, Seraspandes and Rhodaspes) sent toRome in 10/9 BC, in order to prevent conflict over the succession of Phraates IV's youngest son,Phraataces.[4] The Roman emperorAugustus used this diplomatic gesture as propaganda, portraying it as a sign of Parthia’s submission to Rome, listing it as a great accomplishment in hisRes Gestae Divi Augusti.[5]
After the assassination ofOrodes III in about 6 AD, the Parthians applied to Augustus for a new king from thehouse of Arsaces.[6] Augustus sent them Vonones I, but he was unable to maintain his rule; he had been educated as aRoman, and was despised who regarded him as a Roman puppet.[6][7] Another member of the Arsacid house,Artabanus II, who ruledMedia Atropatene, was invited to the throne. In a civil war he defeated and expelled Vonones I.[7]
Vonones I fled intoArmenia and became king there in 12.[8] Artabanus II, now the monarch of the Parthian Empire, attempted to depose Vonones I from the Armenian throne and appoint his own son instead.[9] This was opposed by the Romans, who regarded this as posing a danger to their interests.[9] As a result, the Roman emperorTiberius (r. 14–37) sent his stepsonGermanicus to prevent this from happening.[9] However, the Roman general was met with no resistance by the Parthians, and reached an agreement with Artabanus II to appointArtaxias III the new King of Armenia and renounce their support of Vonones I.[9][10] The Romans thus acknowledged Artabanus II as the legitimate Parthian ruler.[10] In order to ratify the friendly relationship between the two empires, Artabanus and Germanicus met on an island in theEuphrates in 18.[9] The Romans moved Vonones I intoSyria, where he was kept in custody, though in a kingly style.[11] Later he was moved toCilicia,[12] and when he tried to escape in about 19, he was killed by his guards.[13][7]
His death and the now unchallenged dominance of Artabanus II split the Parthian nobility, since not all of them supported a new branch of the Arsacid family taking over the empire.[14] The Parthiansatrap ofSakastan,Drangiana andArachosia, namedGondophares, declared independence from Artabanus II and founded theIndo-Parthian Kingdom.[15][14] He assumed the titles of "Great King of Kings" and "Autokrator", signaling his assertion of sovereignty.[14] Nevertheless, Artabanus and Gondophares most likely reached an agreement that the Indo-Parthians would not intervene in the affairs of the Arsacids.[15] Vonones was survived by his sonMeherdates, who attempted to take the Parthian throne in 49–51.[16]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Meyer, Eduard (1911). "Vonones s.v. Vonones I.". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 211.Vonones I Died: 19 | ||
| Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 8–12 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Tigranes V andErato | King of Armenia 12–18 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
