| Mithridates III 𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕 | |
|---|---|
 Coin of a Parthian king, possibly Mithridates III,Ray mint | |
| King of theParthian Empire | |
| Reign | 87–80 BC |
| Predecessor | Orodes I |
| Successor | Orodes I |
| Died | 80/79 BC |
| Dynasty | Arsacid dynasty |
| Father | Mithridates II |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Mithridates III (Parthian:𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕Mihrdāt) was king of theParthian Empire from 87 to 80 BC. His existence is disputed in scholarship.
Mithridates' year of birth is not specified by ancient historians, but his coin mints illustrate him as a middle-aged man.[1] He was probably a son ofMithridates II.[1] In July/August 87 BC, Mithridates III usurped the Parthian throne fromOrodes I.[2] Around the same period, theSeleucid rulerDemetrius III Eucaerus besieged his brotherPhilip I Philadelphus inBereoa inSyria.[1] The governor of the city, however, called on Aziz, an Arabphylarch (tribal leader), and the Parthian governor Mithridates Sinaces for help; with their aid, Demetrius III was defeated and taken hostage to Mithridates III, who treated him with "honour" until he died of illness.[1] In August/September 80 BC, Mithridates III was dethroned inBabylon, and was shortly afterwards expelled fromSusa by Orodes I.[3] Mithridates III may have survived this event and managed to flee to the north, where he continued fighting until he died the following year.[4] Other scholars, however, do not support the existence of a Mithridates III ruling in the 80s BC.[5] According toM. Rahim Shayegan (2011), the existence of rival kings during Orodes I's reign "repose primarily upon numismatic evidence, may find scant support in the literary and documentary sources, and can be contradicted by a diverging interpretation of the period's coinage."[6] Shayegan deduces that Gotarzes I reigned till his death inc. 80 BC, and was succeeded by Orodes I.[7]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Mithridates III of Parthia Died: 80 BC | ||
| Preceded by | King of the Parthian Empire 87–80 BC | Succeeded by |