In 38 CE, theParthian kingArtabanus II died; his main achievement may have been that he had kept the kingdom together, although he first had to win a civil war against his brotherVonones I and had later won a civil war against another relative,Tiridates II. His sonVardanes I, who appears to have been co-ruler since 29 CE, succeeded him.^note[Josephus,Jewish Antiquities 20.69.]

Immediately, Vardanes' brother Gotarzes II, another son of Artabanus II, claimed the throne as well. He may have found support in the Parthian capital,Seleucia on the Tigris, which would be revolting for seven years.^note[Tacitus,Annals 11.9.] The Roman historianTacitus, who is confused about the date, tells that Gotarzes, with the support of theHyrcanians andDahae nomads, expelled his brother, who fled toBactria, where he enlisted nomadic tribal warriors (perhaps the Yuezhi).^note[Tacitus,Annals 11.8.] Before it came to battle, Gotarzes allowed himself to be convinced that it was better to abandon his claims.^note[Tacitus,Annals 11.9.]

In c.47, Vardanes was assassinated. Tacitus writes:

By the murder of Vardanes Parthian affairs were thrown into confusion, as there was no unanimity with regard to his successor. Many leaned to Gotarzes; some toPhraates' descendant Meherdates, who had been given in hostage to the Romans. Then Gotarzes carried the day, made himself master of the palace, and by dint of cruelty and debauchery drove the Parthians to send a secret petition to the Roman emperor, pleading that Meherdates might be set free to ascend the throne of his fathers.^note[Tacitus,Annals 11.10; cf.12.10.]

The emperorClaudius (r.41-53) recognized the opportunity - did he know that inMargiana, another rebel namedSanabares was active? - and in 49, Meherdates crossed theEuphrates atZeugma, met king Abgar V of Osrhoene, proceeded to Edessa, crossed theTigris, reachedNineveh, met the army of Gotarzes, and was defeated. (A very damaged relief inBehistun commemorates this event.) Tacitus:

Meherdates was thrown into chains and surrendered to the victor, who, upbraiding him as no relative of his, nor a member of theArsacid house, but an alien and a Roman, struck off his ears and commanded him to live - an advertisement of his own mercy and of our dishonor.^note[Tacitus,Annals 12.14.]

Tacitus continues with a remark that Gotarzes fell ill and died;^note[Tacitus,Annals 12.14.]Josephus writes that he was assassinated.^note[Josephus,Jewish Antiquities 20.74.] In any case, the new ruler was a man namedVonones II, who was almost immediately succeeded by his sonVologases I.

Perhaps Rock Relief V inSar-e Pol-e Zahab, along the road fromBabylonia toMedia, was made for Gotarzes II, althoughGotarzes I is another possibility. On balance, however, Gotarzes II seems to be the better candidate.

Note

The chronology of the Arsacid kings of theParthian Empire is less well-understood than, for example, the sequence ofSeleucid andPtolemaic kings or the emperors of Rome. This information is based on the researches by G.R.F. Assar, as published in "Iran under the Arsakids, 247 BC – AD 224/227" in:Numismatic Art of Persia (2011).

• Jona Lendering

Countries

• Iran
• Iraq

Category

• Greater Iran

Subdisciplines

• History
• Oriental studies

Tag

• King

See also

• Arsacids(article)
• Parthian Empire(article)
• Vardanes I(article)